You are really off the hook in this thread, friend Xpanther. Both your knowledge of these truths and your boldness to put forward and explain them are impressive.
The main place where we differ is in that "It's the image attached to it and the geographic disadvantage that has", not only holds back the NW, but will continue to hold it back, sans a qualifier such as '(for the time being)' or '(at least for now)'. It is my impression that you have, in a way, resigned yourself to and accepted these things as if they are the plotted course of events and cannot be altered. I am forced to reject this perception, though this thing may result in having been percieved by me alone.
With a lack of organization and framework, it is difficult for even the most original of ideas to take flight. Reggaeton for example was originally developed in Mexico, but could not build up the support there. It took Puerto Rico `borrowing' it, and then, slowly but surely, taking and making it its own. We have been given this NorthWest sound, that some may believe does not exist, but that many of us can recognize with relative ease.
Many have accused the NorthWest of, let's say, borrowing heartily from and being freely influenced by, the Mid-90's Bay Area sound. This is partially true, but this sound is definitely coming into and creating for itself a niche of its own. If you take a look around, we are the ones who are maintaining that funk-based structure without selling out to the pop and new-age, doot-doot, beep-beep, futuristic-sounding influences.
The people will learn to appreciate this handling-of the torch, as more and more regions struggle and strive to hop aboard the Mainstream-Underground, Omni-Regional Rap Bandwagon, and sound all like each other, first with beats (Lil Jon, Pharell), then with lyricism (Jay-Z, Lil Wayne), and finally, with topics (Gangsterism, Club Tracks, R&B Thug Songs).
I agree that some time must be waited. I do not agree that we should spend this time grooming mid-card and slighly-above-average talent. Some people differ with me in this regard, with their Lotto Ticket, "Rudy"-like Philosophies. I salute these people for putting their money where their mouths and minds are and paying for these tickets--these would-be Hip-Hop versions of almsgiving-- but when they cannot figure out and calculate the odds ahead of making such bets, I will gladly point them out. And they do not look good.
The only solution to this, is to chop some branches off of the tree. We will chop off the weak branches, and subject those on-the-bubble branches to so much pressure, that many of them fold on their own without that hand-axe ever having been neither threatened nor lifted. We will cut some off the bottom, level off the top, and do some edge-trimming with the sides. What will result is a next-generation `Kid'-like throw-back Flat-top hair-style. It will be a great hair style, and slowly but surely, the people will begin to recognize anew its powers.
The style is already there to be had, surrounded by the excesses and wastes that do not belong. What matters now is, who is going to help me wrap this blanket-like cover around `ourself', the client, so that we might then lift up these big-ass scissors and begin this transition already.
