Would it be fair to say Pop Smoke was more important to NYC rap than Big L?

[MaxBundles]

As a New Yorker, Pop Smoke was one of those people you KNEW was a legit star. The embodiment of a real NY nikka. Dude woulda been huge in my opinion

Overall, dude was better than Big L in every way

 

[Plankton]

As a New Yorker, Pop Smoke was one of those people you KNEW was a legit star. The embodiment of a real NY nikka. Dude woulda been huge in my opinion

Overall, dude was better than Big L in every way

Pop Smoke was lyrically better then Big L?

 

[Devil Plisken…CMS]

Pop Smoke was lyrically better then Big L?

Big L would be fighting for the same steak as Kiss, Banks & Fab if he lived.

That type of rap has merit and all them guys are very talented but he wasn’t exactly Rakim, Jay, Big, Nas, Prime Prodigy levels of imagery, dexterity or flow

 

[Plankton]

Big L would be fighting for the same steak as Kiss, Banks & Fab if he lived.

That type of rap has merit and all them guys are very talented but he wasn’t exactly Rakim, Jay, Big, Nas, Prime Prodigy levels of imagery, dexterity or flow

You just did a whole lotta but never answered the question, so I'll ask it again....



Pop Smoke was lyrically better then Big L?

 

[FlimFlam]

bigger in his time, yes

more influential? id say not at all. depending on how you define "influence "

Big L was among the pioneers of the style he was running with ...that others picked up and is still around to an extent today

Pop smoke was more of the influenced with what he was workin with rather than an influencer

 

[Handsome B. Wonderful]

Absolutely not.

 

[Canon]

oddly interesting close comparison here

 

[toetoe]

More influential, yes.

More important?

 

[Drip Bayless]

This thread got me thinking, Pop Smoke would’ve really been a beast man. Probably a top 3 rapper of his era at minimum. And his work ethic was crazy, two projects while alive and two posthumous albums for someone who was rapping for two years and died at 20 is wild. He had that Pac type of work ethic

 

[theflyest]

I’m not a NYer but we are still talking about Big L 26 years later

 

[The Eliminator]

I'd say yes
Pop was on his way to be a big deal,his debut album was amazing
The second one it was obvious they had limited material to work with and butchered most of it
The fact that the biggest current rapper from NY is Ice Spice should say it all

 

[Crumple]

More influential, bigger in his time etc. both got murdered in their primes but Pop’s death was a much bigger deal in real time.

I bring this up because I remember Pop smoke was ahead of Big L on the Complex NY rapper list and some people were furious.

That shouldn't be a comparison.

Everyone dissed Pop Smoke and his dances when he dropped on Coli. Then grew to love him.

I feel like his popularity was beginning to fleet before he stole that car.

But he was great, and in my mind could have contributed alot to NY rap.

Big L was a street dudes from the 90s. With skill on the mic that still hasn't been matched.

He brought the standard higher.

He was an extremely rare individual, and rap has only seen a few more like him since then.

Plus D.I.T.C affiliated.

Pop was great as well. He was more pop culture friendly who could have influenced rap in a big way.

L was a certified rap legend. Even while alive.

 

[ChatGPT-5]

Big L is one of my fav MCs of all time. Lyrical genius.

I listen to Pop Smoke, his music shook cities/clubs.


It goes to Pop.

I sometimes wonder what would have happened to hiphop if Big L lived longer tho.

 

[papa pimp]

anyone saying no is delusional as hell

 

[Mr. Jack Napier]

Pop by far...breh was on the cusp of superstardom