Dave East Drops Top 5 Harlem Rappers, Talks Nas & New Album | The Punchline Academy

[REdefinition]

As someone who was never checking for him like that why do y'all think his career never truly popped off like it could've? He had the Nas cosign and black female demo in his favor. Worse rappers have done much more with less.

Who has really popped in the traditional hip hop lane from NY lately? By traditional I mean lyric driven music, not drill or sing songy shyt. East is kind of the last from that era.

 

[Mag Wheel]

He isn’t wack but there is no such thing as a “fire Dave East verse”

 

[straightcash]

That Chris Brown song was cool but it didn’t make him a star. That song ain’t on the level of Hot nikka, Ooh, I’m a Boss, Black & Yellow etc. He needed something on that level. That CB song was cool but it came and went.

That song didn't make him a star but there were a bunch of things that indicated people wanted him to become one.
Tyra Banks was talking about him in 2017. He played the love interest in a Trina and K Michelle music video. He was on the YouTube channels of GQ, Men's Health and All Def. He was on mainstream platforms being promoted as a big deal.

I'm laying it out as it is. I may make a thread on it someday with links and timeline just to show his rise and collapse.
Dave East was seen as a pretty boy, model and athlete. They wanted him to be mainstream but Dave just didn't move like a superstar. It's his lack of charisma, making stupid moves, and not understanding timing and output.