Common has done work for Barack Obama and I don't even like him all that much.

So has Hillary Clinton, but she's still an underrated MC.

:finger:

I don't get Common either, neither really been a fan of his.
Find him a bit boring if I'm being honest. He has little in the way of personality or individuality.
Some guys whom I think are a little 'underrated' are Papoose, AZ, Big Pun, Cormega and Jay Electronica.

Good shout on Papoose, but I don't think either of these are underrated. Pun is regarded as one of the greats (which I disagree with anyway), and AZ is constantly being referred to as underrated. How can someone who is called underrated every 5 minutes be underrated?

I would go for Andre 3000, for a lot of people their knowledge of Outkast = Hey Ya and Ms. Jackson and not much else. Andre is one of the best rappers that ever lived and it's a bit daft that the songs he's most known for, don't really show what he's about. I mean he's had a lot of commercial success but plenty of the people who bought The Love Below/Speakerboxx don't 'get' him, a lot of people I know even think he's a singer :(

Would have to disagree with Big Pun. He released two records, Biggie Smalls released two records. Big Pun's were better. Why is he not held in the same regard as B.I.G?
You've probably got a point with AZ.

Disagree with Andre 3K. Everyone gives Outkast plenty props and many, myself included consider Andre one of the best that there ever has been.
He's had plenty of commercial success utilizing guest spots on pop tracks and is noted for his incredibly unique style.
He'd be even more rated by the masses if he finally released a solo album.
Big Boi did it, and is doing it again next month. Andre needs to follow suit.

action bronson.

people are eager to dismiss him for sounding more or less like ghostface, but he's really really good.

What I mean with Andre, is that he's had great success in Hip-Hop and in the mainstream, yet he's only considered great in Hip-Hop circles. Three of his albums have been massively successful, reaching number 2, number 1 and number 1 again in America, I just find it odd that taking that into account, it's only really Hip-Hop fans who rate him so highly. Like you say though it is probably his fault.

Although if he dropped a solo album, I'm not convinced it would be him rapping, most of his recent material (Idlewild, TLB) has been him singing and I'm expecting more of the same with the solo album if it comes out.

Depends what he wants to do. He's not regarded as much by too many Top 40 fans, but would you want him to go pop?

A good example would be Eminem, I've never liked the guy, but look what happened to him when he fell off in hip-hop circles and decided to pander to pop fans.

Andre has the potential to be a successful cross-over star, but I'd rather see him remain straight up Hip-hop like Big Boi did.

Although I do get the impression the fame and popularity of being a Billboard star would appeal to Andre.

I'm not sure if I want him to go pop. Given the choice I'd prefer a straight up Hip-Hop album ala Southernplaya or ATLiens but I really like The Love Below and that might as well be a pop album tbh. Andre (and Outkast) is different and the little bits here and there he's done, are one of the few examples of good pop music, in my opinion. If he did go pop, I think he'd still continue to innovate and wouldn't lose his creativity, it wouldn't be cliche'd, dripping wet moistness that Eminem has done. Outkast have been flirting with pop for years anyway.

That's just my gut feeling though.