Go watch that Backstage clip. Listen to what the people who were under him (Budden, Envy, Fabolous, etc) say how lazy he was. Look at the plugs he had (Rocafella, MTV, etc) he had. Then look at how much he capitalized versus others who didn't have those advantages.
Clue wanted to be big and he had a personality. He just didn't work hard and he doesn't even have an excuse like a federal raid to blame.
For all intents and purposes, Clue should be a major exec or at least a major gatekeeper in hip-hop. He was basically non-existent the last decade.
Do remember (pun intended) that Clue vs. Flex was one of the major battles in the Power 105 vs. Hot 97 beef. Clue initially won the ratings war but Flex has dominated him as far as overall relevancy because he got Karen Civil to teach him social media. Meanwhile, Clue has basically been living off his mixtape legacy and not adapted. He's made halfhearted attempts in the last few years but it's been too little too late thus far.
That Backstage clip and its aftermath are sadly the definition of "wasted talent."
But you can't attest that to being lazy. A man who is everywhere, radio/MTV/Roc DJ, IDJMG, plus his mixtapes, production credits doesn't sound like a lazy person to me. He was a worker. They may not have time for you (Joe/Fab) because they are so invested every which way. Everyone doesn't want the same thing, and a lot of his brand was tied to Roc & Def Jam. Them becoming what they did, affected the status of a lot of people. And Flex was solely radio, then TV. Of course he would transition into the social media era, because that what the TV/radio has morphed into.
Like I said, look at Clue & Drama. Drama was Clue of ATL. He had a lot of different ventures, none of his artists had success until they got from under his umbrella, and he was spread amongst different things, similar to Clue. He also has been mainly non-existent, with only his Gangsta Grillz legacy. Even Sway is pretty much on that same platform he's always had, but without being on TV, Slay is still in the same position. The thing that saved Envy's career was that Ray J rant. The Breakfast Club in general, was on the chopping block. Ray J ended up saving the show, and also allowed for them to re-up when that time came.
As for being a major exec or a gatekeeper, where are the rest? Irv been ousted, and can't get back to where he was, Bad Boy is dead, Rush & Kevin Liles aren't around, Flex still isn't a gatekeeper. Big Corp is the hip-hop gatekeeper.