This is a lie. Only rappers nikkas outside of New York people gave a damned about in 96 was Biggie, Method Man, and Nas. When that east coast west coast beef popped off, radio stations in the south and west were only bumping west coast shyt, mid 90s southern rap music that sounded like west coast gangsta rap shyt ( mainly Outkast, and Scarface), Nas, Method, and Biggie. "If I ruled the world" song with Lauryn Hill was a big success in the south. Nas's It was Written buzz fizzled out when Makaveli 7 day theory dropped though.