Why do rappers name themselves after kingpins and mobsters?

I was reading an article on Freeway Rick a.k.a. Ricky Ross and kind of see where Hip Hop artists Rick Ross and Freeway got the idea for naming themselves. In a way, you could say that Rick Ross was a martyr or some kind of a pawn. When it was actually Oliver North and other C.I.A. agents involved with bringing drugs into the United States in order to fund the war in Nicaragua in the 80's. But my question is, are rappers naming themselves after crime lords to give themselves an image that they're about the same thing or are they suppose to be making a political statement. I'm an emcee myself, but I don't need to name myself Sonny Black if I want people to think I'm crazy. My attitude would speak for itself. (LOL)