Wayne in his prime years was a lose cannon saying whatever he felt (bad for business).

Wayne's face is covered with tattoos (hard to market that to mainstream america).

Wayne played the hood character and got the same treatment as other similar acts.

This just what it is, people with fairer skin are treated/up held better in the industry in a lot of different cultures/countries

He still had his lil struggle in hip hop coming from a teen show and early on being considered “for girls”

But mainstream wise he had it in the bag really, plus having a huge female following also helped