with the exception of bad boy, just about everybody on the east coast sold more in '99 than they did in '96.
sales-boom crazy.
Nah. Most of the artists that you’re saying were old school by 99, like Wu for example didn’t sell more. Tribe didn’t sell more either. Mobb was actually one of the few artists who didn’t chase the trendy sound who ended up selling more.
quiet storm REMIX with lil kim was their biggest hit, but why didn't the original prodigy solo video blow up?? it had the same exact beat.
The OG Quiet Storm was a hit though. If it wasn’t, they wouldn’t have remixed it with the same beat.
top-tier NY rappers in '99??
DMX
jay-z
nas
the lox
noreaga
big pun
busta maybe?
So this obviously isn’t a list about sales or mainstream reach since you’ve got the Lox on here.
I don’t dispute X, Jay and Nas.
The Lox weren’t top tier in 99. They were heating up, but they were still under the shadow of the MPR album. The argument for them is much stronger in 2000 when the album drops.
Nore - I enjoyed the 98 album but I wouldn’t put him in the top tier based on that. Melvin Flynt was 99 and that album flopped. I don’t see how he’s top tier at all. Or over the Mobb in 99.
Pun had a huge single and a platinum album in 98. The album was really dope and he was one if the best new rappers to come along that year. 99 was the terror squad album which didn’t do numbers or generate a hit. 98? I can see it. 99? Nah. Not over the Mobb who actually dropped an album.
Busta - I would argue Busta was never top tier, despite the platinum plaques, the hit singles and the fact that he was dope. Just never had the album to put him on that top tier.
So who does that leave as the top tier for NY for 99?
X, Jay, Nas and the Mobb.
Out West the only person you could argue was Dre.
Down South Juvenile?
Eminem maybe for the Midwest?