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

[LunaticVillage415]

Messy Marv. He had the attention and respect of street nikkas. But he also could make smooth songs for the ladies. He has classics, whole albums like Explosive Mode. Was on the verge of blowing up, but decided to become a fake Blood, beef with everybody, turn into an 80’s level crackhead, become homeless and go to prison.

 

[Ziggiy]

Chris Brown should be Michael Jackson status

Lots of people say that I just don’t see it.

He can sing but not as good as Michael

He was young when he came out but not as young as Michael was when he debuted with the J5.

He can dance but Michael clearly wrote his blueprint, nothing original or awe inspiring about his dancing

His music videos are nowhere NEAR as iconic as Michael’s

He doesn’t have any classic or memorable moments on the level of Motown 25 or The Super Bowl.


What about Chris Brown suggests he’d be anywhere close to Michael’s success, acclaim, or influence? If the Rihanna incident never happened he might be on the level of Usher or Justin Timberlake but I can’t see anyone seriously putting him on the level of ANY version of adult Michael Jackson

 

[ISO]

A boogie

Should've been bigger than he is, super talented but he's too young minded

He’s fine just too introverted and not with the antics to truly be a superstar

But he did take the city by storm has as many plaques as almost anyone from his generation and at one point seemed to be on everyone album in the industry

 

[ISO]

Lupe Fiasco and Joe Budden had they played by industry rules

Joey Badass if he signed to a major and got the Kendrick push

Definitely Chief Keef

Rich Homie Quan

Def Chris Brown without the Rihanna shyt, drugs, and the wannane gangster bullshyt could have been one of those defining All-Time American entertainers

Andre 3000 and Mos Def had they not gone weirdo

Max B if he wasn’t blackballed and had access to major record label studios and engineers

Sheck Wes before the woman beating and if he had more of a work ethic dude seemed to like fashion and basketball more

AZ with better label situations

XXXtentacion, Pop Smoke, Speaker Knockerz, and Juice WRLD

 

[bordeaux]

You need to listen to it again

Weak rhymes and production. And I'm from STL

 

[BaltimoreTwilightMarauder]

Tinashe could've been one of the biggest female acts

 

[The Prince of All Saiyans]

Weak rhymes and production. And I'm from STL

reading both sentences like

 

[Cohiba Colby]

Max B
OJ da Juiceman
Rita Ora
Avery Storm had one hot feature and vanished.

 

[Cohiba Colby]

Honestly Lil B. He birthed all these offbeat rappers. Kids don’t even know that the word based is associated with him.

 

[zayk35]

Tevin Campbell. Had an amazing top tier voice, the MJ cosign, Quincy Jones cosign, hit a few hits but never fully realized his potential.
Jason Weaver...had that similar type of voice to Tevin Campbell...literally the singing voice of young Simba in the lion king. Never made it.

He needed something great after "I'm Ready" but he dropped Back to the world and it was nothing like I'm Ready. I was fukking to some of the songs off I'm Ready and I was only 16yrs old when that came out. Plus he had the weird braids and seemed a bit fruity. Then Usher came in the door

 

[Un-AmericanDreamer]

Terrence Trent Darby

IYKYK

I kid but I'm.

fukked up his own bag. could have been the next Prince.

 

[AquaCityBoy]

Ron Browz

 

[Un-AmericanDreamer]

Surprised no one here mentioned DMX. Coming off Belly, he was the biggest rapper in the world. Poised to be the next Tupac, but drugs happened.

 

[Shadow King]

Someone mentioned The Rock

He's literally one of the best paid dudes in Hollywood. And he's as popular if not more popular than Schwarzenegger.

And a lot of the other people mentioned like Canibus, Mos Def, Jet Li...had their day in the sun but they just didn't resonate with the public well enough to keep their success going.

Canibus was found to be just a backpack/battle rapper

Mos Def got some good roles but didn't have the "it" quality

Jet Li was pigeonholed as the asian villain or sidekick. And he might have done better now since Hollywood has more Asian representation.

Now Amerie I read that there was some typical industry foolishness that prevented her from going bigger so who knows.

Nah, Mos Def had "it". He wasn't focused on being a superstar.

American could've had a bit more time in the light but I don't see a superstar career. She didn't sing well enough and didn't dance well enough to cover that.

 

[Shadow King]

Surprised no one here mentioned DMX. Coming off Belly, he was the biggest rapper in the world. Poised to be the next Tupac, but drugs happened.

Maybe because before Belly, DMX put out a 4x Platinum album, and coming off Belly proceeded to release a 3x Platinum and 5x Platinum album within a year, and then two more Platinum albums after that