Pretty much. Pac >>>>>>>>Jay any day. Pac's music is still relevant today because his subject matter is timeless.
Jay is in my top 10, but growing up here (Montgomery, AL) I was one of the few people I knew in Jr High listening to Vol 1. I remember seeing the video for the City is Mine and liking it and my momma took me to circuit city to get it. When Hard Knock dropped and Money aint a thing he became "radio popular" here.
But nobody (besides me and a small group of people ) was listening to that shyt. We listened to popping west coast shyt (deathrow, e40, cube), popping down south shyt (ugk, eightball and G, No limit, Cash Money, Scarface, etc.) and local Montgomery artist (Dirt Boyz, Small Tyme, etc.). Riding around the city, going to clubs, and parties...nikkas was not listening to "nikka What, nikka Who". That shyt was not getting played at parties. The main reason is because of the production. If it didnt sound good in some 15s or wasnt heartful or wasnt to the point or didnt make girls dance (women danced in the club back then) that shyt wasnt popping. We like to feel our shyt. Yes, D' Evils by Jay is a much more lyrical song and a great record. But it dont hit you in the chest like If I Could Change by Master P and Steady Mobbin which is far less lyrical.
And Pac's influence was huuuuuge. One year at my school, people liked Big. When Pac said fukk him, everybody was like fukk him. We were children sure, but the point still stands. It took me years to listen to and fall in love with Mobb Deep just because Pac said fuc em. It's still fukk Chino XL lol.