i can kinda understand where your coming from....but you have to remember that the roots have been around for more than a decade most mcee's in new zealand are lucky if they started spitting over people raps in 94' nah mean. U.S obviously have more on us, and my only critque of your statement is that you shouldint be trying to compare U.S to N.Z but looking at the U.S act's as the stepping stone's to making this country's hip-hop scene blow up world wide.
as for the international act's 50 and gangstarr yep....cypress in comparison to the root's....nah...same goes for naughty by nature.
Pz.
Karizma