I was a member of that "deep down inside group" for years also, bro. I can no longer say Biggie is the GOAT. My conscience won't allow me to. Going by output, skills, impact and consistency you HAVE to say Nas is the GOAT. He blessed us with what most consider the greatest hip hop album ever before he became 20 years old. He hit a wall and was in a malaise in his late 20's...then Jay woke him up. Woke up the sleeping giant and Nasir hasn't stopped since. I personally think he cemented his GOAT status on the Untitled album. There's not an MC you can mention now that I would even put in his class.
I always respected his skills. He always had the skill-set to be the best. I think he is the best lyricist in Hip Hop ever (always felt that way). However, it was the inconsistencies after "Jay" lit a fire under his ass that made me question his goat status. How do you from dropping Stillmatic to HHID or, from a God's Son to a two disc album that would have been fine as one disc minus the filler
It wasn't so much his material that did it. It was his influence on the people I had in front of him. It became clear of the years that they were biting him. Its so long you can get away with being unoriginal. I get chills thinking about it because Nas alludes to it on several songs through out his career.
"sooner or later we'll all see who the prophet is"
"nikkas bit of Nas shyt, admit you bit it"
BIG took from Nas, Pac took from Nas, Jay-Z took from Nas... Not just a sample I mean concepts, ideas, creative angles TAKEN from this nikka
He's the goat