Abstract
It is almost two decades that hip-hop culture took roots in the Czech Republic and has grown into its distinct form. During that period rap music gained mainstream appeal and started to be recognized by Czech popular music industry.
With the commercialization of Czech hip-hop and greater visibility of some artists, the discourse about who sold out to the "mainstream" and who still represents for the "underground" hip-hop became a pressing issue. This article looks at different discourses that shape the notion of "authentic" expression in rap music including the imperative to express one's lived experience.
Using the qualitative methods of in-depth interviews with rappers, participant observation at hip-hop events and content analysis of the current music production of 10 rap artists, the main goal of the article is to look at how gender, race and class shape the notion of "real" hip-hop and to explore the issues of their social commentary.