12/08/2023
Here is what Complex said about Jay-Z. They called him the Greatest Rapper of All Time and that it is undeniable without a single coherent argument. So let's stack him up against 2Pac and use their criteria listed here.
Technical Proficiency - N/A
This is more of a personal opinion so not a good use to judge the greatest
Billboard Hits - Jay-Z (Winner)
(2Pac 5 Year career vs Jay 37 Year Career)
Realest Stories - 2Pac (Winner)
Jay doesn't have Stories better than Dear Mama, Keep Ya Head Up, Brenda's Got A Baby, Changes...stop it! Dear Mama is also preserved in the Library of Congress and has become the most widely used Hip-Hop songs during Mother's Day. Changes also one of the most widely used songs in relation to political movements in recent years.
Global Influence - 2Pac (Winner)
Whose talked about 30 years after death? Who made it to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with only a 5 year career? Who has murals all over Africa? Who has 31 year old songs (Changes) Still reach top 10 on the Billboard? 2Pac does, enough said here
Personal Style - 2Pac (Winner)
I have never seen anyone say "I'm going to dress like Jay". All of Pacs fashion choices have become fads. Bandana, Euthanasia chain that brought back the 80s Swag, snapback hat, rapping shirtless, having chest and back tattoos on a rapper. Don't forget Pac was rocking Timbs before DMX and rocking Versace before Biggie. What does Jay have? A New York Yankees hat? Lol
Magnetic Charisma - 2Pac (Winner)
Come one let's be real here. This doesn't need explained. Just watch Juice or play one of his interviews
Total Sales - 2Pac (Winner)
Pac has over 85 million records sold and 2 Diamond albums. Jay hasn't gone diamond. Jay has only sold 45 million with a 37 year career
Brand Management - Jay-Z (Winner)
2Pac is dead and can't oversee his own brand so yeah, easy win for Jay
Featured Verses - Jay-Z (Winner)
Jay wins this as Pac didn't have a long career in order to have as many features.
Artist Cosigns - Tie
Both are some of the most praised rappers of all time. No debate here
Enlightening Interviews - 2Pac (Winner)
I mean, come on here, 2Pac was one of the most articulate speakers during interviews of our time. His interviews inspire millions til this day. Has Jay-Z ever said anything as Poetic and publicized as what 2Pac said when he said "I am not saying I will change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world"? Or how about when 2Pac referenced the black panthers being locked up in prison or k*lled. "We was asking with the Panthers. We was asking with them, the Civil Rights Movement. We was asking. Those people that asked are dead and in jail. So now what do you think we're gonna do? Ask?" How about when 2Pac spoke about how a rose grew from concrete and defied all the odds stacked against it and used it as a metaphor for people that live in the ghetto. There is zero competition here
Patronizing Laugh - N/A
This isn't a feature or asset that should be compared other rappers and comes off as a bit creepy to add it to an article as a comparable stat.
Relevance - 2Pac (Winner)
2Pac is just as relevant as Jay-Z if not more and he's been dead for nearly 30 years. 2Pac's Changes reached top 5 on the ITunes charts in 2020 and Greatest Hits hit top 10 albums during Summer of 2020. Greatest Hits is also one of the longest charting Hip-Hop albums from the 90s that's still currently on the charts. The song "Changes" also became a unofficial anthem for the protest in America during 2020.
Bonus Point for Creativity - 2Pac (Winner)
Jay had to steal Pac's lyrics, beat, hook, theme and song name from 2Pac's 1996 song "Me & My Girlfriend" in order to have his biggest hit with BeyoncΓ©. Checkmate 2Pac
2Pac - 8
Jay-Z - 3
And Complex said there was no coherent argument. And mind you I didnt even get into Jay-Z stealing Biggie's Rhyme Book and using it on over 50 songs, π