Lupe Fiasco: Hip-Hop Is Still A Negative Genre

Lupe Fiasco has said he still believes that the majority of hip-hop is “negative”.

The US rapper, who released his new album 'Lasers' this week, has long been recognised for his positive lyrics, which often include political and social references.

In an exclusive interview with Gigwise, Fiasco said there were “lights of positivity” within hip-hop like Mos Def and Common, but that the “majority of it is negative”.

Fiasco did not reveal the names of specific artists he felt were still making negative music, but did say he felt responsible for helping the genre to change.

“Where as Talib Kweli is the agent of change in the underground arena, Lupe Fiasco is the agent of change who is that young rapper that everybody respects who walks the line between celebrity and underground, and this is where he fits,” he said.

“So looking at the terrain that I have and the weapons that I have, and fighting that war where I’m at, I’m almost like Trojan Horse so to speak. I can get on KISS FM, which is like the pinnacle of the hip-hop world in the US.

He continued: "They’re playing my record, and I’m talking about uplifting and all those positive imageries. But also at the same time those controversial thought provoking things, not just positive for the sake of utopia.”

Check out Gigwise full Lupe Fiasco interview now.

Lupe Fiasco - live