The 49-year-old - one third of hip-hop pioneers Run DMC - blamed the industry "s focus on profits for turning songs into mainstream hits.

"Hip-hop has lost its way and the reason why is because it has become commercial. It could be the worst song ever but because of programming and the corporations, the labels are paying money to promote garbage and if you listen to garbage over and over, it will become normal to you," he said.

Darryl named rappers Kendrick Lamar and Jay Electronica (Timothy Thedford) as exceptions, because they are more "underground", which he said is an important aspect of the hip-hop genre.

He continued: "Hip-hop has lost its responsibility of being honest and true. People want true, authentic originality - good stuff, that they perceive is cool.

"Hip-hop has lost its responsibility which has allowed us to lose our creativity, but that happens to anything that is artistic that becomes commercial. So we "re in trouble right now. All the records sound the same. We, Run DMC, broke the mould," the singer added.

"But there are a few exceptions underground - with Kendrick and Jay Electronica as exceptions."

:: DMC has "collided " with Canadian DJ A-Trak (Alain Macklovitch) for a new Adidas Originals campaign, #Unitealloriginals, which includes a remix of Run DMC "s 1986 track My Adidas. For more information, see www.adidas.com/unite