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What happens to Big's career when he realizes the ramifications of selling his publishing for $2 million? Life After Death does not sell 15 million copies if Big survives. Nas ethers Big before Jay gets to him if the sublims continue. Ghost and Rae have a conversation with Big as well as the legacy is tarnished even more. IF Puff allows Big to leave Bad Boy then the Lox don't go to Ruff Ryders because Puff keeps them. Everything else goes according to hip-hop history because Big falls off sooner rather than later. He's not remembered as the a great because fans have time to digest his material. If we're being honest part of Big's legacy is his early death. Give fans time to pick apart later material and we find out he's no Hov as far as historical output. Allegedly, Big was lazy so there's no way he's as popular as any of his contemporaries in 2015.

The what if scenario with Pac needs clarification. Does Suge Knight die in the shooting instead of Pac? This scenario assumes both Suge and Pac survive. Suge keeps bullying Pac to the point that Pac seeks an alliance with another label like Rap-A-Lot. Pac is a legend but more of an independent artist.

If Suge dies and Pac survives then the scenario is different. The west is more prominent as a result of Pac working with the youth at the time. Crooked I actually gets the look he deserved at the time. I see Pac as more of cultural figure in hip-hop. Imagine Common speaking like an eloquent black man that understands his history speaks like someone with some knowledge of self.

This idea that DMX, Drake, or Jay don't have careers or aren't as relevant is a joke because both Big and Pac peaked around the time of their death. Pac can't top the 7 Day Theory. Big can't top Life After Death. Both artists are legends but hip-hop fans are fickle and turn on both at some point after 1998.