Yeah, ok, and the guys you named weren't the only ones getting in beefs back then. Rappers of all levels of popularity battled and all of them went harder than nikkas now. Just cause they didn't bring up anyones dead homie didn't mean they didn't go hard. Hov brought up the Carmen shyt, Pac went at Big hard, and just in general we've seen beefs where both sides go mad hard. Eminem has said crazy lines towards other cats. Ja Rule brought up Em's daughter right? Y'all crying about Troy ave saying some wild shyt, he was just being hip hop and dissing Joey as hard as he could. The fact that Troy mentioned the dead nikka for ammo should gives Joey more of a reason to respond, and even further proves your post invalid. You bringing up if Jay dissed Ill Will, who fukking cares? Nas and Hov were real nikkas who battled like real rap nikkas.
Troy went hard at Joey and Joey is sidestepping and he supposed to be the 90s nikka. Plus you're making a case for why he shouldn't respond, bringing up sales, give me a break. Joey aint big enough to duck this shyt.