Hip-hop is borne of the ghetto, and Richmond Confidential -- as part of a two-part series they're writing with RichmondPulse.org -- profiles a self-styled "Prince of the Projects" by the name of Macho, a.k.a. Lavonta Crummie. He's just self-produced a CD called "A World of My Own," and like any would-be rap star these days, he and his friends have already put up videos on YouTube and they're hoping some Kreayshawn-sized fame might come their way.

One of the subjects of 21-year-old Crummie's songs is his best friend Little Erv, Ervin Coley, who was gunned down in March in one of the many shootings that have plagued Richmond this year.

Hear a couple example songs below. Maybe it's not your thing, but the videos are also kind of a slice of life of project-living in the rough lands of North Richmond.