I do agree, in a way. Lupe I feel like is doing his thing as much as ever, but with J. Cole and Wale it does seem forced. It seems as if they are not allowed to be as creative, and the frustrating part is that it seems like the artists who try to fit this just get their shit pushed back a lot (Chamillionaire's new album for example). Chamillionaire has been around a while now and it just seems like he is frustrated by what the label wants his album to be. I do not feel like these young guys are losing anything, but rather the label does not want to hear it. I feel like the guy that has managed to get past this is B.o.B. I am digging him a lot and he seems to have overcame what is stereotypically needed from a new artist. The funny thing abotu Wale is that Mixtape About Nothing took all the stereotypes of a mixtape/album and just made it into something special, so it is unfortunate that his album was so bland.
Regardless, I feel like this young guys do have a lot of talent, and in terms of new artists who seem poised to dominate the mainstream in the near future, I see a lot of potential. Hopefully they will just be allowed to put out their best stuff instead of resorting to generic safe albums.