Over the past thirty years, rap has grown from an inner-city black culture to a global sensation. “From cinema, to clothing lines, to magazines, and the American vernacular, the influence of hip-hop has left an indelible mark on popular culture.” (see page 38). Due to the popularity of rap, artists struggle to remain authentic and not be commercialized. Keeping it real, rappers show themselves as delinquents rather than young black men struggling with poverty and underemployment. They feel pressure to legitimize themselves and tend to associate themselves with the negative illusion that rap has