The Chicago MC has shed some light on his previous comment.

During an interview with Windy City Live (via FSD), Lupe elaborated on the comments that he made recently, and explained exactly why he felt that hip hop was not at a high point in many ways. He said that he felt that the culture was commercially at a peak, but that the messages in the music had deteriorated.

“I think the substance of it. I think technically, it’s great. The music is as well-produced as it’s ever been, videos are as polished, the chains are as clean, the models are as beautiful as they’ve ever been… But then you get into the substance of the records. The majority of commercial Hip Hop -- most of what everybody sees is commercial Hip Hop -- is lacking substance. Terribly.”

Lupe Fiasco explained that there were ways of addressing the issue, however. He said that he felt the majority of artists were unwilling to change the game, although there were some that did.

“I think there should be a balance. On the radio, you turn it on and every other record is referring that bitch, that negative lifestyle. There’s a premium kind of put on the things that are somewhat whimsical but at the same time dangerous. It’s funny. Over the past 10 years, the things in Hip Hop that we’ve allowed to become the norm. It’s kind of taboo at a certain point to address a certain issue. And the artists that did it, people like Eminem, you knew they were all through the roof because it was so exotic and so through the roof.”

- By Fiona Guest