Rappers that just never lived up to their expectations

YouTube · Post by **Philaflava** » Wed May 11, 2011 9:54 am

Obviously most, right? But I'm talking about the ones that were held in really high regard. It's too soon to write off Jay, but think about at the past 5 years or so and list the rapper that just, well, failed.

For me its Elzhi. Technically he is dope. When I first heard him he immediately became a top prospect for me. The way he destroyed tracks on SV albums or his guest spots (see Hiding Places) I thought for sure he'd be what Royce was suppose to become.

And yeah this Illmatic shit is cute, but Thun has a valid point. Elzhi lacks the punch that he once had. He almost seems bored with rapping at this point.

Add on.

PopeyeJones · Post by **PopeyeJones** » Wed May 11, 2011 9:55 am

Tyler.

Dap · Post by **Dap** » Wed May 11, 2011 10:13 am

in b4 saigon

Thun · Post by **Thun** » Wed May 11, 2011 10:16 am

Sean Price as a solo artist

Echo Leader · Post by **Echo Leader** » Wed May 11, 2011 10:17 am

Nearly every NY mixtape rapper from 2001-2007?

Thun · Post by **Thun** » Wed May 11, 2011 10:19 am

Echo Leader wrote:Nearly every NY mixtape rapper from 2001-2007?

They didn't really have the potential to be anything greater, though. It was all hype and bullshit.

Echo Leader · Post by **Echo Leader** » Wed May 11, 2011 10:30 am

Thun wrote:
Echo Leader wrote:Nearly every NY mixtape rapper from 2001-2007?
They didn't really have the potential to be anything greater, though. It was all hype and bullshit.

OK, valid point. I can't really see people talking about an Uncle Murda album in 5 or 10 years anyway.

I've been pretty disappointed with Freddie Gibbs, to be honest. The guy knows his lane and plays it really well but nothing that he's released since Miseducation and Midwestgangstaboxframecadillacmuzik even comes close to those first two tapes.

I know that opinion on Gibbs is somewhat divided on these boards but I'm pretty sure that most can agree that after his first round of tapes he's settled into making the same middling, "intelligent gangsta"-type tracks over and over again. Also, the whole "Pulled Over By Tha Cops" thing is not a good look.

admiral · Post by **admiral** » Wed May 11, 2011 10:30 am

Big Pun
Big L
Biggie
Kool Herc (almost)

step one · Post by **step one** » Wed May 11, 2011 10:32 am

is Mos Def an acceptable answer?

Raphael De La Ghetto · Wed May 11, 2011 10:35 am

Trife da god.

jemstar · Post by **jemstar** » Wed May 11, 2011 10:46 am

Raphael De La Ghetto wrote:Trife da god.

Emphatic co-sign

Echo Leader · Post by **Echo Leader** » Wed May 11, 2011 10:57 am

jemstar wrote:
Raphael De La Ghetto wrote:Trife da god.
Emphatic co-sign

Pardon the ignorance, but what expectations did folks ever have for this guy?

Thun · Post by **Thun** » Wed May 11, 2011 11:21 am

Echo Leader wrote:
jemstar wrote:
Raphael De La Ghetto wrote:Trife da god.
Emphatic co-sign
Pardon the ignorance, but what expectations did folks ever have for this guy?

He has multis.

Blockhead · Post by **Blockhead** » Wed May 11, 2011 11:23 am

step one wrote:is Mos Def an acceptable answer?

I'd say it's the best answer.

Echo Leader · Post by **Echo Leader** » Wed May 11, 2011 11:26 am

Blockhead wrote:
step one wrote:is Mos Def an acceptable answer?
I'd say it's the best answer.

What would you guys consider to be the first instance of disappointment in Mos? New Danger?

fatboybrandon · Post by **fatboybrandon** » Wed May 11, 2011 11:28 am

Echo Leader wrote:
jemstar wrote:
Raphael De La Ghetto wrote:Trife da god.
Emphatic co-sign
Pardon the ignorance, but what expectations did folks ever have for this guy?

I cosign too. I always thought he was one of the most lyrically gifted of Wu affiliates aside cats like Killa Sin & Street Life. My expectations came from his guest spots on Ghostface's albums and his own solo work.

His guest visit to Rhyme Time radio in 2007 still stands out in my mind as an artist with alot of potential: rhymetyme.podomatic.com/rss2.xml

Maybe Elzhi is in the process of finding new direction & purpose after the SV breakup fiasco, bad contracts and dealing with mistrust could hurt an artist. I think Black Milk brings some life to Elzhi currently but I agree he has the potential to be doing bigger and better things.

peanut butter · Post by **peanut butter** » Wed May 11, 2011 11:30 am

Nas

PEACE

Thun · Post by **Thun** » Wed May 11, 2011 11:31 am

Did anyone read the first post?

TheBeeShine · Post by **TheBeeShine** » Wed May 11, 2011 11:31 am

obviously Canibus

Thun · Post by **Thun** » Wed May 11, 2011 11:36 am

Guess not.

drizzle · Post by **drizzle** » Wed May 11, 2011 11:43 am

i'm the

how y'all doin, what up

fuck now i want ribs though

Blockhead · Post by **Blockhead** » Wed May 11, 2011 11:46 am

Echo Leader wrote:
Blockhead wrote:
step one wrote:is Mos Def an acceptable answer?
I'd say it's the best answer.
What would you guys consider to be the first instance of disappointment in Mos? New Danger?

To be honest, I think pretty much everything he's released (save for a hand full of great songs) post "Universal magnetic" 12'' has been a big disappointment. I wasn't a huge fan of Blackstar , but that wasn't really his fault. But I think "Black on both sides" was painfully mediocre. Always have.
It just bums me out that a few of the best verses I've heard him kick over the years have been on camera, but not in a recording booth.

Thun · Post by **Thun** » Wed May 11, 2011 11:51 am

Holy shit.

fatboybrandon · Post by **fatboybrandon** » Wed May 11, 2011 11:52 am

these haven't lived up to my expectations, I don't know about other people:

Apani B Fly
The two chicks on Bahamadia's 3 The Hard Way
Rob Odindo
Deda Baby Pa
Extra Prolific from Hiero
Unsigned or indie artists from WKCR: Mixed Nuts, Total Pack
Larry-O - has new music out now but I wish he'd put out more music between now & The Turnaround
B-1
Jinx Da Juvenile - did well on Hi-Teknology and N.Y.C. with G Rap, but now...
Beatnuts affiliates: Black Attack & Problemz, Rawcotiks

YouTube · Post by **Philaflava** » Wed May 11, 2011 11:57 am

Brewin is a great call. Is it horrible work ethics because the talent is surely there?

Echo Leader · Post by **Echo Leader** » Wed May 11, 2011 12:00 pm

Blockhead wrote:
Echo Leader wrote:
Blockhead wrote:
step one wrote:is Mos Def an acceptable answer?
I'd say it's the best answer.
What would you guys consider to be the first instance of disappointment in Mos? New Danger?
To be honest, I think pretty much everything he's released (save for a hand full of great songs) post "Universal magnetic" 12'' has been a big disappointment. I wasn't a huge fan of Blackstar , but that wasn't really his fault. But I think "Black on both sides" was painfully mediocre. Always have.
It just bums me out that a few of the best verses I've heard him kick over the years have been on camera, but not in a recording booth.

Black On Both Sides and the Black Star album got a lot of burn from me in high school, but when I look back on them, my 24-year-old self shakes it's head at my 15-year-old self. I can definitely see why they appealed to me at that particular place and time, but both records are pedestrian, unoffensive dorm-room bullshit at best. I can see why they would have been disappointing after "Universal Magnetic."

Philaflava wrote:Brewin is a great call. Is it horrible work ethics because the talent is surely there?

He's a high school teacher, right? Is it so inconceivable that dude is just content with his life as is and has no desire to revisit rap?

Blockhead · Post by **Blockhead** » Wed May 11, 2011 12:02 pm

Bruin's issues was never about a shoddy work ethic. He had a family to support at a young age and was responsible. I wish he had made more music but you can't fault the dude for doing the right thing by his kids.

He had opportunities to do more but between that and a general distaste for the business side of music, he never pulled it together ike most of us hoped he would.

Kid That's Lifeless · Wed May 11, 2011 12:05 pm

Inspectah Deck?

drizzle · Post by **drizzle** » Wed May 11, 2011 12:08 pm

Blockhead wrote:Bruin's issues was never about a shoddy work ethic. He had a family to support at a young age and was responsible. I wish he had made more music but you can't fault the dude for doing the right thing by his kids.

He had opportunities to do more but between that and a general distaste for the business side of music, he never pulled it together ike most of us hoped he would.

i heard he has like a ton of kids or something right?

i can certainly understand his preference to stick with his fam and reticense to get in deeper into a very unkind industry, but still.....

i wish he got onto the Jay Electronica 2 songs a year plan or something, we'd have some music and it would go a long way toward proliferating his already great mythological status

Gyangsta 4 Life · Post by **Gyangsta 4 Life** » Wed May 11, 2011 12:12 pm

Chamillionaire