Taking it back to the day without really taking it back to the day

I don't remember what day it was, but I was listening to my megamix of mp3's at work, like I always do, when iTunes played Christina Aguilera's song "Back in the Day" and I had a thought. Here is my attempt to record that thought:I like Christina Aguilera and this song, but what's the point? Sure, Christina attempts to pay tribute to musicians of the past and the lyrics are genuine, but the song is just a hip hop track with her half singing, half rapping her words. And there's some guy who's spouting the names of innovative musicians in the background (Miles and Coltrane among them) as if saying their names somehow connects the song to the aformentioned musicians. Is it implied that everybody who merely mentions an artist in their songs is somehow more of an expert on the artist's music than someone who, say, studies the music academically and technically? Does saying "Miles Davis" in a rap or song really educate the listener about what Miles Davis did with modes in jazz? Does Christina Aguilera's general audience even know who Miles is?Then the song was over.