I remember I was 9 years old when I saw California Love on MTV in ‘95. My brother bought the All eyez on me album in ‘96 and Since then I loved Pac’s music. Shit I even remember the day that they announced his death. I was shock’d as hell. Couldn’t believe it.
I met Tupac here in Oakland before the deathrow days i yelled out....tupac...he came over gave a pound and talked for a minute...he was hella cool man....i never thought he would become hip hop royalty....Rip homey
@@EchoRhythmMusic how you gonna argue with Someone who knew pac personally and is in the Music industry. You're nobody bro. You're just a fan like the Rest of us. Smdh
@@EchoRhythmMusic bro even Jigga said women lie, men lie, but numbers don’t lie. The facts are Jay sold 43,000 and Pac sold 566K end of story. In 96 Jay-Z wasn’t hot like 2pac….
He ain’t lying and I been telling people Pac and Big had to pass in order for Jay to get his shine and had that not happened rap would not be the same. Pac is the biggest star in the history of hiphop still to this day. I was not the Biggest Pac fan but this was self evident to me!
Jay z had more money then Biggie & Pac since back then & he was the CEO of his company. He’s a boss, they were workers. He was always destined to be on top. He came in the game with his paperwork right. They didn’t unfortunately. I listen to all three. So Im not picking any sides. Just calling it how i see it.
@@YoungDen And BARELY to them. Jay's LAST CHANCE at getting a shot was Aint No with Foxy Brown. If that record never took off...Jay wouldnt be on the level he is on today. He would even tell you that.
It's fuckin insane bro crazy #s it just proves that his death had nothing to do with his success. Delray wrong as shit though you don't multiply it by 2 because it's a double album you didn't buy disc one and disc 2 separately or cassette 1 and 2 separate it was one purchase. Jay would have blown up with or without PAC mentioning his name let's not act like new York didn't support it's own artists. It's not like if PAC didn't die hard knock life and big pimpin wouldn't have been hits.
Even havoc and prodigy said they was liking that Pac was name dropping them. Multiple interviews they said that they was shocked and was trying to build off that cause pac was HOT in 95-96.
Biggie passing had more to do with Jay z's success then Pac, simply for the fact that Pac's success after prison was based on hype (coming out of prison)and controversy(signing to Deathrow) and non factual beef (He new Biggie didn't set him up). Unfortunately he let Suge and others put that battery in his back and keep a fake beef going for hype. Where as Jay Z fell into a lane of strictly lyricism, swag and MC skills. He didn't become a billionaire because he was an average MC. Think about what you're saying. R.I.P. Pac R.I.P. Biggie two of the greatest to contribute to our Hip Hop culture.
Alot of the first albums that we consider classics today didn't do great first week numbers. Illmatic did 66,000 it's first week, Enter The Wu Tang did 30,000, it took 2pacalypse now four years to go gold, and the infamous didn't go platinum until 2020.
Rap even in its golden age had a hard time finding it's commercial footing. Great Era for artistry, but a struggle to find a place in the mainstream. So that does make sense what ur saying.
I agree that at that time, as big as Pac was, just mentioning Jay-Z's name helped put him on the map. That said, Pac barely mentioned Jay-Z and Jay-Z didn't really blow until *Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life,* so he had to put in a lot of work among some serious competition. He's *earned* his respect.
@@Richer85 Pretty much and a little boost at that, because no one was checking for Jay on the strength of Pac. Jay was already known (at least in NYC) by the time Pac started mentioning him on records. Reasonable Doubt had already been released by the time Pac's first diss to Jay Z on "Bomb first" was heard by the general public, which was 5 months after Reasonable Doubt.
😂😂😂😂😂 facts cause not gonna lie I love Pac and I’m from BK. I’m not even bias but Jay Z really the goat. Reasonable Doubt is about REAL LIFE. I understand Pac and him as a martyr but yo JayZ really was coming either way 👁
@@remi2206 at the point jay didn’t diss pac he didn’t say anything about him the problem came from the dead presidents video when big rolled the dice and said “ who shot ya “ and they all started laughing that’s why he dissed jayz and that came out him and the outlaws mouth
@@Lyrical_Replies Influenced millions to change the way they Live, can't reach everyone, it's up to you and society to change what you believe isn't the way.
Summer 96, I was 14. Tupac was running music, he had all the radio stations playing him, kind of like Drake today. He said fuck Chino XL, no one knew who he was down here in Dallas. Me and my friends went to best buy to find a chino xl cd. We didn't buy it, we just wanted to know who he was. He said fuck Jay-z, we didnt know who he was. Tupac made u put your antennas up and be on the look out for whoever he was dissing. This guy is telling the truth. He maybe 10 yrs older than me but from my 14 yr old perspective this was correct.
People just saying bullsh_t! Jay Z was starting to blow up while 2Pac was alive and even if 2Pac lived on Jay Z has the whole East Coast on his side.. Nas went Platinum while 2Pac was alive, Wu-Tang Clan went Platinum while 2Pac was alive, OutKast went Platinum while 2Pac was alive.. So to say no one wouldn't sell or get noticed because of 2Pac is some of the most Stan things to say..
Him making you go to a record store to see who an artist is without buying their album is not helping their success nor does it mean they wouldn’t be successful by pac dissing someone and raising your antenna...so naw dude wasn’t correct in the video..jay was on regardless
Jay Z said himself, "when 2pac was alive i couldn't sell a record". I still believe that even if pac was alive Jay z would have still had success in the music industry, just not as much as 2pac.
And Jay first album came out the year pac died.. what “records” was he selling other than his first one that had only just came out identical independent?….
Interesting fact: Makaveli was originally intended to be a "Mixtape" by Tupac/Makaveli, but Deathrow didn't want to miss out on the profits from the album.
Im from the 90s and nobody cared about jay z seriously until Volume 2 which was 2 years after Pac died. We didn’t know who Jay Z was in relation to Pac lol
Yall are alllll wrong! 3 pac had nothing to do with jayz success! That was alll BIGGIE ! facts you dudes are followers and smoking something. Jay put biggie on his back the whole brooklyn,to line up his 3 albulmb debut (blue print , 3 albumb) "Annie" blew up jay z . All you sound CRAZY
Jay-z’s success isn’t based on an accident or 2Pac. Jay is the type of dude who was going to figure out his stuff regardless. Billion dollar empires aren’t built on luck... It takes consistency, talent, smarts and vision.
If pac woulda never mentioned his name nobody woulda been checking for Jay like that outside of NY. Not to say he couldn't have been successful on some level but he wouldn't be the Jay z we know today
WHO JAY-Z IS SPEAKS VOLUMES!!!! LISTEN UP FOLKS, JAY-Z IS A LAID BACK DUDE OR GUY WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, BUT RECOGNIZE THE FACTS HE IS A GENIUS IN HIS OWN RIGHT!!!!❤️
Actually, Jay didn't really "pop" on a global status until 98, when he dropped Hard Knock Life. That was his "moment" that elevated him. Jay dropped In My Lifetime Volume 1 in 97, and it got a hella lukewarm response. Then he dropped that "Streets is Watching" soundtrack shortly thereafter and he started to pick up steam a tad bit. Jay didn't get going until 2 years later after Pac died and 3 additional albums. Jay probably benefited the most from 'Pac (and BIG) no longer being alive, but to say Pac was responsible for Jay-Z success, while it took Jay 3 more projects and 2+years really to "start shining" just isn't a true statement. Love this dude though. Everything else he speaks on is really on par and he isn't just speaking and talking simply to be heard. He's genuine with his...
Actually he is telling the truth jay z been around since 89 before makavelli I didn't know who jay z was even mob deep was so happy that 2pac dissed them and said we about to sell more records
Insane amount pf records Pac sold fucking insane. But that goes to show you Pac was the Greatest people loved him. But he also didnt just put out trash music dude really gave us his passion & put all emotions in his music. This dude really broke it down. Cuz when u think of it Pac died biggie died then came Jay & Dmx
@@Forchin500 No artist has EVERY album or single hitting everytime. But Pac's albums and songs influence mugs till this very day. Thats why he is great.
He was the hottest rapper in 96 so it Probly did make u listen…but he was only the hottest because of the antics not cuz of skill…he don’t compare to jay
When Jay-Z and Dame was putting Roca-A-Fella together with the partnership with Def Jam etc Pac already started having commercial success and parted us in physical already. Half the people watching this feed probably can't quote a bar from Pac first album He's comparing Pac going on his 4th or 5th album to Jay-Z 1st album which to me is reaching. It wasn't until Volume 2 Hard knocks kicked off Jay-Z commercial success which sold over 4 millions at the time Dude in this video bugging Ain't no way I'm comparing Jay-Z to Pac because they came from two different perspectives the music industry is big enough for anyone to eat and make money Jay-Z is mogul today off hard works and forward thinking not because Pac dissing him no matter the mileage one could've benefited from especially if u name dropping. Pac is adored loved and missed and celebrated for his courage and impact he had on life not just the music. Jay-Z and Pac are great in their own ways.
You speaking on someone quoting a bar from pac vs quoting a bar from Jay bruh is ridiculous,that's what you're basing this topic on?That's a ridiculous implication that you're implying that Jay is better than pac."Women lie,men lie,#s don't",the person you're implying that is a better rapper than pac stated those words.Again,it took Jay 10yrs to sale 1 million records...if I can recall Pac went 2x platinum with the "Me Against The World" album and he wasn't even with deathrow yet.
@@southeastd.c5636 like I said in my first comments alot of Tupac fans can't quote a bar off his first album or tell us their favorite song off his first LP ...... Most of Tupac fans came on lil later after his movies and sitcoms etc Pac already started crossing over doing other things which was crazy at that time because we never really seen that before. Which is kool 😎 Meanwhile Jay-Z had Streets is Watching after that Reasonable Doubt LP which didn't render commercial success but obviously put people on notice. Vol 1 was my personal favorite but it wasn't till Vol 2 Annie sample ... Jay-Z kick the door in and blew the roof off commercially over 5 million records sold. That Lp didn't drop till 4th quarter of 1998. Which my math says in 2 years from Reasonable Doubt 1996 to Hard Knocks Vol 2 1998 He started to top the charts. God Bless Tupac and RIP to him no question asked but Jay-Z success really had lil to do with Pac dissing him
He is talking the truth because, people weren’t listening to jay z when Pac was doing his thing. Big was doing his thing too but when they died jay filled in that void as well as DMX & others.
I was about 9-10 the night Kurt Loader announced Tupacs death on MTV breaking news, I was outside skate boarding with the older homies and my mom came out and yelled Tupac died! And we all ran in the house and glued to the TV, he was an icon, never will be another like him RIP king Tupac forever
We’re comparing Pac at his height, to Jay and his first two albums. Jay did’nt lift off until the “Hard knock Life” album… that was his third album. That don’t have nothing to do with Pac. In all due respect… Pac’s first two albums didn’t do all that well either. He has hits on them but Pac didn’t really move units, until he was on his third album as well. This revisionist history gets a little crazy sometimes. That Hard Knock Life track changed Jay’s career. And he had three or four other hits on that album. It’s nice to get a plug from someone who was poppin at the time, but not everybody that Pac plugged, ended up moving units.
Yeah but Jay z can't f*** with Tupac on any kind of level if he couldn't when he was alive what made you think right now he can do it people don't really relate to Jay z like that bro if Tupac was coming out with a movie tomorrow you know how many people will be going to see that right now Jay Z is just not that guy Tupac took the game to a whole nother level
@@isiahspencer8724 lool your comment has no correlation whatsoever… If Tupac was so much of a plug how come The Outlawz didn’t blow? 🤣. I’ll answer that, BECAUSE THEY WERE TRASH! Jay-Z’s talent and consistency made him who he was, not Tupac!… And by the way, bar for bar Jay would rap rings around Tupac
@@SocaDonTV Jay Z is garbage is work ethic ain't even compared to Tupac stop bro pimp c didn't even want to do that song with him that just shows how garbage is bro
@@melvinhhcp3615, but it is not; during the time Jay-Z was hot, not on the level of Pac, but Pac was not on the level of Snoop before 'All Eyes...' so to attribute Carter's career on one factor is illogical. If you know anything about the music business, becoming a successful artist entails many factors. To say it was all because of mention on a diss song and attribute it to past record sales is ridiculous and not logical or proven factually.
Jay sold 5 million in 98, two years after Pac died. It didn’t take him 10 years. That’s a lie. Jay dropped Ain’t No Nigga and Brooklyn Finest, which was why we heard of Jay, before Pac mentioned him. That’s not my opinion. You can google the shit
@@EchoRhythmMusic I was around @ that time. Hov definitely benefited from Pac & Big's unfortunate absence in the rap game. The lane was wide open @ the time. But I can't blame him 4 going all in. It's got em 2 wear he is today. It is what it is
I agree with the comment that said Jay didn’t really pop until Vol. 2 which was 2 years after tupacs death, if anything Biggie’s death made him the rapper he is today cause New York needed someone to take the top spot once he was gone.
Everyone knows it was all timing. Pac and Big was gone... void was left and Hov took the baton and ran.. wtf is this dude getting air time for.. like who doesnt remember that time frame... smh
You don’t go from “just another rapper” to arguably the Goat from one diss song… But Jay reached 🐐 status from CONSISTENCY This dude brought up a 100k increase in sales from Reasonable Doubt to Vol. 1… Volume 2 went #1 and the the next album went #1 again then again and then he went # 1 repeatedly after that for the next 10 years… It’s a shame Tupac’s legacy is involved with so much hating and Pac fans always feel the need to attack other people because that’s what Tupac died doing I respect Delray opinion but it’s NOT FACTS
You got a point but to add on if Biggie didn't die or Mase didn't find God. Jay would have never had a lane to breeze through in .Niggas in NYC wasn't fucking with Jay he barely sold gold records
Agreed, mostly. Alot of this is subjective. The only undisputable fact is that, in 1996, Jay-Z was not a real factor in hip hop, especially commercially. Delray's right about that. The Makaveli disses, no doubt, brought Jay some attention, but "attention" easily wanes unless you have the hits, the music to keep that attention. Fact is, Jay-Z proved to be an artist who could deliver. Nore's been whining on Drink Champs recently, because 2Pac dissed Mobb Deep, not CNN, for the "LA, LA" answer back to Tha Dogg Pound. Fact is, even if Pac dissed CNN, just like he did Chino XL, they still wouldn't have blew, because unlike Jay-Z, CNN and Chino XL were niche acts, who never made any hits that anyone cared about outside of their little fanbase.
@@jaxandbella96 who do u think is more willing to pay for music.. it’s less minorities .. who is more likely to relate to story telling? White people ..
Thing is Pac was a mainstream artist at the time, versus Jay Z being really a local artist. One had a machine behind him, and the other was pretty much an underground label owned by 3 drug dealers trying to start a label. Its It's kind of hard to compare the 2. Big was already out, so that is a better comparison. This dude is telling the truth with no hate. This is a first for me👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿
@@excaliber8713 he wouldn’t be where he’s at even with his current catalog thus far? I think you guys just don’t want to give the man his due and I’m not a Jay fan!
All facts. Those of us that lived it outside of New Yorkers know this to be true. Matter of fact, Hov got no play or recognition in the South until he did a song with Jermaine Dupri and UGK. Pac stayed in rotation down south from the jump. There is no comparison other than Pac died, and Hov filled a void for Biggie and Pac, and has continued to put out quality music during his lifetime.
@@uninvitedmaine2345 Money Ain't A Thang appeared on Vol. 2 also. That was months after it actually dropped. I feel you though. It was mostly Vol. 2. M.A.A.T. got jay a solid look. Vol. 2 took him to another level.
Well from that brother saying the mbrs of sales maybe he was in sales but the streets people took sides and it was kinda split east was riding with big and west was riding with pac
Since I've existed, I've seen 3 rappers run rap, in 3 different era's, that will probably never be matched. - 2pac: 91-96..but really between 94-96 he was a SUPER STAR. Jail time, records, movies, always on the news for some time of allegations or troubles. - 50 Cent: 2002 - 2005... 50 was the biggest guy in rap, had his clothing line, shoes, movie, videogames, etc - Lil Wayne: 2008 - 2012. Dude was featured on everybody shit and once young money emerged, it was a wrap. None of those guys during those 3 eras will ever be replicated or matched.
Let's not forget to mention DMX's late 90's/early 2000's run of 5 platinum albums and the films too. All the while Jigga, Nas, and Big Pun were going platinum. Cashmoney records going platinum, and the south in general was starting to change the landscape. Also Dre and Eminem were going platinum at the time. With all that competition at the time, we still seen a historic DMX run.
Nigga said Tupac ran rap 91-96…boy u must be 21 years old…u def don’t know wtf u talking about…pac ain’t get on top of rap til 96!!…after death row co-signed…what the hell u talking about smh….50 wasn’t running shit in 02…get rich didnt come out til 03…jayz ran the game from 99-04….u don’t know what u talking about
Let's not forget about Eminem dude was killing it early in his career. The first 3 albums are straight classic plus them sells made him into a God and nobody wanted it with him lyrically when he was on drugs. 8 mile em influence the culture big most definitely
@@barnfrmdabury1 dude nobody was thinking of Jay Z when biggie was alive ! He was king of New York . If he didn’t die Jay Z wouldn’t have had a career . Plus he stole bigs style so it’s allot of truth to what I’m saying
Just cause Big was king at the time doesn't mean Jay wld not be a success, ppl kill me wit Jay bit Big style, name me a song where tht is true, I'll wait....ppl say the same about Eminems career if Big and Pac was alive he wldnt make it like they were tha gatekeepers of hip hop, it's an evolving industry and whether you admit it or not Jay changed the game from when Big and Pac was on top
@@barnfrmdabury1 things have to happen in the late order for it to be a future ! Had big survived Jay wouldn’t not be where he is . Since he stole from big . It’s just facts . In 1996 when reosnable doubt came out nobody was feeling it .
Bless you homie for letting your guests speak, vlads annoying ass would have interrupted like 30 times and somehow found a way to make it about himself
I heard Jay say nobody could get with him in a Verzuz. I still to this day think, Pac could get with him in any shape or form. Big really better than Jay too, but his material ain't enough. Nas there too, but Jay got him with commercial fans. If you break down the facts, Pac is really the only rapper Jay really don't got. Cause even though he only had 5 years, he made enough material to still be on Jay level. And I'd argue you can put Pac top 20 joints up to Jay's and he'd still hold his own with him to this day. Which is why he is my 🐐.
@@malcolmskinner3117 Even if this were true, jay had 25 years to catch up. If we did a 5 year comparison 1990-1996 (including Digital Underground) vs. jay's 1996-2002, Pac would still win.
Pac is great, Pac only called out the real threat he saw. Jay-Z never dissed Pac, he did his thing and blew up. Pac grew up around civil rights and justice environments given his parents. His story or rap lyrics were based on those fights, pain inequality and ghetto experiences. People fuck that easily during that time and Pac took advantage of that, clever. Pac took shot at everyone to his own advantage as well, and his career took a leap after that, it worked for him better than it did for others. But my truth is if Pac was alive Jay-z will still be bigger in the long run cos Jay-Z is smarter, Pac is outspoken.
@@jeanmichele3843 What link? People who was there actually know the timeline. S4MN came out in mid 93 along with Poetic Justice in that same timeline. Then it went plat some months later. It wasn't 95 when it happened.
I'm not from NYC, I'm from Chicago and ATL and what dude saying is all 🧢 Jay-Z is from BK, NYC, and was next up to blow. It's 20M MF'ers in the metro NYC area and this was when NYC was on fire and rap land. Jay-z was already going through the circuit. His talent was undeniable. Plus he was independent. Sure Pac shouting him out helped boost his clout but he was going to be a big dog regardless. . Big and Puffy were going to make sure he was shining and on the right platforms and his investors, Biggs Burke, and OG Juan could get him whatever budget he wanted. Plus he came up under Big Daddy Kane and DJ Clark Kent and Mister Cee. He was going to be pushed the right way that's why Pac even knew who he was cus' he knew Jay-Z was coming. Lastly, Jay-Z was making the right music to warrant bigger album sales. Pac was my fav rapper but ya'll be going too far with the idol worshipping.
You speaking FACTS I FROM NYC and I was a teen around that era NOBODY was calling the pac the best until he died. A BUNCH of dudes swear they made JAY ....but why aren't they where jay is? I LOVE Pac but his death has given him some mythical untouchable status and its ridiculous. Pac had his flaws some serious ones at that
I also forgot to mention that Pac mention Chino XL name by saying FU Chino XL but yet Chino never became a star. Jay-Z`s success is because of his hard Work, talent and the great team he had behind him. Also after Jay-Z first album he left the label he was messing with and formed a partnership with Def Jam. That also contributed to his rise in success. This guy disrespected Jay-Z by giving another man credit for his success.
I was just about say that pac totally dissed Chino XL. By his logic he should have been up there as well. I do agree with parts of his argument like once again never heard of Chino XL or ever heard a bar let alone a record, but he's reaching
2pac was more controversial than any rapper back then which is why media was following him up and down. Which become the strength to his career. Can you imagine boys record or Biggie without "Hit me up" by 2pac? You heard Chino X from 2pac just like Puffy. 2pac is not getting the credit he truly deserves because some people feel like he is taken too much. Why 2pac? Because he is 2pac, not Angel.
You cant hav a sensible conversation with Pac dickriders.....um not a Jay fan but facts giv that man props for his own success, and stop sayin if pac had lived, he died evrybody moved on and niggaz were not filling a void but reachin for they own dreams
@@zacheeyaleedaniels6748 true! Fast forward somes years "These niggas shouldn't let me in I ball so hard on ESPN See my Name come across on CNN 'Bout 6 minutes, you gonna see it again"
Could you imagine how many records Tupac would have sold if social media was popping BACK THEN?!?! Dude would have been the Michael Jackson in the hip hop game.
This is facts, I was a hip hop fanatic at that time in my life and Foxy Brown was popping more than Jay Z during that period in hip hop.Jay-Z style at that time was just a basic east coast flow, but hip hop got so watered down that his flow stood out among the time when hip hop started to decline.
I think that as a lot of us get older it's sometimes hard to relate to what younger people are into the same as our elders did with us, Jay-Z was smart enough to cut his own lane and be relevant as time, sound and imagery changed. But I agree with you .
“Basic east coast flow”? “Watered down hip hop”? Bro what the hell are you talking about?!? 1998 was one of the greatest years in Hip Hop history and easily top 2 of the 90’s along with 1994. I swear people get on the internet and say the dumbest sh t. Google is your friend people!!!
@@michaeloparah5438 Im saying facts,and I was there so I don't need google,1998 was not a great year for hip hop, especially for the east coast. The south took over by that time and Jay Z was only selling because he was one of the few, that was still representing for the east, So stfu
@@pharoah504 OutKast - Aquemini. DMX - It’s Dark and Hell is Hot & flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood. Jay-Z - Vol 2. Mos Def/Talib Kweli - Black Star. Juvenile - 400 degrees. Lauryn Hill - The miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Big Pun - Capital punishment. Gang Starr - moment of truth. Like I said, Google is your friend bruh. People just get on this app and say any ole bullsh t!
@@michaeloparah5438 You only confirmed what I just said. The south took over 🤷🏾♂️, Nobody was listening to the east coast like that, He built his fame off the east coast downfall. Yes i heard all of those albums when they got released, i played Lauryn Hill, I met Big Pun around that time he came to Mardi gras,Jay Z was just starting to blow up around that time. I was google before Google .So i know what im talking about, but in 95 and 96 Foxy Brown was bigger than Jay Z 🤷🏾♂️(even Nas said it).
Man who cares. One made great music and his dead. The other made great music and is alive and thriving. These post death ‘2pac was Jesus’ stuff is out of control and I was a bigger fan of PAC than Jay and still is, but this shit is silly.
Jay blew up with volume 2 when Hard Knock Life dropped in 98. The void of Pac and BIG left a lane for Jay to fill but I wouldn’t say that Pac had anything to do with Jay success directly.
Jay Z is basically Biggie lite.I could never put Jay over Pac or Big.He's older than both of them, but he couldn't shine, or take over the #1 spot while they was here.I don't really put longevity in high regard.If I watched Michael Jordan for 5 yrs, but then watched Dominique Wilkins for 15, Michael Jordan would still be the best I ever saw.
Was there back then Jay was headed for stardom . Big’s death accelerated Jay’s rise due to he filled that void . Yet he would have become a major success anyways . Many of those classics had already been written prior just waiting on release dates . Jermaine Dupre song gave him first nationwide commercial success. Yet it was the Blueprints that solidified Jay . It had nothing to do with Pac. No slight on him . They were in totally different lanes .
I'm not sure how old you are, Big's death didn't help Jay at all. His first 2 albums got outsold by a lot of his peers, and it wasn't until Timbaland gave him some bounce music, that he finally started doing bigger numbers.
This is why people hate Jay z… because he’s living out the dreams people had for Pac… it’s not his fault y’all fed into that bullshit ass beef… leave Jay alone
Its kinda crazy if you think about it, Pac was going at the GODS of hip hop and was destroying them, nas, mob deep, biggie, jay z etc these are all legends but pac had them all shook and was outselling them all thats a fact. Just goes to show how powerful pac was to be able to destroy those guys because these days nobody is fuckin with those guys like pac did
Not really the nigga died people forget that diss tracks didn't come out the way they come out now they were not fast you had to wait till a person album dropped so the diss tracks was coming he fucking died he was only on death row for one year..... Mobb deep dropped a diss n pull it from radio because he died like 2 weeks after they made it
I agree that Pac saying his name helped boost his profile to a certain extent but I think it’s a reach to say he would have only been “just another rapper” had it not occurred. There’s several holes in his premise. One, he could essentially make the same argument for Tupac in 91’ when he dropped 2Pacalypse. Ice Cube, LL and Hammer were at the top of the food chain when Pac first came out, they were going platinum and diamond (in Hammers case) while Pac’s first album was a major label flop and didn’t reach platinum until 15 years later. He could basically make the same argument that the controversy and Vice President Dan Quayle name dropping him, helped to boost Pac’s sales by the time his second album dropped (which still took 2 years to go platinum). And he’s making the mistake of comparing a newcomer’s independent debut album (Reasonable Doubt) to an established artist’s major label album (All Eyes On Me). Unlike his first album, Jay Z’s second album had a major label budget behind it, which may also be a larger contributing factor for it going platinum than Pac name dropping him. He didn’t think this through all the way because if we’re using his logic, Chino XL should’ve had a better career as well after he named dropped him on Hit Em Up too.
The point I think he is making that outside of New York we didn't know who Jay-Z was in 1995. I grew up in Lousiana in 96 I was 16. I didn't know Jay-Z like that we looked into their music to try and discover why Pac was mad about. So he makes a valid point. Jay still would have blown up at some point. He has undeniable talent.
Biggie's death was definitely a factor in Jay-Z stepping in to fill that East Coast void when Vol. 1 came out. New York needed their guy, and Jay stepped up. Vol. 1 had a few joints, but overall it was a reach because the super commercial joints on it were terrible. Vol. 2 solidified Jay.
I went to a Jay Z concert in 2019 and I saw people from 18-70, skinny jeans ,loose fit, sweat pants and even old white people in suits and dresses. No hypeman on the stage and he performed his old hits and the whole 444 album at 50 years old with no break and didn't even sweat. If I ever see this Del Ray Charles guy I'm slappin the shit outta him
There we go, I been saying this for years!!!!!!! Truth!!!!, but to be fair Pac was in Juice and Poetic Justice, before All Eyez On Me, but still Pac helped Jay out
Jay blew cuz big dead pac ain't help Jay he been poppin on the east coast Jay had to dumb his style down after reasonable doubt because he went ova niggas heads that's why he dropped reasonable doubt a 2nd time 💯
Jay-Z did 43K on his own vs Pac getting a fraction of the sales. From a business standpoint Jay-Z still probably felt it was a win for him personally. Those two moved different it's like trying to compare a Quarterback and a Linebacker and determine the best "football player". Different positions in the same game.
I disagree…Jay Z had a buzz on the East Coast with Reasonable Doubt. He got national attention after Biggie got killed because a lot of people saw him as the next big East Coast rapper….not to mention, he basically carried the same swag that Big did. People that missed Biggie flocked to Jay Z.
@Timmy Ggz tv when baby lane started an argument and then got dropped in the car wash by the guys who he started an argument with, that was the greatest time for the whole universe. Instant Karma!
Pac had nothing to do with Jay's success. Biggie passing gave Jay Z room to grow and Jay's base was the EC. Now he may have grown regardless of Big's passing but it did help him.
Jay was gonna do what he was gonna do regardless imo But it’s more accurate to say Big helped Jay than a Tupac diss song Wouldn’t that make ppl NOT fw you? Lol
@@Synchronite Exactly... 🤣🤣 "Oh man 2pac dissed this unknown guy Jay Z. Let me go buy his album." vs "Man Biggie died who's out there with skills and flow that I can listen to now. A...there's this guy Jay Z. Oh the guy that was on Big's album and used to rock with Jaz O?"
Pac was nr 1. Snoop nr 2 and Big nr 3. No rapper was at their lane. By Pac’s and Big’s passing the votes went to Nas, jay-z, dmx, ja rule, 50 cent & eminem etc. Pac was at the top in ‘96. He grew at such a high speed.
If that were the case how come Junior Mafia never got tht big? They only had like one gold album the only one out of them that did something was Kim. if pac woulda never mentioned his name I don't think people woulda checked for Jay that much outside of NY, not to say he wouldn't have been successful but he definitely wouldn't be the Jay z we know today
You crazy as hell to think that lol jay-z out his own mouth “pac open up doors for me” ! Jay-z benefited so much from pac and bigs death !!! Pac and biggie was on top of the world ! Nobody was touching them ! But pac was the king of rap in at the age 24 ! And he was getting better and better
I love 2Pac. One of the greatest to ever lived. But to say that Jay-Z wouldn’t be successful if Pac was still alive is crazy. 2Pac was signed to Death Row, Death Row was under Interscope… which means Pac had a whole entire machine behind him. Jay, Dame, and Biggs was doing it out the mud. And it was harder to be an independent artist back then, because you had to really make decisions on your own & everything is coming out of your pocket. Nowadays, you can blow up off your phone. And if you smart & know how to handle your business… wouldn’t need a record label to back you.
I like the way Delray lays out his arguments, but I mostly disagree. Jay was gonna blow regardless, eventually. He just needed the right singles, the right machine behind him. 2Pac's debut album, 2Pacalypse, was a commercial flop, because it lacked the right lead singles, and he was still finding his "voice" as an artist. It was common back then for artists to need multiple albums before they achieved commercial success. Did the Makaveli disses help garner Jay some attention, yeah, but that didn't "make" his career. It's a reach to say that a diss-mention on a song blew an artist up. Biggie, the undisputed king of NYC starting in '94, dying had way more to do with Jay blowing up. It opened up a lane. Remember, Biggie and Nas were already throwing subs at each other on It Was Written and Life After Death. That was supposed to be the clash for king of NYC, not Jay versus Nas 5 years later with "Ether" and "The Takeover." Biggie dying and Nas putting out some wack music during his whole "Escobar" phase, along with the west coast falling off commercially after Death Row collapsed, all contributed to Jay-Z eventually becoming "that nigga" in hip hop. Jay had the hits, the consistency, and the Def Jam machine to help push him to the top. You can't simply just boil all this down to some shots 2Pac was throwing his way on the Makaveli album.
@@Steve0verton "Jay was gonna blow regardless, eventually." There, I made it easy for you. Bad reading comprehension aside, do you agree or disagree with what Delray's laying out here?
Being from NYC, I can legitimately tell you none of us listened to Tupac music at this time. NYC was on crime music, Mobb Deep, Nas, Capone and Noreaga etc. We were in our own bubble, still thinking we ran hip hop. We knew Tupac as the artist, but we just didn’t listen to him. He just didn’t fit the bill for what New Yorkers wanted to hear at the time.
Jay Z’s first album sales were probably the same as Pacs first album sales… but Pac was four albums in to Jay Z’s one in 1996… Jay Z was still going to blow up regardless… Pac would’ve just had somebody else to diss…
@@jaythawriter4940 if you remember he was Big’s man… he was going to blow up… plus Pac dissed him so obviously he had buzz… Jay was still going to do big things just face it… And I’m a bigger Pac fan than Jay Z
@@jaythawriter4940 Tupac’s first album “Strictly for my Niggaz” did 38,000 copies in its first week. Jay Z’s Reasonable Doubt album did 43,000 sales in its first week… this is per the RIAA… that’s factual… what I’m saying is comparing these guys debuting albums is more fair than comparing someone who’s four albums in to someone just getting in.
@@Fowler0526 that’s not 2pac first album buddy. Lol. Pac was actually 2 albums in when he blew up. Please stop comparing jay to 2pac. You’ll just make yourself sound stupid! Jay was a damn nobody. These are facts. Not opinion. He didn’t blow up until everyone died and Mase left. Not opinions. All facts
Sorry but you're tripping! Pac was indeed a unique phenomenon but as for death row & west coast nah man everyone including Pac knew east coast was top of the game! .....why you think Pac was so intent on setting up0 Death Row East? He knew what was up!
@@jazzwhitney3333 I highly doubt this. Recall, he distanced himself from Madonna because she was white. If Em was an actor like Tony Danza, Mickey Rourke, or Tim Roth, maybe I could see it. But musically, nah. He collabed with Alanis Morrisette. They were who they were before Pac forged that alliance though. I really don't see Pac signing a white kid from the trailer parks of Detroit.
unless you lived in New York Jay Z was unheard of back then until Tupac dissed him. Tupac was one of the biggest celebrities, not just the biggest rapper but in the world!
didnt take "time" to blow ... took MONEY to blow! when jay had the major machine def jam / polygram behind him putting that real money up for marketing and promo thats when he blew. same for pac when he got on that death row and jimmy finally put that real inter scope cake up.
So he’s Comparing Tupac a well known and established artist on a Major label in 96 to Jay Z in 96… a artist on a independent label releasing his first record.. and this “proves” something?.. oh.. ok 🙄
@@warsameabdille4970 i think you are confused. They aren’t saying everyone that needed with Tupac is a billionaire now . Pac isn’t a genie 🧞♂️! They are saying that when he dropped those names , at the time that did help boost careers . And lil kim was big until she retired ! She’s not broke I’ll tell you that ! Even mob deep said it boosted their careers .
appreciate the real talk great interview no one should ever forget the impact tupac had on other rappers careers and the impact tupac had on people lives in general touched all racis all colors every one loved tupac...RIP 🙏 tupac amaru shakur
I feel what he’s saying but Jay Z would’ve still been a big artist without Pac mentioning him. He was one of the only few artists to work with Biggie. That was a turning point In his career alone.
@@unclemoneybags1022 Nah man. I'm not a massive Jay-Z fan but it would have been more of a Jay-Kanye type relationship. Big loved bringing others up in the game. So if he didn't die, Jay would have had more verses from him and inevitably blown up in his own right. A joint Brooklyn's Finest album could have been fire.
Lol I’m calling BS on this one. You can’t credit Tupac for JZ hard work and talent. Pac first 3 albums only did ok. 2 pacalypse, strictly for my ngz, and thug life. Jay first album was trash in my opinion but he stuck to it and stayed on his grind and that Hard Knock album was fire. Once Jay figured it out what works he put his foot on the he gas pedal. That had nothing to do with Pac.
We wouldn't know of Jay, facts. Pac dominated the music industry and was ready to takeover Hollywood. Had he lived, no disrespect to Will Smith, but Pac would have played most of those roles and more.
