I understand your point fam. But I know you're old enough to remember that Big was the considered the nicest emcee in the game at the time. That's why he's when he was called the GOAT when he passed & there weren't too many people against it at the time. And if you consider Jay Z's success (and Big was looked at as better than him when they both were alive) you get a idea of how successful he would've been had he lived. Just like I said to
@stomachlines look how much Jay "paid homage" to Big in stealing lines & verses & how others have done the same even in 2016.
He wasn't considered the nicest dude out breh. That's partially my point.
There was never this universal consensus he was the best. The East couldn't even agree on that. Everyone from Wu to BCC to De La was dissing him.
So if his own city didn't agree....how is he the best out? How is he the GOAT?
People act like there wasn't a large sub-section of rap fans that seen BIG, Puff, and all that flossy player shyt as the worst shyt out.
The thing is, he died. And suddenly everyone that was dissing him, and criticizing him, couldn't any more. And he died at the height of his popularity, so he's
forever at the height of his career. Which is why people will forever pay homage.
The same thing happened to Pac. People talk about "I wonder what Pac would be rapping about in 2016". Nothing. Who knows if he'd even have a career?
BIG could've fell off after a couple more albums. Which is what happens to 99% of rappers in existence. You can't look at how hot he was when he died, and apply that to his entire career. Or look at Jay's success, and say "that could've been BIG". It's not that simple.
Fred.