4 Artists of the Early 21st Century Who Had Real Promise In Mainstream Pop But Never Made It Big

Mainstream pop is a tricky puzzle to solve, and not many have managed to figure it out with lasting success. Especially in the early 2000s and 2010s, when competition was steep and there were new pop acts getting hits every day. Here are some who showed real promise during the height of their popularity, but never managed to make it big.

Blu Cantrell

Blu Cantrell debuted in 2001 with the single “Hit ‘Em Up Style (Oops!)” which rose to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Mainstream Top 40 chart. It was a huge R&B hit, and even earned Cantrell two Grammy nominations in 2002. But she never managed to break through into mainstream pop or R&B, remaining more of a niche figure across genres. In 2005, she decided to go independent after her mentor L.A. Reid resigned from Arista Reco