(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Jay-Z believes hip-hop is at risk of losing its soul.

The 40-year-old has been making music for the last 15 years and has in this time garnered a string of number one albums across the world. Despite his legendary status Jay Z is widely considered a veteran within a genre noted for its youthful appeal.

Jay-Z real name Shawn Carter - believes that the future of the genre is bleak unless new artists make music from the heart as opposed to following current trends.

"We have to find our way back to true emotion. This is going to sound so sappy, but love is the only thing that stands the test of time, he told a New York paper.

"We're chasing a lot of sounds now, but I'm not hearing anyone's real voice. The emotion of where you are in your life. The mortgage scandal. People losing their jobs. I want to hear about that.

Jay-Z went on to lament the absence of quality lyrics in recent hip-hop releases despite the massive popularity surrounding the genre. The star highlighted classic albums from the past that he thinks should be held as a template for future artists.

"The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was all about love. Andre 3000, The Love Below. Even NWA, at its core, that was about love for a neighbourhood, he added. (C) Cover Media