10 Rappers Who Lost Their Aura

#10: Lil Mosey

Seattle rapper Lil Mosey shot to fame with some early viral moments in the late 2010s, momentum he built on with his biggest hit, 2020’s “Blueberry Faygo”. His music was popular with younger listeners, sure, but critically, he was viewed as somewhat disposable. However, his rise was stunted by a 2021 assault case that followed him all the way up to 2023, becoming a focus of attention during a crucial period in his career. In the end, he was found ‘not guilty’, but the public remained somewhat split over how to view Lil Mosey. Since then, while he has continued to release music, his singles have not quite made the same splash.

#9: Desiigner

Most artists dream of having a breakout as successful as Desiigner did with “Panda”. When you strike gold like that, though, following it up is going to be difficult. It’s not as if that was the only thing working against him either. Many of his critics described him as little more than a Future clone, one that had far less staying power. He also entered a period of some very erratic public behaviour, which led him to a string of legal issues. Although the jury is still out on whether he can fully avoid his ‘one hit wonder’ label, Desiigner’s trajectory certainly veered pretty heavily off-course.

#8: Lil Pump

The success of Lil Pump’s “Gucci Gang” was indeed tremendous, but it was also very clearly built off of a sound and style that could easily be classified as a ‘novelty’. Over time, though, people started to grow tired of Lil Pump’s formula and his general attempts to court attention. As time went on, it was clear that the spark was dying, and the sales began to suffer. Despite a constant stream of releases, Lil Pump’s commercial peak was getting further and further away. After two top-10 US albums in a row, his third LP, “Lil Pump 2”, failed to chart altogether, signalling to us all that the interest had officially died down.

#7: DaBaby

There was no denying that DaBaby initially struck gold with his early breakout releases. However, it didn’t take long for problems to arise. Opinions remain divided on whether DaBaby’s decline is down to his abrasive personality or his lack of artistic evolution. In reality, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle. He caught quite a lot of heat for comments he made during a 2021 concert in Florida, with many accusing him of homophobia. The commercial drop-off wasn’t instant, but he slowly fell out of his consistent spot in the top-10, sliding further down the charts with each release.

#6: Macklemore

Nobody can deny the radio-readiness of Macklemore’s biggest hits. Songs like “Thrift Shop” have deeply embedded themselves in pop culture, holding their place to this day. Unfortunately, after the heights he reached alongside Ryan Lewis with their album “The Heist”, he hasn’t quite managed to deliver the goods. It’s not his fault that the album somehow beat out Kendrick Lamar’s bona fide classic “good kid, m.A.A.d city” at the 2014 Grammys, but people still tend to hold it against him. For many, Macklemore’s music simply got a bit too preachy for its own good, and the initial excitement and buzz that surrounded him quickly faded.

#5: Ja Rule

Coming out on the losing end of a feud with one of hip-hop’s biggest players is always going to be a tough one. For Ja Rule, he bit off way more than he could chew by going head-to-head with 50 Cent, but it wasn’t the only thing that caused his downfall. His music worked well in the era that birthed it, but critics were quick to point out just how similar he was to some of his contemporaries - in particular, 2Pac and DMX. It almost became cool to hate on Ja Rule after 50 Cent reduced him to a punchline. When you factor in his disastrous association with the infamous Fyre Festival controversy, it all makes for a pretty bleak picture.

#4: Tekashi 6ix9ine

When he first burst on the scene, everything about Tekashi 6ix9ine demanded your attention. If there has been one consistent truth about success in hip-hop, though, it’s that shock value is not built to last. His initial splash was a big one, but when the novelty faded, his numbers started to drop. He was also found to have co-operated with authorities after getting arrested on gang and racketeering charges in 2019. In other words, he snitched. Considering the image he had been trying to project, this ended up killing his credibility and, with it, his aura. These days, many fans view him as a relic of late-2010s internet rap culture rather than a major artist with lasting influence or cultural weight.

#3: MC Hammer

As hip-hop grew into the mainstream, there were legitimate concerns over the genre losing its authenticity. MC Hammer certainly generated some real attention when he burst onto the scene - and to this day, “U Can’t Touch This” remains a staple of radio playlists. As the 90s progressed and gangsta rap became a dominant force, it became increasingly easy to see MC Hammer’s style as outdated. He couldn’t quite live up to the success of his biggest hit, and as his sales declined and his financial woes increased, he became known less and less for his artistic craft.

#2: Vanilla Ice

Hip hop purists were never going to pay too much attention to a song like “Ice Ice Baby”. The track was, of course, intended as more of a pop song than a serious piece of hip-hop art anyway. The problems began to arise when Vanilla Ice’s image began to fall apart - with many accusing him of manufacturing his persona to achieve street cred. Either way, the music itself had also plateaued by the time his second album dropped. From there, his sales plummeted, leading to his modern-day reputation as one of the era’s most clear-cut ‘one-hit wonders’.

#1: Kanye West

Despite never truly losing his relevance in news cycles, Kanye West’s general reputation has taken quite a huge hit in the last decade or so. His eccentricity was always a key component of his appeal, but as he grew more erratic and controversial, the quality of his work eventually started to suffer. Being a disruptor and a magnet for attention is one thing, but West, through his comments and actions, really began to burn bridges with his fans. His classic-era run of albums are untouchable, sure, but to say that Ye has had a hard time finding his mojo again would be an understatement.

But who do you think had the biggest drop-off in the history of hip-hop? Let us know in the comments below.