9 Artists Who Should Have Blown Up Big…But Didn’t

January 11th, 2012 - By IndigoBlack

What does it really take to make it in the music business? A few hit songs? A banging body you’re willing to show off? You would hope that the only requirement would be that an individual be talented, but there are so many people on the top of the charts proving us wrong. There have been many super talented and entertaining musicians that should have the status and household name notoriety that dudes like LMFAO (“Party Rock Anthem”) have right now, but they don’t. It’s an injustice! Wondering who? Check out our list of people who are known but not the big superstars they should be, and feel our pain as we talk about why these talented folks never blew up like they should have.

Lil’ Mo

After a co-worker shared the throwback video with me for her jam “4Ever,” I was inspired to write this story. I haven’t seen Lil’ Mo in a while (she was one of the many “Lil’”s of the new millenium), but when she first came out, singing on tracks for Missy and teaming up with Fabolous to rep for the “Superwoman” we ladies can be, she was awesome. That’s why I was surprised she didn’t blow. Maybe it was because of all the tattoos, or the fact that she wasn’t trying to shake her a** for cash like others, but alas, she’s nowhere near where she should be in her career.

Tags:

, , , , , ,
More from StyleBlazer
More from MommyNoire

Comment Disclaimer

Comments that contain profane or derogatory language, video links or exceed 200 words will require approval by a moderator before appearing in the comment section. XOXO-MN

← Older Comments
  • AreYouSerious??

    So you can rip on Taylor Swift in your top ten never should haves, but not name one JUST ONE white artist of any genre in your ton nine should haves…NICE…NNNOOOTTT!!!!! To think I also just read the article asking if white people know what racism means…REALLY? PPPLLLEEEAAASSSEEE….

  • DeltonP

    Only read about one artist that should have blown up, but I’m not going to click, and click, and click… just to get the rest of this article or other features on your site.  It seems awfully dishonest to me if it’s all about counting page clicks for advertisers and reporting that a person who might have wanted to read this article would’ve had to click so many times to get the whole story.  I’m over it – and not going to read anything more on your site or any others who play those games with people who are willing to give up their time to read something your site.

  • bohemia

    9 is too small of a number….With the exception of Ameriie,I agree with your selection.I had a tear in my eye when you mentioned Jaguar Wright.She is SO grossly underrated.Same with Freeway…Its artists are overlooked:J*Davey,Blu,Jean Grae,Foreign Exchange,Hollyweerd,newcomer Azalea Banks,Raheem DeVaughn,the list goes on and on and ondown to what most of us consider legendary among old school music lovers like Betty Davis and DeBarge.Sad how industry doesn’t recognize talent over gimmick…..

  • Hanky Panky

    Amerie can’t sing a lick live she sounded HORRIBLE on 106 and Park

  • Hennese

    You cant blow up mainstream UNLESS you “take that deal”. Do your reseearch people.

  • Nightmarex99

    Raheem Devaughn!

  • http://twitter.com/CannabisTVorg CannabisTV

    I don’t see the point of making a website that segregates like this. Only focus on blacks? Why perpetuate separation? I don’t care what color skin someone has. I won’t be back to this site again.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Tyrae-Buxton/25714431 Tyrae Buxton

    I don’t get the addition of Jaheim. He’s a watered-down version of a neosoul artist. 

  • Grownmn76

    Great article!!! I don’t know about your final choice. Freeway is definitely talented but I don’t know how anybody could listen to that voice for a whole LP. Glenn Lewis would’ve been a better choice. Your point was made though with both of your lists. How one looks, marketability, “swag”, and the same tired formula in today’s market seems to be more important than actual talent. The good artists and music are still out there, you just have to look harder.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/RARQK36A3CWDQWCANE5GZD4OPQ Richard

    Anggun,who had a great,if underrated,ballad called “Snow On The Sahara” back in ’98 should be on this list. She’s currently repping France in the Eurovision Song Contest with “Echo(You & I)”.

    Sweetbox(“Everything’s Gonna Be Alright”)belongs here too.

  • Ethnicbutee

    What about Zhane…those girls can bang out some tunes!

  • BobbyG

    Mos Def is big! By the fact that you never mentioned the Black Star lp
    but only mention his two most commercial songs, clearly indicates that
    you are late to MOs Def and you don’t know much about him. He has
    excelled on many levels. I think you should have included Lela James on this list. She was supposed to blow but never did. You are dead on with Amarie, I was just talking about that yesterday.

  • THAtruth

    Maybe the whole homo-thug thing sidetracked Jaheim, pretty hard to be singing about sexing up a woman, when everyone knows you’re singing about sexing up your dude…jus sayin’

  • sreed

    PHAROAHE MONCH’ should have been on this list some where

← Older Comments