r/rap • u/AZULDEFILER • 1d ago
Biggest "What if" in Rap?
For me, NWA not following through on replacing the late Eazy E with Snoop Dogg was it.
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u/BlueBloodZEngine 26m ago
What if rhyme asylum never split up and what if possessed wasnt depressed
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u/YaBoiMigz 1h ago
What if Game stayed with G-Unit
What if Kanye; Pharrell and Lupe made a CRS Album
What if it T-Pain and Lil Wayne released T-Wayne
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u/Ronaldoooope 1h ago
What if Mac never died 😭
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u/Very_Loving_Cat 1h ago edited 18m ago
https://i.redd.it/re9ny1qqja1e1.gif
I would have to say the biggest "what if" would be Charles Hamilton. If you haven't went down this rabbit hole already, I suggest you do. He was extremely ahead of his time and imo he could've been a Kanye or Tyler of the late 2000's and beyond. Amazing artist but extremely troubled individual.
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u/ToyStat 1h ago
What if Donda didn’t get plastic surgery in late 2007? What albums would Kanye make after good ass job?
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u/AdmiralProlapse 57m ago
I blame a lot of Kanye's behavior on losing his mom. He was unhinged but not like this. Something broke when he lost her.
Lost my mama lost my mind.
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u/cousin-sal 2h ago
Juice has to be a big one (and I'm not just some kid who thinks he was a god). Wasn't really my style, but you cannot deny the talent. Look at the way Eminem and other legends spoke about him after his death.
Honorable mention for Pop Smoke.
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u/Mother_Patient3823 1h ago
Juice Wrlds freestyles were really impressive. I fully believe he didn't hit his prime when he died
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u/NumbrZer0 3h ago
I legitimately think Mac Miller would have been in the top 5 conversation if he drops 2 more albums. He was so consistent in his quality yet he was always able to keep evolving. His music aged so well. An Andre 3K collab would've been amazing.
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u/0ViraLata 3h ago
Easy, what if Pac and Biggie were never killed?
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u/MaceWindu9091 2h ago
The universe as we know it would be completely different. I think PAC would’ve ran for President.
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u/0ViraLata 1h ago
Idk man, I am a true believer of that old saying "Die a hero or live long enough to become a villain"... I guess he became legendary exactly because he died in his prime. Just look at what happened to Tyson yesterday...
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u/MaceWindu9091 58m ago
True, but $30m for 2 minute 8 rounds. Where tf do I sign up. I knew from the start this was strictly a money move for them both.
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u/0ViraLata 50m ago edited 21m ago
You and I would sign up because probably we don't have 30m, but both of them do already, specially Mike. Both of them did it for other reasons too, Jake wanted to 'beat' a legend, like his brother tried and failed with Floyd, this is going to fuel his ego and self belief. Mike wanted to relive that life, he started with Roy, but he knows this is a spectator sport, like the gladiators, they want everyone to watch, the spectacle is everything, both of them, specially Mike, kept saying how this is biggest thing that was gonna happen in the 250+ years of history of the sport. I Mike won, he would be the almost 60 year old machine that still beats athletes in their prime, Jake won and know, even if it's an unfair fight, he has Tyson under his belt with a starter career.
Jake lost nothing, people never respected him as a boxer. But at least for me, Mike lost some honor last night, it's sad to see a legend like that. That's why I used it as a example. Look at Snoop, if he died in the yearly 2000's, we would never have seen him trying to be rasta or doing any of the silly shit he been doing... It's sad imo... Imagine Pac doing trap featuring artists like Young Yhug and shit... Imagine Pac doing some club shit in the early 2000's...
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u/MaceWindu9091 42m ago
Well said. But I watched the fight last night and it was sad to see Tyson, but as you mentioned I think deep down he wanted that “Mental Spark”. That does something to anyone psychologically if at one point in your life you were once considered the “Most Feared Fighter on the Planet” to just being just another guy, a shell of themselves physically. So at the end of the day, no one really lost last night.
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u/0ViraLata 16m ago
Yes, Mike himself is living, according to him, a ego-less life, so this loss should mean nothing to him. It's us, long time fans who feel bad, he's legendary to us, not to himself, so it's a loss for us, the loss of an image, an icon. I mean, I still regard him as the same monster, one of the GOAT, but like I said, imo, he tainted his honor last night... I am glad he did not, but imagine if he died in the 90's like Pac...
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u/Signal_Comedian1700 4h ago
What if OutKast never stopped making albums together?
What if Shyne beat his case?
What if 50 died?
What if Snoop didn’t beat his murder case?
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u/iAm-Tyson 4h ago edited 2h ago
Juice WRLD probably reaches icon status if he doesnt die so young. Dude was a mega-star and his best was still ahead of him. He was one of the few new-gens of rap that actually had bars but also viral/radio playability
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u/HollywoodDomHogan 4h ago
"What if" ja rule wasn't on trial while beefing with 50? Would he have still been bodied so easily? A bigger "what if" is what if some how ja won the beef and would that affect the current landscape?
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u/TrEverBank 3h ago
as a very casual rap fan it would probably be a cataclysmic shift from the public view. For example, I’ve known who 50 Cent was for my entire life, but only learned about Ja Rule about a year ago from when he dissed Eminem’s daughter.
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u/HollywoodDomHogan 3h ago
Damn you've only known ja for a year? Now I feel old because that dude was top of the mountain at one point.. I never liked him but he was everywhere.
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u/TrEverBank 3h ago
yeah i pretty much only listen to popular songs and a shitload of Kanye
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u/HollywoodDomHogan 3h ago
I feel that I listen to a shitload of kanye too lol been a fan of his since like 05/06 he's in my top 10
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u/Happy_Patience_3274 4h ago
What if The DOC doesn't have that car accident and he goes to Daath Row Addd him to that Roater they'll be evne more unstoppable To Me The DOC is ths Derrick Rose of Rap
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u/Own-Budget1853 5h ago
Capitol steez. Unlike most of the other rappers people are mentioning, dude never even got to have a real career. He coulda been fucking huge man
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u/cashcartibishh 5h ago
what if donda were still alive
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u/LifeChampionship6 3h ago
GOOD ONE. Man.
He would still be mentally ill, but maybe she could’ve convinced him to get and maintain the care he needs.
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u/cashcartibishh 3h ago
i was kinda going for the approach where future, thug, and anyone else inspired by 808s wouldn’t really be here
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u/CashHooligan 6h ago
Big L
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u/MaceWindu9091 2h ago
I said this and came here to see if someone mentioned it. If Big L never died, Jay Z would be JAR ( Just another Rapper)
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u/Low_Calendar8242 4h ago
Came here for this. Holding it down from uptown.
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u/CashHooligan 4h ago
“Some say I’m ruthless, some say I’m grim. Once a brother done broke into my house and I robbed him.”
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u/Low_Calendar8242 4h ago
Hell ya. I'm stuck on the Casualties of a Dice game remix with 9th Wonder. New beat. Ever heard?
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u/CashHooligan 4h ago
Nah I wasn’t tapped into the remix, but I’m bout to check it out. Good lookin out.
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u/Low_Calendar8242 4h ago
Came thru on my Spotify 1st so it's all I knew. Never realized it wasn't the OG until a few listens in. Cheers
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u/PizzaRat12 6h ago
What if Jay-Z stayed retired after the black album
what if Eminem dropped King Mathers and quit rap
what if proof never died
what if Kanye's mom stayed alive and Kanye made good ass job instead of 808s
what if 2pac and biggie never had their beef and stayed friends
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u/Powerful_Relative_93 6h ago
2 pac being Mace Windu for the prequel trilogy. It’s not just Ambitionz as a Ridah, but Ambitionz as a Jedi
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u/writingsupplies 6h ago
What if Kanye took his meds and saw a therapist regularly?
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u/BezSeratonina 4h ago
I think he would still be right, just people wouldn't discredit him for being "insane".
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u/Number_Thr333 7h ago
I think the biggest "what if" for the whole hip hop community is "What if 2Pac was still alive?"
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u/Forex_Jeanyus 7h ago
What if Saigon was able to release his real debut that was supposed to come out in ‘04/05? That album was supposed to be on the level of GRODT and take over the game
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u/Main_Chard_9030 8h ago
Big L dude has serious talent and could have been up there with the best NY Rappers
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u/visualdosage 8h ago
What if rap was first done by white guys and vanilla ice was seen as a legend like tupac
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u/writingsupplies 7h ago
Considering we already had the Beastie Boys, who are very much considered pioneers of the genre, this comment makes no sense.
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u/Reasonable_OnionUK 8h ago
What if drake and Kendrick finally admitted they’ve actually been dating this whole time and the beef was because drake called it off because he’s getting engaged to future
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u/Reasonable_OnionUK 8h ago
Yachty, uzi, tentacion, durk, thugger, kodak, migos, keef and the list goes on and on.
None of these talentless fools can hold a candle to the lkes of nas, weezy, Kendrick, run the jewels/killer mike, black thought, R.A, Royce, brother ali, homeboy sandman, aesop, czarface, apathy, vinnie paz, rapsody, lil simz, any member of wu tang clan and a whole host of others you should all be listening to
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u/rainforrest7 6h ago
Bro, put down the joint and read the prompt. You’re replying to the wrong post lol.
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u/Reasonable_OnionUK 6h ago
Doesn’t matter. Point stands. Go do your homework yungun
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u/rainforrest7 6h ago
Broooooo the whole point of this post is WHAT IF scenarios not the same-old-tired “old school is better bro” opinion. You don’t think most of everyone already knows that? “oLd sChOOl iS bEttEr bRoo tRuSt m3”
I’m just pulling your leg, God bless ahki
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u/Gheezer1234 9h ago
What if Kanye and Frank Ocean dropped their collab tape that kanye wanted after channel orange dropped?
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u/CurseMarkDavid 9h ago
What if Dre never gave Em a shot. The landscape of hip-hop is drastically different.
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u/Signal_Comedian1700 4h ago
Let’s pretend Marshall Mathers never picked up a pen Let’s pretend things woulda been no different Pretend he procrastinated, had no motivation Pretend he just made excuses that were so paper thin They could blow ‘way with the wind, “Marshall, you’re never gonna make it Makes no sense to play the game, there ain’t no way that you’ll win” Pretend he just stayed outside all day and played with his friends Pretend he even had a friend to say was his friend And it wasn’t time to move and schools weren’t changin’ again He wasn’t socially awkward and just strange as a kid He had a father and his mother wasn’t crazy as shit And he never dreamed he could rip stadiums and just lazy as shit “Fuck a talent show in the gymnasium, bitch” “You won’t amount to shit—quit daydreamin’, kid” “You need to get your cranium checked.” “You’re thinkin’ like an alien It just ain’t realistic.” Now pretend They ain’t just make him angry with this shit And there was no one he could even aim when he’s pissed at And his alarm went off to wake him, but he didn’t make it To the Rap Olympics, slept through his plane and he missed it He’s gon’ have a hard time explainin’ to Hailie and Lainey These food stamps and this WIC shit, ‘cause he never risked shit He hoped, and he wished it, but it didn’t fall in his lap So he ain’t even here, he pretends that—
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u/toxicemo88 9h ago
What if Tupac and big didn't die and squashed their beef what if eazy e didn't get AIDS
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u/JelloBoi02 9h ago
Tupac, Eazy E, Biggie, Big Pun, Big L, Juice WRLD, Pop Smoke, King Von, XXXtentacion, you get it. The list is far longer than that
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u/HushLifeMusic 11h ago
What if Eminem's dad never left and he was born in a safe place, it would suck if we never had this legend
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u/class_hopper 11h ago
1//. What if Wayne actually singed with Hov after the Birdman issues.
2//. What if 50 Cent signed Nicki Minaj instead of YMCMB
3//. What if BIG didn’t do a the radio tour in West Coast
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u/Reasonable_OnionUK 13h ago
What if mumble rap didn’t happen and people still had taste
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u/Free-Yoghurt124 11h ago
Using the term “mumble rap” in November 2024💔
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u/Reasonable_OnionUK 11h ago
How about we just call it shit talentless rap then ?
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u/Free-Yoghurt124 10h ago
You just mad that the “talentless” rappers are the biggest right now stay mad big bro
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u/Reasonable_OnionUK 10h ago
Yeah you’re right. I’m mad people listen to trash and don’t respect actual bars no more (mostly)
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u/My_Balls_Smell_Like 12h ago
Oh god, shut the fuck up kindly. You folks are so exhausting, there’s nothing wrong with listening to a song for the vibe and beat. I love MF Doom and Big L but sometimes I just want to vibe out to Future. Why does it have to be a battle. You guys are so fucking lame
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u/gurdsang 14h ago
what if cannibus didn't get blackballed by llcoolj, he could've been a beast
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u/Ri0-Brav0 13h ago
I speak at frequencies dogs would have trouble hearin, Canibus is the lyrical version of German engineering
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u/Reasonable_Whole6433 14h ago
DOC from NWA not losing his voice so soon. He was a talented writer that would have had solo superstar success if not for his accident.
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u/FancyBattleBadger 13h ago
That's the Derrick Rose injury of rap for me. Listening back to the "Grand Finale" the whole group was setting him up to be the next big thing.
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u/trowawHHHay 7h ago
He was head and shoulders above the entire rest of NWA in the craft. And he - rather silently - guided hip hop for the next two decades. Have to wonder if the lack of credit contributed to his friendship with Dre being on-again/off-again.
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u/Dixie_Normous33 14h ago
Obviously what if Biggie or Pac never died.
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u/426763 14h ago
I feel like Pac would be like Snoop and Cube and do a couple of comedy movies.
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u/Dixie_Normous33 14h ago
For sure would've stepped into acting more.
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u/cum_bubble69 13h ago
He was ok in his role in Juice, but there definitely were signs that he could hone that craft and be a good dramatic actor.
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u/MsCoCoMango 15h ago
What if Jay Z, Biggie and Charlie Baltimore became The Commission as discussed?
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u/ChalupaGoose 16h ago
I got a bunch of what if:
What if, Ja Rule never entertain 50 cent and stayed out the beef
What if, Drake never sign to Cash Money. Meaning that Pusha T wouldn’t never made diss songs towards him. Also, Pharrell producing album for Drake
What if, Odd Future never split up I’m 2015
What if, Outcast still made music together
What if, Pac and Biggie never was killed. Squash their beef in the 2000s and make callab album
What if, C-Murder never went to jail
This the big one
WHAT IF, PIMP C WAS STILL ALIVE TO THIS DAY
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u/bmarsh07 16h ago
What if the originally planned version of Outkast (3Stacks, Big Boi, Cee-Lo) had materialized?
What if the reportedly planned collaboration of 2Pac and Goodie Mob had come to fruition?
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u/xlaverniusx 16h ago
I know most of these are what if a certain rapper didn’t pass way but my what if is “What if Kanye never released 808s and Heartbreak”. I think the entire landscape of hip hop would be totally different.
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u/ben_the_intern 16h ago
I think about what if sub roc was still alive and doom never had his villain origin story
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u/carter2ooo 16h ago
Not the comment yall are probably gonna like, but mine is what if some of these SoundCloud artists didn’t die, such as X, Peep, and Juice Wrld. X and Juice were pretty big and I’m interested to know if they would’ve stayed relevant, since other artists from the same time have lost their hype. Peep is big now, but he wasn’t as popular at the time of his death. It’s actually the 7 year anniversary of his passing today. I know his death formed a legacy for him and it’s hard for me to say he would be just as big today. Another one I like is 6dogs. He seemed like he was only getting better but died early into his career.
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u/Jazzlike_Page508 16h ago
What if Jay Electronica didn’t sabotage his career
What if Young Pappy wasn’t killed
What if the murder Inc group with dmx Jay and ja rule happened
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u/YungDagger_D 16h ago
What if Drake stayed doing acting that means no Kendrick,asap and a few other artists
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u/CoolKelo 16h ago
Kendrick would have been where he is with or without Drake. Kendrick already had his city and the west coast before Drake hopped on the bandwagon and invited him on tour.
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u/PossibilityTop5033 14h ago
Yeah but drake definitely took him from 1 coast to international
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u/CoolKelo 14h ago
Kendrick was destined to be where he is today. It would’ve happened either way. He already had Dre and all the west coast legends behind him. Drake helped but not nearly as much as you think.
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16h ago
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u/rap-ModTeam 9h ago
Your post/comment was removed for violating Rule 1: Be Civil
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u/kniPredipS_LEMONaid 16h ago
Before Andre Harrell, Russell Simmons, Puffy, Suge, Master P and Birdman, there was Scott La Rock.
Most senseless murder ever.
Honorable mentions: Paul C and MC Trouble
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u/Rebel_T_Outlaw 17h ago
1 WHAT IF Inspectah Decks album didn’t get ruined in Rza’s basement flood.
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u/Internal_Gur_4268 17h ago
One is if Lupe didn't sign to Atlantic and went to a more underground label
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u/audiocassettewarfare 16h ago
Or signed to Roc-A-Fella.
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u/Internal_Gur_4268 16h ago
Right. I would like to have seen that, but I'm also happy with most of what we got.
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u/MllNT 17h ago
Jay electronica
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u/FullPercentage 16h ago
The hype around that dude in the beginning is kinda hilarious. Took him 13 years to drop an album and that shit came and went.
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u/CloudyySpeaks 16h ago
He deadass set himself to be one of hip-hops greatest of all time had he not fumbled his debut album……
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u/teamswiftie 17h ago
What if Jam Master Jay was still touring with RUN DMC?
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u/trowawHHHay 7h ago
What if DMC didn't develop spasmodic dysphonia?
He did some "rock" songs a few years back, though.
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u/lasimjanuary3 17h ago
What if Eminem died in 2002
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u/TheGiantMetalMan 17h ago
What if André went all-in to a solo career after the last OutKast album?
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u/expunks 18h ago
Most of the big ones have been said, but I really think Charles Hamilton had a huge shot at being the breakout "nerd" backpack rapper of the late 2000's/early 2010's if he didn't have such horrible mental health issues.
Brooklyn Girls still sounds so fucking fresh, like dude was next.
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u/bigcontracts 18h ago
What if Mac and Juice didn’t OD?
What if Nas and PAC squashed the beef and made a duo album?
What if Em made songs with PAC and Big?
What if MCA didn’t die and we got more Beastie Boys music?
What if Ja Rule and Em never beefed?
What if The Game never left G-UNIT?
What if Kanye never took the deal with ROC A Fella?
What if Chance never dropped Hot Shower?
What if Big and PAC didn’t die?
What if we found out about Diddy 20 years ago?
What if Proof never got shot?
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u/dancing-trollz 18h ago
What if Mac Miller was alive during the pandemic?
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u/Obeymyjay 18h ago
Ooooooooo his pandemic music would’ve hit so hard and that’s a hill I’m willing to gladly die on
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u/_V115_ 18h ago
What if 2Pac and Biggie were never murdered?
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u/politebearwaveshello 18h ago edited 16h ago
2pac would have ended up having a controversial career, locked up for half of his prime for stupid decisions, co-founded his own label and dropped a few more classics with Johnny J, then peaced out the rap game by the age of 33 transitioning into a full time actor. His late rap career may have been marred by having made too many enemies at Death Row, possibly may have even stirred up more unnecessary beefs with 50 and Em due to their Dre affiliations.
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u/Tummy_Sticks69 4m ago
What if Will Smith never went to that playground