This work examines certain lyrical elements in rap and country music and the ways they are voiced. As different as these genres are from each other they share certain important characteristics. The main themes I focus on are place, race, memory and experience. I also look at how these themes are used in the creation of authenticity and how authenticity is seen as crucial within these genres. Artists discussed include Ice-T, Boogie Down Productions, Dr Dre, Eminem, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Hank Williams, Steve Earle, Merle Haggard, Iris Dement, Alan Jackson, Terry Allen. Contents Introduction (pp. 1-5) Chapter One: Place and Race (pp. 6-25) Chapter Two: Memory and Experience (pp. 26-43) Chapter Three: Establishing Authenticity (pp. 44-66) Conclusion (pp. 67-68) Appendices/Discography/Bibliography (pp. 69-78)