Name an artist who had "it" in terms of star power but never took full advantage

[Zostrianos]

Neither Fish Nor Flesh came out the same year as Let Love Rule, Lenny dropped the previous month if Wikipedia is correct.
Listening to NFNF right now and truth be told, a lot of this sounds like Around the World in a Day and some other miscellaneous rock music I listened to growing up.
This wasn't a good follow up if he was supposed to keep playing to the black audience until the official crossover, listening to this as someone who listened to a lot of rock music growing up, I can see how Lenny slid into TTD's lane.
He was definitely going through a crisis on this one.
First four tracks of NFNF compared to the rest of the album are a dead giveaway.
Lenny had inside connections that ensured his success.

Kravitz's Mama Said album is like a radio friendly version of that second D'Arby record. It's interesting that D'Arby was nowhere to be seen around 1991, just as Kravitz scored a billboard hit song with "It Ain't Over 'Till it's Over".

I recall an interview from a few years ago where D'Arby claimed Michael Jackson had him blacklisted from the industry out of jealousy/fear of the new guy being called the "next MJ".

Jackson did re-sign his contract at the time and put out the Dangerous album as the first under his new deal. That also came out in 1991. But who knows

 

[Kyle C. Barker]

I'm going to add sisqo to the list. I feel like his career had at least 3-5 more years at the top

 

[Da_Eggman]

Meth, for all his success, could've been even bigger. Seriously I always felt that he should've been at the Snoop/Jay kind of level. He can really rhyme on any kind of beat, have hardcore joints, party tracks, songs for the ladies, appeals to them AND to the streets, had massive connections within the industry very early in his career, etc. Flow one of the best. Yes he had a great career overall, including as an actor, but he doesn't really have that one indisputable classic (I love Tical, but let's be honest). I feel he should've been one of the guys you HAVE to mention when discussing GOATs. That's not saying he didn't have a great career, but I think it's fair to say he could've been even bigger.



To be honest D'Angelo is international, he's just niche. It was a pretty big deal when he did that European tour a couple years back. But I agree, he should've been bigger.

Mos Def is another obvious one.

He’s on par with snoop and he never was elite like a jay keys be real now

I feel he did about as good as any with his talent

Do you feel the same way for a guy like Common?

 

[Amo Husserl]

Kravitz's Mama Said album is like a radio friendly version of that second D'Arby record. It's interesting that D'Arby was nowhere to be seen around 1991, just as Kravitz scored a billboard hit song with "It Ain't Over 'Till it's Over".

I recall an interview from a few years ago where D'Arby claimed Michael Jackson had him blacklisted from the industry out of jealousy/fear of the new guy being called the "next MJ".

Jackson did resign his contract at the time and put out the Dangerous album as the first under his new deal. That also came out in 1991. But who knows

I'll have to listen to it later today.

I have heard that, it wouldn't surprise me. I don't hear the comparison though.

I think Michael knew to stay with the times. TTD was too much of an outlier to survive the 90s, especially around when D'Angelo and Maxwell dropped.

If he came back in '91 on an English independent, I think he would have had a chance. His music isn't for the mainstream, he's got the talent but the content is so niche that he'd only have buzz in the states.

 

[Shadow King]

Jet Li should've been the Bruce Lee of his generation, in the US. He had THAT much clout/anticipation, when this dropped...

We never got an Enter the Dragon. Instead, he was doin shyt like Romeo Must Die, The ONE, etc.

Idris Elba should've been on a Denzel-esque trajectory, of fame. He got the looks, the masculine energy, and the talent. Something tells me he doesn't champion his acting career, as much as he does, his other endeavors (DJ'ing, fighting, etc.)

Again...I think The Rock could've cemented a legendary status is Hollywood, w/ a better choice of movies. I think he did too many family-oriented comedies, and cookie-cutter jawns.

I don't really see anything wrong with the movies Jet has done. Bruce is who he is because he was the first.

Idris does not take his DJ career or fighting more serious than acting. I don't think he has a film or individual performance within a film that warrants the clout Denzel has, but if y'all are saying this, then trust his circle is saying it, and he buys into it and chooses roles where he thinks his name or performance can carry the movie.

The Rock is legendary status as is period. You don't believe he has an iconic movie which is fine but he absolutely does not belong in this topic. This is like saying Jay Z never capitalized.

 

[Orange cream shake]

Rich home quan

 

[Peter Popoff]

Knocturnal

 

[bigde09]

You can make an argument for 2pac even tho he was a superstar when he was alive. He could have been bigger and was destined for greater things

 

[Based Mamba]

OutKast are legends and hip hop royalty but when this shyt dropped the cacs were on 3000 hard because he made amazing music and he had that unique personality. He got Weird and shrunk from the spotlight on some hermit shyt but he could have ran entertainment

Probably didnt want years of cacs in his face scream hey yeah

 

[Based Mamba]

Lil B could be bigger imo. Outside of the memes he be posting about himself he not poppin or buzzin. He shoulda focused on a single or doing more shows or something.

 

[skylove4]

Probably didnt want years of cacs in his face scream hey yeah

Oh you know they probably still do tho, especially white woman nearing middle age. Bruh probably be trying to play his Piccolo in peace and has to hit them with the

 

[mbewane]

He’s on par with snoop and he never was elite like a jay keys be real now

I feel he did about as good as any with his talent

Do you feel the same way for a guy like Common?

Meth on par with Snoop??? Bruh random whte grandmas in Europe know who Snoop is

Snoop's the g uy who maximized every single ounce of his talent/potential/opportunities imo

No I don't really feel the same about Common, never felt like he really had that mainstream appeal in Hip-Hop like Meth had. I feel Common is right where he's supposed to be come to tihnk about it

 

[Kyle C. Barker]

Meth on par with Snoop??? Bruh random whte grandmas in Europe know who Snoop is

Snoop's the g uy who maximized every single ounce of his talent/potential/opportunities imo

No I don't really feel the same about Common, never felt like he really had that mainstream appeal in Hip-Hop like Meth had. I feel Common is right where he's supposed to be come to tihnk about it

Full entertainment career wise, I think common exceeded expectations given that he was concious headphone rapper.

 

[Cyrus' Wife]

Amerie

Yep and also Mya could have crossed over as well but behind the scenes both were sabotaged.

 

[Knuckles Red]

Britney Spears. She had the whole world in the palm of her hands, but her issues with mental illness, a troubled family life, and a failed marriage ruined what should have been a very long and prosperous career.