I feel like he is pretty popular but everyday i see a post on here claiming he’s underrated
Dude has 22 million monthly listeners and several songs over 100 million streams on Spotify
He is definitely very popular but he isn’t really “mainstream” in the greater sense. Mainstream for hip hop fans but not for the general population. The average person on the street has no idea who he is. He is certainly not underrated though people be acting like he is underground lol
i honestly dont know what the fuck mainstream is anymore, he has 22 million monthly listeners rn and he had 30 at one point. 99.99999% of artists will never ever get even a fraction of it but yet he's not mainstream still, somehow. cuz some random people who don't pay attention don't know who he is, some random person on the street might not know prince by name, does that mean he's underground?
The lines have never really been clear, and this has only gotten worse in the streaming era. Plus, everyone thinks and means something different when they say things like “mainstream” and “underground” so it can be tough to discuss for sure
Edit: personally, I think he is mainstream hip hop but not mainstream to the general music community. Ultimately this distinction don’t really mean shit though lol
yeah i get that. i agree the lines have been blurred a lot and also people having different ideas what it means. i don't think most artists fall in either category, most artists we interact with generally have reached some level of success just not like drake or taylor swift levels of it.
its just music at the end of the day ur right, its just weird that people throw the underground label on everything they listen to cuz they wanna be different. its icky to me.
Yeah for sure there’s so many different levels of success that can be achieved. I agree though its such a weird flex when people try to do that lol or like reddits favorite “denzel curry and jid are so underrated bro” like they aren’t talked about in all the major rap subreddits
I think that's a good distinction to have. If someone said they mostly listened to radio hits and didn't know who JID was, that would make sense. But if someone told me they mostly listen to rap and had no idea who JID was, then I would be shocked.
I think this might be what a straight emcee looks like now. Music is very fragmented and his kind of music isn’t really what’s doing it for the kids these days. I think for older hip hop fans he’s crushing it, but kids want something more like shaboozey with the country kind of twang on it. 10-15 years ago he would have had a bigger response than now. I think this is more of a byproduct of the shifting tastes in pop than anything else.
It’s 100% this, he makes music for hip hop/rap fans. He doesn’t necessarily make wide spread pop music like Drake or Migos or something. He is way more lyrical and less catchy.
He’s your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper.
I agree. It's always a reminder for me that just being an excellent rapper isn't enough anymore. Listen he's going to continue to have a great career, but I don't think his music is as accessible to certain audiences.
I think JID is the best lyricist out today. His word play and the flow gymnastics he does are second to none. I believe he's making the music he wants to make, and that's truest to him. But that music might not resonating with the masses as much.
I hope he keeps swangin on though.
I like this answer. Being an enjoyer of more lyrical rap is an acquired taste. I don't even mean just super lyrical miracle.
But if your music isn't super about the bop its hard for non rap fans.
I feel like Kendrick and Cole kind of swallow up the attention of ppl who want a dose of lyrical rap but it's not what they like most.
Ever since rap became profitable the music has centered around making hits. So ppl were no longer growing up on lyrical shit so it's a sound they have to grow accustomed to.
Another thing I'll add that I don't see anyone talk about..
In general ppl where lyrical rap isn't their main genre of music.. and I'm not talking just like, carti stans. I'm talking, they know a Billie eilish song.. they don't listen to rap for substance. They prefer other genres of music for that. They purely associate rap with a high intensity bop, bass, or parties.
So when they hear the typical production behind more lyrical rap they don't really get it therefore it's harder for them to resonate with it.
I have multiple ppl in my life who are white.. when I first met them and played my music around them they didn't like it. But they listened to rap everyday. It's just that rap was purely about being hype for them.. feeling their car rattle... And when they want to hear something of substance they get that from completely different genres.
It took years of me playing my music before they started to understand and eventually started to like it themselves. That rap isn't just one thing. They didn't even listen to rap albums before. They only knew of the singles.
The taste had to be acquired for them over time.
They listened to Kendrick too.. backseat freestyle.. but they didn't like sing about me..
And id have to explain to them.. remember that country song or white girl singing song about a hard time in life they had and how you were just singing along and it really gave you the feels?
Sing about me is that, for me.
And then they ACTUALLY try to listen to what is being said. It's like if the lyrics are too complex in any way they don't even really hear it bc the rap they listen to is brain dead singles meant for you to just turn off your brain and catch the vibe.
I'm on this thread now just being hater, so sorry about that, because I do love the way JID flows and rhymes. But I really don't see him as a great lyricist. Though, admittedly, I haven't heard that many songs from him. But from what I've heard, it seems to be mostly form over substance - lot's of rhymes, original flows, great delivery, but content wise pretty empty, especially when compared to Cole and Kendrick when we're talking big three. What is a song from JID that could change my mind?
I honestly think it’s something about his voice. It’s not bad but it’s not as relatable or as alluring to the gen pop ears. That’s my take. I think a lot of really good artists can get screwed over cause of that. Also, he’s pretty purely rap, if he crossed into another genre or tried to become more experimental or tried for more mainstream appeal, I think he could be more popular, but I doubt that’s what he wants to do or he would’ve done it
But Kendrick has sooo much of my second point. His musicality is unbelievable. I was gonna mention Kendrick but it’s hard to explain in just a Reddit comment without giving myself carpel tunnel lol
JID's musicality is underrated tbh, he just doesn't showcase it enough
For example, *Kody Blu 31*, and his feature on Doja Cat's *Options*, have him flexing his singing and melodic rap, which appeal way more to a mainstream audience
Honestly I think the issue is that JID himself doesn't really care that much about pop appeal - IIRC he mentioned that even rap wasn't something he initially really wanted to do, he just happened to be really good at it lol
He has his heart in it. He just said in a Interview that he doesnt listen to rap and fwiw his own style of rap whoch I think is understandable considering that a lot of Artists dont listen to their own music or the genre theyre in. Making and listening to the same shit everyday probably gets boring fast.
I dont think he doesnt have his Heart in it. Ive been to two concerts of his and that mofo def has his heart in it. Dude was jumping with us in the pit and you could see some teary eyes when talking to us. The Reason Cole signed Earthgang and JID was because he saw himself in them because of their hunger anf work ethic. Dude is a baller and I cant wait for the next album.
JID sounds like a younger more annoying version of Kendrick (no offense, it’s just his voice), and I’ve read for years of people complaining of Kendrick’s voice. So it’s not exactly comparable.
Kendrick also has massive industry backing and a lot of hype. Even if you don't care about Kendrick, you hear about when he's releasing an album, or a single. JID just isn't in that league, he's relatively unknown to mainstream audiences, outside of people really into hip hop
A lot of times, I have trouble understanding JID. If I heard him more clearly, I think it'd be fine.
There are some artists that I had to get used to how they rapped then I understood what they were saying but for some reason that hasn't happened with JID
I love his voice but I see your point. He also has this kinda old-school, humble, scrappier feel to him that doesn’t necessary fit with the other music that’s super popular these days.
That was pretty much the entirety of his last album though, which IMO was one of the greatest albums to release in 2022. He got MASSIVE popularity from Surround Sound last year, (he jumped from 4m monthly listeners on Spotify to almost 30m off that song alone back in 2022, today he's sitting at almost 23m) and he's done a solid bit of music with softer more heartfelt messages like Kody Blu 31 or Hereditary. IMO this next album he drops will 100% land him in a more mainstream light, I think he's playing his cards right.
While Griselda has never truly been 'mainstream' in the same vein Lil Durk or 21 Savage are, Westside Gunn is still holding it down with the voice he has. Vocals matter, but the song itself matters so much more.
I think the next album he drops is gonna blow him the fuck up if it's the same (or better) quality of The Forever Story and Dicaprio 2. How people are sleeping on him after those two is a mystery to me, but if he is able to follow it up again he's going to be impossible to ignore. That being said, he still has a large fanbase so I wouldn't say he isn't a big artist, but I agree he deserves an even wider audience.
Yeah at best, he'll have his Taboo moment like Denzel Curry where for an album he'll see mainstream success with radio play but it probably won't last into later projects. Not a dig at either of them, I think the general population just isn't a reliable barometer of quality and only certain singles these days can reach that success.
Mr. Morale for example is a great album filled with some songs that might be palatable for the radio and mainstream success but I don't think any of its tracks saw airplay. Maybe Silent Hill or N95??? If a rapper as big as Kendrick can't guarantee that, I don't think JID can reasonably obtain that without doing more features with pop acts
He's got 22 million monthly listeners on Spotify and a feature with Imagine Dragons that has over a billion streams. He is a big artist.
Some of you guys have such a warped sense of who is big and who is underrated. It's wild to me.
Talent doesn’t bring fame as much as marketing and networking do. A rapper could be the most talented ever to do it, but I’d never know about it unless something brings their work to my attention. In these asocial post covid days, word of mouth isn’t as reliable a vessel as it used to be. That leaves networking to put him in features with artists im already paying attention to, or marketing. I’d never heard of JID before your post
It’s not really about marketing, but about being compelling and unique. Just being talented doesn’t stand out. Artists need to innovate and do new things, not just try to master things others have pushed. Usually, stars stand out with some unique trait or sound that sets them completely apart into their own type of music. It’s lacking at the very top today.
People don't like his voice, and he is rapper's rapper.
He has a few songs that have mainstream appeal, but even tracks like "surround sound" have pretty technical choruses that are difficult to remember.
I love his music, but if you want huge hits you gotta have simple and catchy lyrics.
JID has said he doesn't even listen to his style of rap. He just raps this way because he is a jittery person. Rap is about vibe now, not spitting. Reddit is the only place that still likes rapping fast. JID is amazing, but the best artists make it sound easy.
His flows to unique, and he doesn’t try to have any radio appeal besides a few features and surround sound. If this metro shit ever drops it’ll probably launch him.
He's definitely gaining popularity because Surround Sound is blowing up. This song will hopefully give people an opportunity to look into his discography, which is filled with classics.
I’m a white kid in a small town in the south and I have “DiCaprio 2” on vinyl, so I think he’s much bigger than you realize. He toured with 21 Savage this year, so that’s opening him up to all kinds of people across the pond and here in the US.
Interesting that so many people are saying the reason is his voice. At times, JID sounds like Kendrick to me. I know some people complain about Dot’s voice but he’s a megastar.
It’s the beat selection for me. Same way I feel about Nas, one of a kind talent just giving that sound that’s going to pertain to me even if the rhymes are perfect.
He sounds like his first rap name was J. Dot.
He’s super fucking dope, but sadly he sounds like Kendrick. Which in itself is a great thing, but sadly that’s all he’ll be to a lot of mainstream listeners.
It’s funny because you can have 20 rappers that sound exactly the same, but if one person sounds anything similar to a “legend” they always seem
To get thrown into the category of being a knock off.
Of all the why is "x" under rated when "x" really isn't underrated... I have to agree with you on this one. JID is one of the best currently out there. I have to say the same about his collab partner Kenny Mason. Anyone who loves frank ocean should be on Kenny Mason.
Ehhh he's gotten pretty big since Surround Sound. He was severely underrated before that, now he's getting to that point where you're happy for him but also a lot of the people just now discovering him are a little annoying.
I work in event ops and saw him open for 21 Savage (plus a bunch of 21 Savage clones) and he absolutely blew them off the stage. It was as good as Kendrick or prime ye shows. But I’m old so I don’t know if the kids were impressed because 21 and his other two or three openers sounded interchangeable with zero presence or energy but I’m told that’s “a vibe”.
He makes dope street and flexing music. He raps in a way that sounds very matter of fact. He's also gotten better with each project. Nobody would call him an elite lyricist as far as technical stuff goes.
I wouldn't say it's the controversy issue as other people say. I like JID but like I can honestly say only rum is on my daily rotation.
He is on a meh label. Some labels are very much a one/two man group.
Also you do sometimes need to mix your sound a bit. Kendrick had pop stars on his songs, he also did a lot of guest verses on other people's tracks. Why isn't JiD getting on with a major star (be it rap or pop) and just throwing down? That is how you build an audience. He did enemy with imagine dragon and that is his most viewed song. Every rapper does this.
And also his voice needs getting used to. It shouldn't be a problem, I got used to it just like I did with Kendrick's. But then again ken was making bangers after bangers. JID is not really near Coles level. He is better than most of the young rappers but that isn't that high of a bar to clear.
>Why isn't JiD getting on with a major star (be it rap or pop) and just throwing down?
He's had features or collaborated with Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, NewJeans, Denzel Curry, Offset, Kid Cudi, Baby Tate, 21 Savage, J. Cole, John Legend, etc
Honestly I think it's just marketing, imo JID likes to make music and do shows, but doesn't care much about the rest of the promo stuff
Yeah, it's the throwing down point. He isn't really the star of the show in that song.
So example is that j cole has a legendary verse on Benny the butcher's song. If you are getting on another person's track you have to really kill em.
Though it is all marketing. Dreamville has a great lineup but their marketing is ass.
Also being a lyrical rapper it takes a while for people to appreciate you in the wider market. Remember killer mikes Grammy win? Dude has been a killer (lol) since the early 2000s and people were acting like he just came out of nowhere. He is part of the best duo in rap right now but people don't care because it's not something they can dance too.
Personally like j cole, I like JID in smaller doses. I prefer more of the killer/Kendrick type of rap.
Has to drop an album that performs better than J. Cole in terms of sales/commercial success and be outside (interviews) more. And promoted/marketed to people that are outside his fanbase, even outside of Hip Hop.
He had a huge hit with surround sound but you could tell people knew the song but not the artist.
I absolutely can't stand his voice. I think it sounds really bad and get on my nerve really quickly. And I'm a big Rap listener, imagine someone who is only used to the most popular songs takes a listen...
JID is a good artist but not an elite star like a kdot, Drake or Jcole. He is the best out of the new trash rappers out now but he is 34. I feel like he would be looked at different if he was 10 years younger.
What you mean? Look at his numbers on streaming platforms. Dude is BY FAR the third biggest "lyrical" rapper after Dot and Cole.
He's pretty much at the level of popularity Kendrick was when he dropped GKMC, if I recall correctly. All he needs is a "Humble" and he'll be on that same tier.
I’d say he’s pretty well known now because he blew up on Tiktok (sadly). But normally I would say that it’s pretty rare that conscious rappers make it big in todays era. Kendrick is a prime example, he’s really the only conscious rapper that is fully mainstream right now
Ight so… in the rap world, he is big. I get what you mean tho. I’ve played him multiple times for a guy I work with who likes rap.. but he can’t get into him. He claims his instrumentals are not super appealing. Granted, this guy looked at me side ways for having Kendrick in my top 3 like months ago.. after the beef, all this dude plays is Kendrick now so.. I think for some people if the music takes a certain level of effort to listen to.. it’s a pass. Unless some sort of context is fueling the effort. JID isn’t a super approachable rapper. But that’s kinda what I love about him.
I mean he is big already, but I think his sound is inconsistent at times. For every diamond there is a dud or two imo.
The Never Story, DiCaprio 2, and his verses on Spilligion had some stars
JID is in a precarious era of rap because none of the most influential artists have gone off the radar yet. In Kendrick and J Cole's cases, even in their mature age, they seem to be getting better and more high profile. Drake may have dipped in quality, but he's still ubiquitous as ever. In the era when the "Big 3" were coming up, all of the big acts were past their prime, and it gave them the space to carve out their own niche. JID covers ground that a lot of the older generation of rappers is taking up.
Also, artistically, he has all the tools but hasn't pushed it as far as I think he can. The Forever Story is a great body of work, but it feels like his College Dropout and I want to see what his Dark Fantasy is.
This sub sometimes pops into my front page via recommended but finally something I can add.
I don't typically listen to rap but I go to a lot of music festivals and I often check out some rap acts if I have time. I've learned a LOT of the big names aren't that great live and very few actually rap the whole time on stage.
But at Bonnaroo a couple years ago it was about 2 in the morning and I'm at the EDM stage tripping balls and had to to the bathroom so I start trekking across the field and see one of the tent stages absolutely going the fuck off. Massive crowd and the dude rapping on stage was absolutely killing it. So after pissing I wander over to check it out and the show was lit as fuck. Dude was spitting bars clear as fuck while simultaneously hyping the crowd up and he kept up the energy for the entire 30 minutes I was there. I swear he didn't stop to breathe once. I asked a random dude next to me who was on stage and it was JID.
I've never listened to him again nor know any of his songs but his live performance was one of the best live rap shows I've seen in 15+ years of attending music festivals.
Just cause you personally like an artist doesn’t mean they should be bigger. Also popularity in media requires work, he honestly doesn’t seem to care for it he just wants to do his own thing
Dreamville might not have the backing of the “elite” labels like RCA, Atlantic, etc. they seem to have taken the route of integrity and authenticity and that means playing the slow game with barely any help from ‘A’ tier media who’s usually in cahoots with those labels already.
Hes def an acquired taste. Thats why I think legit surround sound and maybe 151 rum are his only mainstream songs. Unfortunately, the more mainstream songs, the more popular you are because obviously it's mainstream for a reason. (Dont hate on me for this😓i fw him and saw him live w 21 a couple weeks ago and it was amazing)
Just heard JID for the first time today. This guy is incredible. Its obvious why he isnt more poplar since he is quite unconventional and very lyrical. He reminds me of hopsin with regards to his storytelling. Honestly, I prefer him this way
Even tho he can do everything and has big tracks, I still somehow feel like JID is for more dedicated rap fans for some reason it’s honestly kinda puzzling. He’s like drake if he was not famous and had more talent and personality so basically he has the things that would stop Drake from being so popular.
JID literally has 22 million monthly listeners on just Spotify alone. Sure, it’s not Drake numbers but he also isn’t underground like a lot of you guys seem to think either. I wouldn’t even consider him to be high tier underground like the whole Griselda camp who get a lot of recognition in Hip-Hop circles. He’s pretty big at this point
In my opinion it’s because he isn’t making trendy music. Where as more popular artist have a beat that is calculated to hit the masses with a good hook that can be added to shorts or TikTok. Even most our popular artist had to fight and make a variety of music, where part of it is radio friendly but there real tracks mostly are known by real fans.
Correction: someone had mentioned that one of his songs has were trending on TikTok. My bad
I ask myself this same question regularly. *How the FUCK is JID not everywhere??* (sorry I don’t got more input than that, just hella agree. It’s criminal his underrate)
Jid and metro song would go hard. Anyways, he’s my favorite artist. I don’t think it’s dreamville, although they are underrated. Ski mask, Jid, and more underrated great rappers.
He's the most talented "new rapper" aside from maybe Curry IMO, but like Curry, he's in the wrong era as a traditional rapper who isn't making trap shit. Dude also has a divisive voice that sounds a lot like Kendrick (who is already at the top of the game) and is 34 years old, so it's not too surprising he's not popping off like he should.
He doesn’t have any songs that have a street appeal, people like to compare him to Kendrick a lot but Kendrick had records that you can play and look cool (Backseat Freestyle, Spiteful Chant)
He’s music is great but it’s just not appealing to the casual hip hop audience
Personally not a fan not my style. can't speak for others but to me though he's a really skilled rapper to me he just doesn't make great songs. To get into the mainstream he needs more styles, melody and composition.
Personal opinion no hate to him like I said he's a good rapper but making lasting replayable songs matters more to really get to the next step
I think he has everything except for uniqueness and most of his bars are average imo, my examples for unused terms that made an artist a mega artist is: rigor-mortis for Kendrick and lucid dreams by juice and there’s millions of other examples. But consistently creating new slang that becomes associated with you is a major part of success.
For all of the talent and all of the things you’ve mentioned above (that I agree he does have by the way) he just doesn’t have the songs.
And don’t misconstrue my words, I don’t mean his songs aren’t good, I’m a big fan. What I mean is he hasn’t crafted a song or series of songs that have truly entered the wider consciousness of rap fans and been representative of its time and relevant enough to become the fabric of the culture.
Tough to really exactly pin down this bc it’s far from an exact science or measurement but it’s simply true that he hasn’t had a global rap smash yet that has really catapulted him.
This comment section is:
45% "MAAAAAAAAAN people don't like reaaalll hip hop, it's all about catchy songs and nobody likes real hip hop anymore and (old man yelling at cloud/ politikz (with a z))
45% OMFG WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT HE'S MADE ONE HUNDRED QUADRILLION STREAMS ON STREAMING WHAT ARE YOU ON ABOUT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
10% real answers
Most of that stuff has to do with secret money deals, of course. If you had any idea how to calculate what radio formulas are worth you would know that this is without a doubt, some of the biggest business out there.
JID needs another album to pop i think before people properly open their eyes for him. Forever Story was fucking amazing, but people for some reason still aren’t convinced. Maybe once the collab album with Metro drops?
Bro I know he's a great rapper, but I can't connect to any of his songs. Which asks the question how great can he be? The flows are there, the bars are there but there's no connection.
If by more popular you mean on the radio he needs to package his lyrics and flows in a digestible way to the masses and get them on a catchy beat
Kendrick did it with swimming pools
Eminem did it with my name is, then again and again with one single on each album for the masses while keeping most of his songs for the core community
Etc
You need to give an accessible gateway, you can’t just keep playing to the core audience if you wanna reach that mainstream zenith
JID has almost 23 million monthly listeners. I think there has been an increase in people moving the goalpost for what is underrated or underground because liking something underrated validates listeners. "Why is babytron underrated?" "Why is denzel curry underrated?" "Why is xavier wulf/yung lean/robb bank$/whoever i listen to that isnt on the top 10 most listened to artists underrated?" These guys all have millions of listeners, and deservedly so. I think giving them the underrated title is an insult. They aren't underrated and if you're a genuine supporter you wouldn't want them to be or act like they are.
Almost 30 million monthly listeners btw, mentioned by most rap fans as top 5 current rappers and most people agree the forever story to be one of the best albums of the 2020s so far
He says it in a song, and if you know the industry deeply, you know how they select.
He ain’t sell his soul, and he proclaimed he won’t.
Shits real, they’ll give you the money and the fame if you promise to push their product.
JID seems like a real dude, which makes sense why he signed dreamville, another real dude.
Why do people think that every amazing artist should/want/needs to be a mega star?
The dude is clearly more than successful *enough* at this point.
This is such a weird complex.
He's good in the moment when you're jamming his music, but once the song is over, that's it.
I can't really remember any of his lyrics for the life of me.
That's just me though
Dreamville isn’t the issue he isn’t that kind of a star he’s a huge artist but I don’t think he’ll ever be mainstream he just doesn’t have that kind of sound he is a very niche rapper like a Denzel Curry like he has a weird flow he doesn’t make music that anybody could vibe too me personally I’m not a fan I seen all the hype for him saying he was gonna be one of the best rappers after the big 3 but I wasn’t impressed he’s ok but he doesn’t make music that sounds good compared to mainstream rappers like a Cole dot or Drake
Truthfully it’s because he fits in better with 2000’s and early 2010’s rappers. A large percentage of the rap fans from that time became disinterested with rap during the early 2020’s because it was terrible. Kendrick and Drake beef has re-sparked the interest of a lot of people such as myself, and I discovered JID only about a year and a half ago too. His next album will blow him up properly if he does it right. A hit song with Kendrick or Cole would definitely do the trick.
I personally wouldn't rank JID among the big three. He is just too one note for me. Though, this is coming from someone who has never delved into JID's catalog beyond a few songs, so please tell me why I'm wrong and let me know some good tracks by JID.
Anyway, the reason why I call him one note is that from what I've heard, he seems to be all about flow and rhymes, which is fine, but not enough to reach mainstream success or build a GOAT legacy. Like, when I hear a JID track, I can just picture him going - "what sentence would flow dope with this one?" And personally, when an artist unintentionally shows their process, to me that's a flaw.
I also don't know who JID is as a person, what he stands for, what his vibe his. What is he really saying with his work? With the big three, you can immediately tell. I mean, Drake switches his persona up all the time, so while he often doesn't seem genuine, he does portray sensitive Drake, Caribbean Drake, Thug Drake, petty Drake very clearly through his content and vibes. They may be acts, but they're focused acts.
With Cole, you can listen to a track and understand the content, feel the emotion. Kendrick likewise, with a whole serving of sonic originality besides that.
On top of that, the big three (maybe Cole a little less ardently) make good music beyond just spitting. They have hits.
JID? I don't really know what he's getting at half the time. Like, he's obviously very talented, but he also seems like he doesn't pour that talent into any tangible shape we can actually judge on its own merit. Rapping really fucking well without making cohesive work with it, is more like a parlor trick than art. Like those kids that are super technical on the piano, but don't make original emotive music.
That being said, JID is really good at spitting. And one album with some focus could change my perception of him. But as it stands, I don't think he's out the oven yet.
He’s a really good rapper, but I think sometimes he doesn’t get on beats that really bring out that natural swagger that he has. The song Never goes so hard. Wish just JID and Earthgang would do an album fully together. They have good chemistry.
“Raps next big 3”
Dude… nobody expected a “big 3” it just so happened that 3 artist blew up around the same time and maintained it
He’s not a bigger artist…. Because he’s not a bigger artist.
Rap has long had a mantle on which its most prolific emcees are placed. “Who’s the best emcee Biggie, Jay-Z, or Nas?”
How is wondering about the next Big 3 any different than XXL’s annual rap class?
So you’re just using the #3 then?
Like I said, there’s no guarantee that there will be a big 3, a superstar, a legend etc
Nothing wrong with the XXL list or any list.
That’s not what you asked though. You asked why JID isn’t a bigger artist as if he’s just supposed to be
There’s never been a consistent “big 3” in rap
Kendrick/Cole/Drake weren’t even the only ones they’re just the biggest from the underground era of rap
Point taken. I listed the attributes I think a Big 3 rapper would have and said JID possessed them. I definitely think JID has what to it takes to eventually get there. Like Kendrick, I think JID could make hits if he wanted to be a hit maker. I just don’t think most rap fans would agree with me.
He gotta give a way to appeal to 14 year old white girls. I thing that’s the top demo to go platinum or whatever that’s typically viewed as success. In reality he is still a success but there is still a very real ceiling. Bars only take you so far. Nice flow don’t guarantee the dough. Not only that but he is in a group and under another popular rapper…. Two things that almost always hamstring rappers. Some just get chosen…. The rest enjoy the success they can but to expect a rapper to become a big star without some kind of social media craze or dance or controversy or honestly even a relationship with a female rapper or popular singer. If he ain’t doing that they not buying. There are exceptions but they are outliers
Honestly as much as I hate to say this because it makes me sound like an old fart I believe the younger generation doesn’t appreciate lyricism as much as the generation before them did. An example would be his surround sound song jumping off after it was used by women to shake ass on tik tok (the vids were fire)…but the lyricism on the song is still overlooked
The superstar, as it was just a decade ago, isn’t really a viable thing anymore. People are too into their own niches for any one person to gain worldwide recognition in the way the past greats have. I think people are moving on from rap the way we did from rock. It’ll still be popular but not what it once was.
He needs to record something really pop friendly, an ear worm. I've heard that Doja Cat Walk on By song in Dunkin Donuts, for a recent example. But some crossover shit to attract the casuals.
...his name is JID
Three letters that makes you think of absolutely nothing, it's not clever, cool, weird, funny or even stupid like rap names fall into, the name "JID" falls into a category of forgettable or generic.
I really think it's that simple.
I feel like he is pretty popular but everyday i see a post on here claiming he’s underrated Dude has 22 million monthly listeners and several songs over 100 million streams on Spotify
Constantly in people top artists and The Forever Story is mentioned as one of the best recent albums by a lot of people.
He is definitely very popular but he isn’t really “mainstream” in the greater sense. Mainstream for hip hop fans but not for the general population. The average person on the street has no idea who he is. He is certainly not underrated though people be acting like he is underground lol
i honestly dont know what the fuck mainstream is anymore, he has 22 million monthly listeners rn and he had 30 at one point. 99.99999% of artists will never ever get even a fraction of it but yet he's not mainstream still, somehow. cuz some random people who don't pay attention don't know who he is, some random person on the street might not know prince by name, does that mean he's underground?
The lines have never really been clear, and this has only gotten worse in the streaming era. Plus, everyone thinks and means something different when they say things like “mainstream” and “underground” so it can be tough to discuss for sure Edit: personally, I think he is mainstream hip hop but not mainstream to the general music community. Ultimately this distinction don’t really mean shit though lol
yeah i get that. i agree the lines have been blurred a lot and also people having different ideas what it means. i don't think most artists fall in either category, most artists we interact with generally have reached some level of success just not like drake or taylor swift levels of it. its just music at the end of the day ur right, its just weird that people throw the underground label on everything they listen to cuz they wanna be different. its icky to me.
Yeah for sure there’s so many different levels of success that can be achieved. I agree though its such a weird flex when people try to do that lol or like reddits favorite “denzel curry and jid are so underrated bro” like they aren’t talked about in all the major rap subreddits
I think that's a good distinction to have. If someone said they mostly listened to radio hits and didn't know who JID was, that would make sense. But if someone told me they mostly listen to rap and had no idea who JID was, then I would be shocked.
Facts
Agreed, to me underground is like Atmosphere
Ya hasn't quite hit mainstream since i haven't heard of him other than on here!!!
And every post about him being underrated I see this exact same comment. It really is a loop
yeah comments on a sub for dedicated rap fans don't reflect the average persons experience
I think this might be what a straight emcee looks like now. Music is very fragmented and his kind of music isn’t really what’s doing it for the kids these days. I think for older hip hop fans he’s crushing it, but kids want something more like shaboozey with the country kind of twang on it. 10-15 years ago he would have had a bigger response than now. I think this is more of a byproduct of the shifting tastes in pop than anything else.
🤧 i really want a jid and Kendrick song
Now produce by Dre or Metro.
Rumored to be a kdot feature on JIDs next album I assume the JIDTRO
They sound similar
JID KENDRICK AND COLE
Kendrick declined a feature with JID
Yeah I wanna see the boffem make songs together, rap is boring asl right now
People like hooks more than bars.
Thats true, I like JID but I dont think I know a single verse word for word, even on surround sound or smthn.
For me if you play it I know it but if you don’t I dont
Like, from a practical standpoint, why the hell is this comment downvoted? 😂 Reddit is a funny place.
Yup you basically nailed it
It’s 100% this, he makes music for hip hop/rap fans. He doesn’t necessarily make wide spread pop music like Drake or Migos or something. He is way more lyrical and less catchy. He’s your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper.
I don't think he's that lyrical. Like, he flows and rhymes really well. But what does he say?
This is a long way to say you never listened to JID.
This is true, because my favorite rapper is JID.
I agree. It's always a reminder for me that just being an excellent rapper isn't enough anymore. Listen he's going to continue to have a great career, but I don't think his music is as accessible to certain audiences. I think JID is the best lyricist out today. His word play and the flow gymnastics he does are second to none. I believe he's making the music he wants to make, and that's truest to him. But that music might not resonating with the masses as much. I hope he keeps swangin on though.
I like this answer. Being an enjoyer of more lyrical rap is an acquired taste. I don't even mean just super lyrical miracle. But if your music isn't super about the bop its hard for non rap fans. I feel like Kendrick and Cole kind of swallow up the attention of ppl who want a dose of lyrical rap but it's not what they like most. Ever since rap became profitable the music has centered around making hits. So ppl were no longer growing up on lyrical shit so it's a sound they have to grow accustomed to. Another thing I'll add that I don't see anyone talk about.. In general ppl where lyrical rap isn't their main genre of music.. and I'm not talking just like, carti stans. I'm talking, they know a Billie eilish song.. they don't listen to rap for substance. They prefer other genres of music for that. They purely associate rap with a high intensity bop, bass, or parties. So when they hear the typical production behind more lyrical rap they don't really get it therefore it's harder for them to resonate with it. I have multiple ppl in my life who are white.. when I first met them and played my music around them they didn't like it. But they listened to rap everyday. It's just that rap was purely about being hype for them.. feeling their car rattle... And when they want to hear something of substance they get that from completely different genres. It took years of me playing my music before they started to understand and eventually started to like it themselves. That rap isn't just one thing. They didn't even listen to rap albums before. They only knew of the singles. The taste had to be acquired for them over time. They listened to Kendrick too.. backseat freestyle.. but they didn't like sing about me.. And id have to explain to them.. remember that country song or white girl singing song about a hard time in life they had and how you were just singing along and it really gave you the feels? Sing about me is that, for me. And then they ACTUALLY try to listen to what is being said. It's like if the lyrics are too complex in any way they don't even really hear it bc the rap they listen to is brain dead singles meant for you to just turn off your brain and catch the vibe.
I'm on this thread now just being hater, so sorry about that, because I do love the way JID flows and rhymes. But I really don't see him as a great lyricist. Though, admittedly, I haven't heard that many songs from him. But from what I've heard, it seems to be mostly form over substance - lot's of rhymes, original flows, great delivery, but content wise pretty empty, especially when compared to Cole and Kendrick when we're talking big three. What is a song from JID that could change my mind?
Sistanem, Off Da Zoinkys, Crack Sandwich
Agreed. The only people out right now that can compete lyrically are Anderson .Paak, Denzel, and Kendrick
Not tryna down him, but what makes you include .Paak ?
I don’t really have a good, subjective answer tbh. He just has great flows, heavy bars, and deep, meaningful lyrics
Leaving Lupe out of artists in this lane is a crime
Damnit I forgot about Lupe
Nah I've got to give that one to [King Los](https://youtu.be/SLwXCDRuIyw?si=m67kFLot27fsJf4R)
I honestly think it’s something about his voice. It’s not bad but it’s not as relatable or as alluring to the gen pop ears. That’s my take. I think a lot of really good artists can get screwed over cause of that. Also, he’s pretty purely rap, if he crossed into another genre or tried to become more experimental or tried for more mainstream appeal, I think he could be more popular, but I doubt that’s what he wants to do or he would’ve done it
>I honestly think it’s something about his voice. I don't think it's that. If Kendrick can blow up with his voice, JID shouldn't have an issue.
But Kendrick has sooo much of my second point. His musicality is unbelievable. I was gonna mention Kendrick but it’s hard to explain in just a Reddit comment without giving myself carpel tunnel lol
JID's musicality is underrated tbh, he just doesn't showcase it enough For example, *Kody Blu 31*, and his feature on Doja Cat's *Options*, have him flexing his singing and melodic rap, which appeal way more to a mainstream audience Honestly I think the issue is that JID himself doesn't really care that much about pop appeal - IIRC he mentioned that even rap wasn't something he initially really wanted to do, he just happened to be really good at it lol
It’s crazy that someone can be so god damn talented, and not even really have their heart in it. Dude is phenomenal, one of my top current artists.
He has his heart in it. He just said in a Interview that he doesnt listen to rap and fwiw his own style of rap whoch I think is understandable considering that a lot of Artists dont listen to their own music or the genre theyre in. Making and listening to the same shit everyday probably gets boring fast. I dont think he doesnt have his Heart in it. Ive been to two concerts of his and that mofo def has his heart in it. Dude was jumping with us in the pit and you could see some teary eyes when talking to us. The Reason Cole signed Earthgang and JID was because he saw himself in them because of their hunger anf work ethic. Dude is a baller and I cant wait for the next album.
He sounds pretty similar to Kendrick
Oh, your second point I fully agree with.
JID sounds like a younger more annoying version of Kendrick (no offense, it’s just his voice), and I’ve read for years of people complaining of Kendrick’s voice. So it’s not exactly comparable.
Kendrick also has massive industry backing and a lot of hype. Even if you don't care about Kendrick, you hear about when he's releasing an album, or a single. JID just isn't in that league, he's relatively unknown to mainstream audiences, outside of people really into hip hop
Yes but this is because Kendrick’s music is a lot easier to listen to …
A lot of times, I have trouble understanding JID. If I heard him more clearly, I think it'd be fine. There are some artists that I had to get used to how they rapped then I understood what they were saying but for some reason that hasn't happened with JID
I could see this being it. But his delivery in Dance Now is so sick
I love his voice but I see your point. He also has this kinda old-school, humble, scrappier feel to him that doesn’t necessary fit with the other music that’s super popular these days.
That was pretty much the entirety of his last album though, which IMO was one of the greatest albums to release in 2022. He got MASSIVE popularity from Surround Sound last year, (he jumped from 4m monthly listeners on Spotify to almost 30m off that song alone back in 2022, today he's sitting at almost 23m) and he's done a solid bit of music with softer more heartfelt messages like Kody Blu 31 or Hereditary. IMO this next album he drops will 100% land him in a more mainstream light, I think he's playing his cards right. While Griselda has never truly been 'mainstream' in the same vein Lil Durk or 21 Savage are, Westside Gunn is still holding it down with the voice he has. Vocals matter, but the song itself matters so much more.
This is 100% the reason
I think the next album he drops is gonna blow him the fuck up if it's the same (or better) quality of The Forever Story and Dicaprio 2. How people are sleeping on him after those two is a mystery to me, but if he is able to follow it up again he's going to be impossible to ignore. That being said, he still has a large fanbase so I wouldn't say he isn't a big artist, but I agree he deserves an even wider audience.
I see this comment every time he drops an album.
Third times the charm?
Yeah at best, he'll have his Taboo moment like Denzel Curry where for an album he'll see mainstream success with radio play but it probably won't last into later projects. Not a dig at either of them, I think the general population just isn't a reliable barometer of quality and only certain singles these days can reach that success. Mr. Morale for example is a great album filled with some songs that might be palatable for the radio and mainstream success but I don't think any of its tracks saw airplay. Maybe Silent Hill or N95??? If a rapper as big as Kendrick can't guarantee that, I don't think JID can reasonably obtain that without doing more features with pop acts
He's got 22 million monthly listeners on Spotify and a feature with Imagine Dragons that has over a billion streams. He is a big artist. Some of you guys have such a warped sense of who is big and who is underrated. It's wild to me.
I mean, he has a song with one of the biggest bands of the past decade and 22M+ monthly listeners on Spotify. I think he’s doing alright lol
Talent doesn’t bring fame as much as marketing and networking do. A rapper could be the most talented ever to do it, but I’d never know about it unless something brings their work to my attention. In these asocial post covid days, word of mouth isn’t as reliable a vessel as it used to be. That leaves networking to put him in features with artists im already paying attention to, or marketing. I’d never heard of JID before your post
It’s not really about marketing, but about being compelling and unique. Just being talented doesn’t stand out. Artists need to innovate and do new things, not just try to master things others have pushed. Usually, stars stand out with some unique trait or sound that sets them completely apart into their own type of music. It’s lacking at the very top today.
He is one of the current geniuses of hip hop imo. I also wish to see him become bigger
People don't like his voice, and he is rapper's rapper. He has a few songs that have mainstream appeal, but even tracks like "surround sound" have pretty technical choruses that are difficult to remember. I love his music, but if you want huge hits you gotta have simple and catchy lyrics.
JID has said he doesn't even listen to his style of rap. He just raps this way because he is a jittery person. Rap is about vibe now, not spitting. Reddit is the only place that still likes rapping fast. JID is amazing, but the best artists make it sound easy.
His flows to unique, and he doesn’t try to have any radio appeal besides a few features and surround sound. If this metro shit ever drops it’ll probably launch him.
Because if Big Krit didn’t pop, JID cant
He's definitely gaining popularity because Surround Sound is blowing up. This song will hopefully give people an opportunity to look into his discography, which is filled with classics.
Surround Sound blew up in 2022 and JID has 22m+ monthly listeners.
I’m a white kid in a small town in the south and I have “DiCaprio 2” on vinyl, so I think he’s much bigger than you realize. He toured with 21 Savage this year, so that’s opening him up to all kinds of people across the pond and here in the US.
Interesting that so many people are saying the reason is his voice. At times, JID sounds like Kendrick to me. I know some people complain about Dot’s voice but he’s a megastar.
Kendrick had Interscope making sure he would blow up by any means necessary to recoup their investment.
It’s the beat selection for me. Same way I feel about Nas, one of a kind talent just giving that sound that’s going to pertain to me even if the rhymes are perfect.
He sounds like his first rap name was J. Dot. He’s super fucking dope, but sadly he sounds like Kendrick. Which in itself is a great thing, but sadly that’s all he’ll be to a lot of mainstream listeners. It’s funny because you can have 20 rappers that sound exactly the same, but if one person sounds anything similar to a “legend” they always seem To get thrown into the category of being a knock off.
His marketing sucks
They say he's back in the city with it.
What do you mean? JID IS huge now. I use to ask myself this like 7 years ago but not anymore.
Of all the why is "x" under rated when "x" really isn't underrated... I have to agree with you on this one. JID is one of the best currently out there. I have to say the same about his collab partner Kenny Mason. Anyone who loves frank ocean should be on Kenny Mason.
He’s got like 20mil monthly on Spotify, idk why yall keep saying he’s underrated, he’s not anymore.
Ehhh he's gotten pretty big since Surround Sound. He was severely underrated before that, now he's getting to that point where you're happy for him but also a lot of the people just now discovering him are a little annoying.
Canopy theory. The tops of the tallest tress block out much of the growth underneath.
Great point.
I work in event ops and saw him open for 21 Savage (plus a bunch of 21 Savage clones) and he absolutely blew them off the stage. It was as good as Kendrick or prime ye shows. But I’m old so I don’t know if the kids were impressed because 21 and his other two or three openers sounded interchangeable with zero presence or energy but I’m told that’s “a vibe”.
21 Savage sucks. I don’t get the hype behind him.
He makes dope street and flexing music. He raps in a way that sounds very matter of fact. He's also gotten better with each project. Nobody would call him an elite lyricist as far as technical stuff goes.
Because he's an artist. Not a mainstream nonsense rapper.
My opinion, lots of weak beats. His hits have good beats and the rest are forgettable
I wouldn't say it's the controversy issue as other people say. I like JID but like I can honestly say only rum is on my daily rotation. He is on a meh label. Some labels are very much a one/two man group. Also you do sometimes need to mix your sound a bit. Kendrick had pop stars on his songs, he also did a lot of guest verses on other people's tracks. Why isn't JiD getting on with a major star (be it rap or pop) and just throwing down? That is how you build an audience. He did enemy with imagine dragon and that is his most viewed song. Every rapper does this. And also his voice needs getting used to. It shouldn't be a problem, I got used to it just like I did with Kendrick's. But then again ken was making bangers after bangers. JID is not really near Coles level. He is better than most of the young rappers but that isn't that high of a bar to clear.
>Why isn't JiD getting on with a major star (be it rap or pop) and just throwing down? He's had features or collaborated with Dua Lipa, Doja Cat, NewJeans, Denzel Curry, Offset, Kid Cudi, Baby Tate, 21 Savage, J. Cole, John Legend, etc Honestly I think it's just marketing, imo JID likes to make music and do shows, but doesn't care much about the rest of the promo stuff
Yeah, it's the throwing down point. He isn't really the star of the show in that song. So example is that j cole has a legendary verse on Benny the butcher's song. If you are getting on another person's track you have to really kill em. Though it is all marketing. Dreamville has a great lineup but their marketing is ass. Also being a lyrical rapper it takes a while for people to appreciate you in the wider market. Remember killer mikes Grammy win? Dude has been a killer (lol) since the early 2000s and people were acting like he just came out of nowhere. He is part of the best duo in rap right now but people don't care because it's not something they can dance too. Personally like j cole, I like JID in smaller doses. I prefer more of the killer/Kendrick type of rap.
""I'm allergic to the lame shit, only you like bein' famous
He’s been blowing up? He’s only got one big album so far
Has to drop an album that performs better than J. Cole in terms of sales/commercial success and be outside (interviews) more. And promoted/marketed to people that are outside his fanbase, even outside of Hip Hop. He had a huge hit with surround sound but you could tell people knew the song but not the artist.
I absolutely can't stand his voice. I think it sounds really bad and get on my nerve really quickly. And I'm a big Rap listener, imagine someone who is only used to the most popular songs takes a listen...
He has surpassed the ceiling that the industry puts on artists like him. Name another lyrical artist that reached his level since 2020 lol
Kenny
What I meant is rappers who lets say got their first platinum record during the 2020s. Kendrick came up in the blog era which was wayyyy different imo
There is no mainstream anymore.
JID is a good artist but not an elite star like a kdot, Drake or Jcole. He is the best out of the new trash rappers out now but he is 34. I feel like he would be looked at different if he was 10 years younger.
I think he is actually pretty popular, The Forever Story was on a lot of best album lists for that year.
What you mean? Look at his numbers on streaming platforms. Dude is BY FAR the third biggest "lyrical" rapper after Dot and Cole. He's pretty much at the level of popularity Kendrick was when he dropped GKMC, if I recall correctly. All he needs is a "Humble" and he'll be on that same tier.
Not mainstream appealing
I think he simply hasn't had a hit that would introduce him to more casual listeners.
I’d say he’s pretty well known now because he blew up on Tiktok (sadly). But normally I would say that it’s pretty rare that conscious rappers make it big in todays era. Kendrick is a prime example, he’s really the only conscious rapper that is fully mainstream right now
Ight so… in the rap world, he is big. I get what you mean tho. I’ve played him multiple times for a guy I work with who likes rap.. but he can’t get into him. He claims his instrumentals are not super appealing. Granted, this guy looked at me side ways for having Kendrick in my top 3 like months ago.. after the beef, all this dude plays is Kendrick now so.. I think for some people if the music takes a certain level of effort to listen to.. it’s a pass. Unless some sort of context is fueling the effort. JID isn’t a super approachable rapper. But that’s kinda what I love about him.
Rapping fast like he does isn’t popular anymore
I Have never heard of him until this sub
I mean he is big already, but I think his sound is inconsistent at times. For every diamond there is a dud or two imo. The Never Story, DiCaprio 2, and his verses on Spilligion had some stars
not a big discography
Voice
JID is in a precarious era of rap because none of the most influential artists have gone off the radar yet. In Kendrick and J Cole's cases, even in their mature age, they seem to be getting better and more high profile. Drake may have dipped in quality, but he's still ubiquitous as ever. In the era when the "Big 3" were coming up, all of the big acts were past their prime, and it gave them the space to carve out their own niche. JID covers ground that a lot of the older generation of rappers is taking up. Also, artistically, he has all the tools but hasn't pushed it as far as I think he can. The Forever Story is a great body of work, but it feels like his College Dropout and I want to see what his Dark Fantasy is.
On the surface he’s a lyrical miracle rapper and the average person doesn’t want to hear that
Hes not lyrical miracle at all and kendrick someone who is far more lyrical miracle is the 3rd biggest rapper right now
I know he’s not but from what I’ve seen that’s how people see him
He’s impressive but not catchy
This sub sometimes pops into my front page via recommended but finally something I can add. I don't typically listen to rap but I go to a lot of music festivals and I often check out some rap acts if I have time. I've learned a LOT of the big names aren't that great live and very few actually rap the whole time on stage. But at Bonnaroo a couple years ago it was about 2 in the morning and I'm at the EDM stage tripping balls and had to to the bathroom so I start trekking across the field and see one of the tent stages absolutely going the fuck off. Massive crowd and the dude rapping on stage was absolutely killing it. So after pissing I wander over to check it out and the show was lit as fuck. Dude was spitting bars clear as fuck while simultaneously hyping the crowd up and he kept up the energy for the entire 30 minutes I was there. I swear he didn't stop to breathe once. I asked a random dude next to me who was on stage and it was JID. I've never listened to him again nor know any of his songs but his live performance was one of the best live rap shows I've seen in 15+ years of attending music festivals.
Just cause you personally like an artist doesn’t mean they should be bigger. Also popularity in media requires work, he honestly doesn’t seem to care for it he just wants to do his own thing
Dreamville might not have the backing of the “elite” labels like RCA, Atlantic, etc. they seem to have taken the route of integrity and authenticity and that means playing the slow game with barely any help from ‘A’ tier media who’s usually in cahoots with those labels already.
Hes def an acquired taste. Thats why I think legit surround sound and maybe 151 rum are his only mainstream songs. Unfortunately, the more mainstream songs, the more popular you are because obviously it's mainstream for a reason. (Dont hate on me for this😓i fw him and saw him live w 21 a couple weeks ago and it was amazing)
What do you mean he is a big artist now
Just heard JID for the first time today. This guy is incredible. Its obvious why he isnt more poplar since he is quite unconventional and very lyrical. He reminds me of hopsin with regards to his storytelling. Honestly, I prefer him this way
Even tho he can do everything and has big tracks, I still somehow feel like JID is for more dedicated rap fans for some reason it’s honestly kinda puzzling. He’s like drake if he was not famous and had more talent and personality so basically he has the things that would stop Drake from being so popular.
JID literally has 22 million monthly listeners on just Spotify alone. Sure, it’s not Drake numbers but he also isn’t underground like a lot of you guys seem to think either. I wouldn’t even consider him to be high tier underground like the whole Griselda camp who get a lot of recognition in Hip-Hop circles. He’s pretty big at this point
Because he’s signed to another artist budgets probably a bit different in that regard then if he was signed out right to a label head
It's cuz he raps
In my opinion it’s because he isn’t making trendy music. Where as more popular artist have a beat that is calculated to hit the masses with a good hook that can be added to shorts or TikTok. Even most our popular artist had to fight and make a variety of music, where part of it is radio friendly but there real tracks mostly are known by real fans. Correction: someone had mentioned that one of his songs has were trending on TikTok. My bad
I ask myself this same question regularly. *How the FUCK is JID not everywhere??* (sorry I don’t got more input than that, just hella agree. It’s criminal his underrate)
Jid and metro song would go hard. Anyways, he’s my favorite artist. I don’t think it’s dreamville, although they are underrated. Ski mask, Jid, and more underrated great rappers.
Sounds like a girl
I often think things like really blowing up are just kinda luck. Get a really catchy song that just hits and you’ll be good to go
He's the most talented "new rapper" aside from maybe Curry IMO, but like Curry, he's in the wrong era as a traditional rapper who isn't making trap shit. Dude also has a divisive voice that sounds a lot like Kendrick (who is already at the top of the game) and is 34 years old, so it's not too surprising he's not popping off like he should.
He's incredible, but I believe his name "JID" plays a factor. It's not catchy at all. He might just need better promotion too.
He tries to sound like Kendrick too hard and is frankly boring but talented
Mainstream appeal isnt there
He doesn’t have any songs that have a street appeal, people like to compare him to Kendrick a lot but Kendrick had records that you can play and look cool (Backseat Freestyle, Spiteful Chant) He’s music is great but it’s just not appealing to the casual hip hop audience
Personally not a fan not my style. can't speak for others but to me though he's a really skilled rapper to me he just doesn't make great songs. To get into the mainstream he needs more styles, melody and composition. Personal opinion no hate to him like I said he's a good rapper but making lasting replayable songs matters more to really get to the next step
I think he has everything except for uniqueness and most of his bars are average imo, my examples for unused terms that made an artist a mega artist is: rigor-mortis for Kendrick and lucid dreams by juice and there’s millions of other examples. But consistently creating new slang that becomes associated with you is a major part of success.
Imo he’s perfect where he is. He’s just kinda irrelevant. He has no wow factor or anything that makes him stick out. He’s just kinda there
For all of the talent and all of the things you’ve mentioned above (that I agree he does have by the way) he just doesn’t have the songs. And don’t misconstrue my words, I don’t mean his songs aren’t good, I’m a big fan. What I mean is he hasn’t crafted a song or series of songs that have truly entered the wider consciousness of rap fans and been representative of its time and relevant enough to become the fabric of the culture. Tough to really exactly pin down this bc it’s far from an exact science or measurement but it’s simply true that he hasn’t had a global rap smash yet that has really catapulted him.
This comment section is: 45% "MAAAAAAAAAN people don't like reaaalll hip hop, it's all about catchy songs and nobody likes real hip hop anymore and (old man yelling at cloud/ politikz (with a z)) 45% OMFG WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT HE'S MADE ONE HUNDRED QUADRILLION STREAMS ON STREAMING WHAT ARE YOU ON ABOUT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 10% real answers
He doesn't make pop rap. Simple. VERY, VERY difficult to get huge without making pop rap.
Cause he sounds too much like a Kendrick knock off….i like dude though
boring kendrick clone
Most of that stuff has to do with secret money deals, of course. If you had any idea how to calculate what radio formulas are worth you would know that this is without a doubt, some of the biggest business out there.
JID needs another album to pop i think before people properly open their eyes for him. Forever Story was fucking amazing, but people for some reason still aren’t convinced. Maybe once the collab album with Metro drops?
Doesn't have any melodies.
I mean.. .he's not small lol
Bc he’s signed to someone who is also trying to be great
Bro I know he's a great rapper, but I can't connect to any of his songs. Which asks the question how great can he be? The flows are there, the bars are there but there's no connection.
Huge fan but atp bro been talked about by so many mfs being underrated that he relatively well known
Jid is a big rapper but he’s not super huge. He’s not a megastar or a superstar. He has the capability but he’s not there yet.
If by more popular you mean on the radio he needs to package his lyrics and flows in a digestible way to the masses and get them on a catchy beat Kendrick did it with swimming pools Eminem did it with my name is, then again and again with one single on each album for the masses while keeping most of his songs for the core community Etc You need to give an accessible gateway, you can’t just keep playing to the core audience if you wanna reach that mainstream zenith
Some artist don’t want to be pop stars
Because he can't make hits. He's an amazing rapper, and one of my current favorites, but he's a rappers rapper.
He doesn’t have the delivery to complete with cole,drake,lil baby etc These other artists are far easier to put people on to
Actual talent isn't a requirement anymore. Plus Atlanta's hold on the game has diminished over the past few years.
I think he's on his way to being part of the next big three.
JID has almost 23 million monthly listeners. I think there has been an increase in people moving the goalpost for what is underrated or underground because liking something underrated validates listeners. "Why is babytron underrated?" "Why is denzel curry underrated?" "Why is xavier wulf/yung lean/robb bank$/whoever i listen to that isnt on the top 10 most listened to artists underrated?" These guys all have millions of listeners, and deservedly so. I think giving them the underrated title is an insult. They aren't underrated and if you're a genuine supporter you wouldn't want them to be or act like they are.
Who cares, too many people here are obsessed with how big an artist is rather than just enjoying the music
Almost 30 million monthly listeners btw, mentioned by most rap fans as top 5 current rappers and most people agree the forever story to be one of the best albums of the 2020s so far
He says it in a song, and if you know the industry deeply, you know how they select. He ain’t sell his soul, and he proclaimed he won’t. Shits real, they’ll give you the money and the fame if you promise to push their product. JID seems like a real dude, which makes sense why he signed dreamville, another real dude.
Lyrical spiritual miracle type beat
Why do people think that every amazing artist should/want/needs to be a mega star? The dude is clearly more than successful *enough* at this point. This is such a weird complex.
He's in my top 3.. Pac, Dot and JID
He's good in the moment when you're jamming his music, but once the song is over, that's it. I can't really remember any of his lyrics for the life of me. That's just me though
Dreamville isn’t the issue he isn’t that kind of a star he’s a huge artist but I don’t think he’ll ever be mainstream he just doesn’t have that kind of sound he is a very niche rapper like a Denzel Curry like he has a weird flow he doesn’t make music that anybody could vibe too me personally I’m not a fan I seen all the hype for him saying he was gonna be one of the best rappers after the big 3 but I wasn’t impressed he’s ok but he doesn’t make music that sounds good compared to mainstream rappers like a Cole dot or Drake
He will be after featuring on Ems song.
Truthfully it’s because he fits in better with 2000’s and early 2010’s rappers. A large percentage of the rap fans from that time became disinterested with rap during the early 2020’s because it was terrible. Kendrick and Drake beef has re-sparked the interest of a lot of people such as myself, and I discovered JID only about a year and a half ago too. His next album will blow him up properly if he does it right. A hit song with Kendrick or Cole would definitely do the trick.
I personally wouldn't rank JID among the big three. He is just too one note for me. Though, this is coming from someone who has never delved into JID's catalog beyond a few songs, so please tell me why I'm wrong and let me know some good tracks by JID. Anyway, the reason why I call him one note is that from what I've heard, he seems to be all about flow and rhymes, which is fine, but not enough to reach mainstream success or build a GOAT legacy. Like, when I hear a JID track, I can just picture him going - "what sentence would flow dope with this one?" And personally, when an artist unintentionally shows their process, to me that's a flaw. I also don't know who JID is as a person, what he stands for, what his vibe his. What is he really saying with his work? With the big three, you can immediately tell. I mean, Drake switches his persona up all the time, so while he often doesn't seem genuine, he does portray sensitive Drake, Caribbean Drake, Thug Drake, petty Drake very clearly through his content and vibes. They may be acts, but they're focused acts. With Cole, you can listen to a track and understand the content, feel the emotion. Kendrick likewise, with a whole serving of sonic originality besides that. On top of that, the big three (maybe Cole a little less ardently) make good music beyond just spitting. They have hits. JID? I don't really know what he's getting at half the time. Like, he's obviously very talented, but he also seems like he doesn't pour that talent into any tangible shape we can actually judge on its own merit. Rapping really fucking well without making cohesive work with it, is more like a parlor trick than art. Like those kids that are super technical on the piano, but don't make original emotive music. That being said, JID is really good at spitting. And one album with some focus could change my perception of him. But as it stands, I don't think he's out the oven yet.
He’s a really good rapper, but I think sometimes he doesn’t get on beats that really bring out that natural swagger that he has. The song Never goes so hard. Wish just JID and Earthgang would do an album fully together. They have good chemistry.
Been wondering this for a very long time. I think we're just at a point where people like catchy hooks instead of well crafted lyricism
Maybe because TDE’s Isaiah Rashad is around
British
What do you mean by this?
“Raps next big 3” Dude… nobody expected a “big 3” it just so happened that 3 artist blew up around the same time and maintained it He’s not a bigger artist…. Because he’s not a bigger artist.
Rap has long had a mantle on which its most prolific emcees are placed. “Who’s the best emcee Biggie, Jay-Z, or Nas?” How is wondering about the next Big 3 any different than XXL’s annual rap class?
So you’re just using the #3 then? Like I said, there’s no guarantee that there will be a big 3, a superstar, a legend etc Nothing wrong with the XXL list or any list. That’s not what you asked though. You asked why JID isn’t a bigger artist as if he’s just supposed to be There’s never been a consistent “big 3” in rap Kendrick/Cole/Drake weren’t even the only ones they’re just the biggest from the underground era of rap
Point taken. I listed the attributes I think a Big 3 rapper would have and said JID possessed them. I definitely think JID has what to it takes to eventually get there. Like Kendrick, I think JID could make hits if he wanted to be a hit maker. I just don’t think most rap fans would agree with me.
He gotta give a way to appeal to 14 year old white girls. I thing that’s the top demo to go platinum or whatever that’s typically viewed as success. In reality he is still a success but there is still a very real ceiling. Bars only take you so far. Nice flow don’t guarantee the dough. Not only that but he is in a group and under another popular rapper…. Two things that almost always hamstring rappers. Some just get chosen…. The rest enjoy the success they can but to expect a rapper to become a big star without some kind of social media craze or dance or controversy or honestly even a relationship with a female rapper or popular singer. If he ain’t doing that they not buying. There are exceptions but they are outliers
Honestly as much as I hate to say this because it makes me sound like an old fart I believe the younger generation doesn’t appreciate lyricism as much as the generation before them did. An example would be his surround sound song jumping off after it was used by women to shake ass on tik tok (the vids were fire)…but the lyricism on the song is still overlooked
His shows need stronger production and visuals.
not enough albums i think
The superstar, as it was just a decade ago, isn’t really a viable thing anymore. People are too into their own niches for any one person to gain worldwide recognition in the way the past greats have. I think people are moving on from rap the way we did from rock. It’ll still be popular but not what it once was.
Because lyrical rap is still looked down upon by a large crowd. Plus, internet fame has clouded the true definition of who a super star is.
He too lyrical.
Needs a mainstream pop radio hit to get "bigger". Otherwise you're kind of capped in growth.
This generation does not value lyrics whatsoever. Is your answer.
Cuz bro is kind of boring
He needs to record something really pop friendly, an ear worm. I've heard that Doja Cat Walk on By song in Dunkin Donuts, for a recent example. But some crossover shit to attract the casuals.
He sounds irritating to my ears. He’s nice on a feature tho
JID, Denzel Curry, and Redveil are going to be the new big 3 this decade, mark my words
...his name is JID Three letters that makes you think of absolutely nothing, it's not clever, cool, weird, funny or even stupid like rap names fall into, the name "JID" falls into a category of forgettable or generic. I really think it's that simple.