Hip-hop is an American subculture which has seen exceptional popularity and commodification since its conception. The original purpose of hip-hop was to address the conditions which lead to its necessity: poverty, racial inequality, and gang activity. However, hegemonic assimilation and commodification of subcultural practices has accelerated with the rise of internet technology, stripping subcultures of their symbolic value and replacing it with monetary gain. The domination of popular media by sensationalized pop rap is a manifestation of the declining symbolic integrity and authenticity of hip-hop in dominant American culture. I conduct lyrical content analysis of six popular rap artists in order to determine how hegemonic commodification of subcultures such as hip-hop influences the ability of artists to maintain authentic to what hip-hop has stood for historically. This research seeks to compare the symbolic trajectories of these artists in order to distinguish authentic artists from the inauthentic, and furthermore understand the interplay between authenticity and commodification in hip-hop.