If in in 1997 or 1998, Rawkus had put out full-length albums by L-Fudge, Shabaam Sadeeq, Sir Menelik, Black Attack, RA the Rugged Man, B-1, Rose Family, etc., then I feel like we could have a better comparison. I get that it was a different time when pressing a whole CD wasn't as easy to do as it is now, but playing the "What If...?" game with those albums holds Rawkus back. With Mello Music Group, you've never had to wonder, "Hmmmm, I wonder what an album by ______ would sound like?"

Regardless, after 1998/99, Rawkus lost just about all interest in the groups that built the label, with the exception of Mos & Kweli, and tried to move on to more commercial pastures. Mello Music has managed to grow their roster while still staying loyal to the artists that got them to this point.