Jada and Fab were using the exact same producers that were on Vol. 2 though. Life After Death was mainly just the Hitmen.
...and RZA, Havoc, Premo, Easy Mo Be etc. I get your point I just feel like LAD is the clear blueprint. You could even say IWW is in a similar vein but came first, and it's moreso about the type of tracks than the producers IMO. Yea getting the hot producer became huge in the late 90s/early 00s but the album blueprint was having your street singles, posse cut, ladies track, Tunnel track(s), etc. LAD did that better than any album at the time, giving everyone something. The full project is overrated IMO but regardless...the blueprint was set.