One rapper you would have bet the farm on succeeding....

[SHOGUN]

....but flopped.

My pick would be Grafh. When he first hit the mixtape circuit, he was a lot different than His flow and rhyme structure was impeccable and unique. Combined with witty punchlines, and a classic mixtape 'The Oracle' as a debut, I was sure he would make that jump as a prominent mainstream artist. I guess he couldn't maintain the momentum of his large buzz, then the Roc-A-Fella disaster didn't help either.

[dell71]

Canibus. His skill is out of this world. Unfortunately, he has little idea how to construct a decent song...except for 2nd round KO, of course.

[Sharkweather]

WDYD.

Someone had to say it. ;)

[St. Francisco]

WDYD.

Someone had to say it. ;)

Damn...beat me to it.

[FlawLeSs]

i hope j cole doesnt end up on this list.. hes got potential

[Anthony]

[Big C-Dub]

Canibus. His skill is out of this world. Unfortunately, he has little idea how to construct a decent song...except for 2nd round KO, of course.

I thought this album was pretty dope...

but he never achieved mainstream success

[NAHSTE]

I really thought the Backwudz album would be more well received, I thought it was a solid debut. But I haven't heard from dudes since.

Also think that Nappy Roots should have gotten more play after their 2nd album dropped. They didn't completely not make it, but they could have been bigger.

Saigon is another good choice. I really thought he was gonna blow up and be the next (2003 version of) 50....

[Kuzzy Powers]

Grafh is the fucking man. I knew he was too gritty for mainstream success tho, so im not too surprised.

Papoose is one guy who I thought with all the buzz was definitely going to cross over, especially after he got with Busta and did the Touch It Remix. Unfortunately it never panned out for him.

[NAHSTE]

Grafh is the fucking man. I knew he was too gritty for mainstream success tho, so im not too surprised.

Papoose is one guy who I thought with all the buzz was definitely going to cross over, especially after he got with Busta and did the Touch It Remix. Unfortunately it never panned out for him.

I don't think Papoose's style had enough crossover appeal. Too northeastern mixtape rapper sounding for casual fans and southern fans to accept him. His nasally ass voice turned me off, but I never really listened that hard to him.

[Esjay]

Quan.

I still love this song.

[youtube]B1iRdarN6WY[/youtube]

[FedEx227]

I really thought the Backwudz album would be more well received, I thought it was a solid debut. But I haven't heard from dudes since.

Also think that Nappy Roots should have gotten more play after their 2nd album dropped. They didn't completely not make it, but they could have been bigger.

Saigon is another good choice. I really thought he was gonna blow up and be the next (2003 version of) 50....

Great choices on all 3.

The Backwudz had a pretty decent debut album, but yeah they just kind of disappeared.

As far as the Nappy Roots, I was a huge fan back in the day, they got a lot of radio play on their first album, but I'd argue Wooden Leather is a better overall record... unfortunately they just kind of fell off mainstream and that was that. You have to remember "CRUNK" was the big thing coming out of the south then and Nappy was not that sort of style.

Saigon yeah... what a shame. He's a guy like Budden who just can't seem to keep his head on straight, get releases out, etc. whether it's the labels or them, whatever... just disappoints me how he's never really released a full album. That's inexcusable for someone as talented as him.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoXZ0e2JZys"]YouTube - Saigon - Change Gon Come (prod. The Kickdrums)[/ame][ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdwDWHTtHls&feature=related"]YouTube - Saigon - Color Purple[/ame]

[Tailback U]

I really think Will Smith could have dominated the rap game if he had stuck with it.

[Coked Up Elmo]

I don't think Papoose's style had enough crossover appeal. Too northeastern mixtape rapper sounding for casual fans and southern fans to accept him. His nasally ass voice turned me off, but I never really listened that hard to him.

imo papoose is one of those artists who sounds great when he throws a verse or two in with another or a couple other artists, but i just dont think he has what it takes to do a full solo album, 21 gun salute was mediocre at best

[Big C-Dub]

you mean he had to buy his own ticket?