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MARQUETTE -- A musical group in Marquette is breaking down some stereotypes.  They've been together since January and are now working on finalizing their first record.

At times it's been a rocky road, and it appears not everyone approves of a hip hop group from Marquette.  But "Marquette's Finest," a group of four young rappers, is using that obstacle to prove a point--anything can be possible if you put your mind to it.

"Even up in the U.P., you can still do what you wanna do," says Jacob Durant, also known as J.D. in the group.  "You just gotta believe and work hard.  Gotta put your mind to it.  As long as there's people listening, why stop?"

These guys have loved hip hop even before making music and eventually found themselves spending hours putting beats together as a group.  They say they've come up with more than 200 songs, but they've got 17 they feel confident about, slated to appear on an upcoming album.

Don't expect rhythms about violence or big city life.  Marquette's Finest aims to keep it real.

"Growing up, up here you don't really get to see a lot of the real world," Durant says.  "Basically through our raps, we're just rapping about what we know.  We don't know anything else but what we're saying.  We're not going to be on a track and say stuff we haven't experienced."

So, what do they rap about?  College, money and women problems and life in the U.P.  They're hoping to keep things relatable.

Even if you aren't a big hip hop fan, chances are you have something in common with this group's tunes--a love for the area.

"We try to inspire people to really enjoy where we're from," says Brian Williams, also known as Dubbs.

You can see Marquette's Finest's next performance July 12 at the Upfront & Co. in Marquette.