I determine mainstream rap by is it bubblegum rap, if it isn't it's not mainstream, it just gets played cause it is a good single or whatever...You can't say these guys are mainstream because they have videos out, or had songs played on the radio everywhere, mainstream rap is basically that laffy taffy, chicken noodle soup bubblegum bullshit.....And i am not hating on the south, i like a lot of southern rappers like project pat, Scarface, the reall down south mans, not these new bubblegummers like D4L and these guys who just get to make it cause they have a catchy beat and dumbed down enough lyrics even a 3 year old could understand what is being said...............A lot of hardcore, straight to the point lyricists won't even see their actual talent get rewarded with money, record sales, and spins on the radio.......think of papoose, styles p, jadakiss, sheek louch, saigon, immortal technique, 40 Cal, and a lot of others with unbelievable street fame, but no plaques to show for it.........except for jada cause he went plat, but he probably won't come with another mainstream-friendly single like why? again.........