What makes the MPC a "hip-hop" sampler?

I'm in the market for a drum machine.
But Elektron's "Machine Drum" is too damn expensive and Korg's "ER-1" is on the toy end of the spectra. So a friend recommended the MPC (4000).

"It is the shit for the Hip-Hop producer!" he said knowing that I'm not making Hip-Hop beats at all..
And I've seen/heard similar things over and over again, all saying that the MPC is for the serious-serious Hip-Hop producer.

So my question is: what makes the MPC stand out to be the unit for Hip-Hop more than anything else?
(Except the fact that a lot of artists like to pose with it) http://www.forat.com/service/

MPCs have been around since the late 80s. It combined a drum machines/sampler/sequencer into one complete package. Hip-hop has always been sample-based, so it was natural that the MPCs became the tool of choice for hip-hop producers. There have been other companies that put out simliar products...but the MPC out lasted all of them. The MPC 3000 was released over 12 years ago and still one of the most sought after pieces of gear...

if the elektron is too damn expensive, how in god's name are you going to pay for an MPC 4K?

Ahh, some music history.
So this could very well be "the ultimate Country music producer" machine if it fell into the wrong hands a few years ago.
Thanks for the info Jah..

I am not following my friends advice to get the 4000, more like the 1000.

David Gray is a perfect example, his music is the furthest thing from being hip hop but it is produced with an MPC, you wouldn't think it by listening to his music.

Speaking of artist who use MPCs for other types of music, doesn't the dude from NIN, Trent Reznor, do all of his drums on the MPC?

buck65 uses it for ...uh ...progressive country?