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It's just that he's never carried it all by himself. He's in a band where the drummer is the star, at least to most people. He started out with a rhyme partner. Ever since Phrenology he's held it down with a little help from Dice and a couple of other guys. He's so impressive and nasty on the mic that he intimidates his peers. Therefore, he only has a handful of guest spots. And his biggest hit is most known for the guest vocalist.
He just has very little star power. A je ne sais situation.
Tell me this. If you were a rapper, there's almost no point of putting Thought on your record. He's going to come with some ridiculous bars and that laid back Philly flow that makes it all seem effortless, and make you look like a fool. You can try to come better, but everyone knows he's a monster. Except that he doesn't move the needle economically. Cats that love him and The Roots love them, but they have never been the biggest sellers of records.
And then it comes to you. When anyone listens to the lyrics of what this dude says, you realize his calm and deliberate delivery are part of the reason he's not seen as dope as he is. His flow very rarely gets particularly hyper, and the dude is just the most consistent emcee of all time. Every verse you know EXACTLY what you're getting, and he never fails to deliver. He's a beast with almost no signature wins. However, he's undefeated. As much as I love this cat, I can't think of any of his verses. He's so superlative that it's unremarkable.
And now that I think of it, I hate to actually say this, but I think that the band holds him back just a little. He very rarely gets to rock over any of the great producers of the day. And that's no slight to the band, it's just a lack of diversity in sound. I don't know of any song with him over a Primo/Pete Rock/Dr. Dre/Timbaland/whoever's hot beat. The closest thing I can think of is Live at the PJ's by the X-Ecutioners. His solo would have solidified him as a top whatever rapper, but was not to be. It's shame, because his Mona Lisa is incredible. You're such pests...now, what is it you want? In your depths of your ignorance, what is it you want? Well, whatever it is you want, I can't deliver because I just don't see it. - Orson Welles
Never Tired, Always Sleepy
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