It's really all about rappers creating images that sell their records. Some people who worship the "gansta" life seize on images of power, money, glamor, etc., that they associate with "the Mafia" to embellish their own self-images and add fantasy to their lives. The "Mafia" image they have has more to do with John Gotti, his Mercedes limos and his Brioni suits, than with Vito Corleone. The ultimate rapper hero is Al Pacino in "Scarface." He didn't have anything to do with rap, either, but his credo--"the world is yours"--is what they worship, along with the money, drugs, violence, etc.