This thesis compares and contrasts the 19th-century American Transcendentalists with modern independent Midwestern hip-hop artists. The views and works of the Transcendentalists and hip-hop music and culture have greatly impacted and altered American identity. Though the views and works of artists in both movements are incredibly diverse, they center around a belief that mainstream society is not reaching its full potential. These seemingly disparate movements align through their espousal of simplicity as a means of self improvement, their exploration of the natural world as a place of physical and spiritual healing, and their approach to feminist thought.