Here are some articles written a few years ago by the hip-hop legend Pop Master Fabel. It provides excellent information on hip-hop culture. It's a three part series.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/ask-a-hip-hop-veteran/
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/08/answers-from-a-hip-hop-veteran-part-2/
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/09/answers-from-a-hip-hop-veteran-part-3/