On of my favorite books to drop this year is Steve Stoute’s The Tanning Of America: How the Culture of Hip-Hop Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy. Real talk, if you’re serious about growing a brand organically, learning about how to market it (including principles, guidelines, and gems), the history of the evolution of marketing in the culture plus more, pick up the book.

Anyway the marketing guru talked with Nightline’s Debra Roberts this week to explain how hip hop stars are status symbols.

"If you put the product in the close proximity with something that’s driving pop culture, in a way that people believe it, you can sell a lot of products."–Steve Stoute

After the jump, you can check out video of Steve Stoute sharing his thoughts on CNN’s Black In America 4, Silicon Valley – The New Promised Land documentary. The film is hosted by Soledad O’Brien and airs tonight Sunday, November 13, at 8pm EST.

Run That Back:

Jay-Z Interview With Steve Stoute Part Two (Video).