Tupac vs. Notorious B.I.G.: Comparing the Commercial Success and Legacy of Two Hip-Hop Icons

Hip-hop is an integral part of music and culture and only grows in popularity as the years pass. Despite this enduring relevance, its absolute peak as a cultural phenomenon was arguably in the early to mid-1990s. Old-school pioneers, such as Run-DMC and Public Enemy, were still going strong while new talents were just emerging, with some of them still active to this day. 

It was also a time of great rivalries, as the United States hip-hop scene turned into a fierce battle between East Coast and West Coast rappers. The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur became two focal points of this rivalry, despite being close friends just a few years before. They both had immensely successful records in the mid-'90s, before the feud tragically ended both their lives.

Before comparing Tupac and Biggie's top-selling records, it helps to explore both these artists' backgrounds. Tupac Shakur, also known as 2Pac, was born on June 16, 1971, in East Harlem, New York. Both his parents were political activists, which is probably why he addressed pressing issues such as social imbalances and police brutality in his lyrics. He moved to California in his early teens and began recording in 1988, under the stage name MC New York.

His debut album, 2Pacalypse Now, came in 1991 and was both an instant and an enduring success, with legendary rappers such as Eminem and Nas citing it as one of their main inspirations. His deep lyrics and powerful delivery were also evident on his next albums. Tupac is known as one of the most influential rappers of all time, despite his relatively short career. Sadly, his involvement in the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop rivalry would prove to be fatal, as he was killed in a drive-by shooting in 1996, aged just 25.

Christopher George Latore Wallace, later known as the Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie, was born just a few months after Tupac, in Brooklyn, New York. From his teenage years, Biggie's immense talent showed in his ability to tell compelling stories through lyrics. Like Tupac, he also achieved instant success with his debut album, prophetically called Ready to Die. In a time when West Coast rappers were dominating, Biggie's emergence breathed new life into the East Coast hip-hop scene.

Sadly, this also heated up the East Coast-West Coast feud. Although Tupac and Biggie started out as friends before hitting it big with their debut albums, they eventually became victims of hip-hop's geographic rivalry. Their feud became increasingly public and went far beyond their music. Within the span of a few months, between the fall of 1996 and the spring of 1997, both artists were shot and killed in drive-by shootings, with both murders still unresolved to this day.

Tupac Shakur's most famous and best-selling album was released on February 13, 1996. It made history by being the first-ever rap double album, with its two CDs including 27 tracks. It was an instant success, selling over half a million copies in its first week on the charts, with sales eventually exceeding 10 million units in the U.S. and over 20 million worldwide. Tupac recorded the entire album in a span of only two weeks, with big names, such as Dr. Dre and DJ Quik, helping him produce it.

The album explores a wide range of topics, from common hip-hop themes, such as social issues and street life, to softer ones, such as love and relationships. It also featured five singles, with the most famous arguably being "California Love," which has since become a legendary West Coast anthem.

While Tupac's most notable album was his fourth, his East Coast rival the Notorious B.I.G. hit it big right out of the gate. His debut album, Ready to Die, was released on September 13, 1994, and has quickly taken its place among the most influential records in hip-hop history. Since Biggie was a relative unknown at the time, the album didn't match All Eyez on Me's instant chart success. However, it did go on to sell 6 million copies in the U.S. alone, with total worldwide sales exceeding 8 million.

Ready to Die can be seen as an autobiographical album, as it showcases Biggie's challenging transition from Brooklyn teenager to hip-hop legend. Its lyrics cover deep themes, such as crime, poverty, and death, but some laid-back tracks are there as well. It's ultimately a young man's successful attempt at hip-hop immortality, and the Notorious B.I.G. got it spectacularly right on his first try.

While both albums are cultural landmarks, they're received slightly differently by the public nowadays. Tupac's All Eyez on Me has a wide crossover appeal, with songs such as "California Love" being popular even with those who don't usually listen to hip-hop. Ready to Die, however, is seen as an era-defining hip-hop album and frequently appears on various best rap albums of all time lists. Both records are seen as symbols of early 1990s hip-hop and have since gone far beyond music, inspiring fashion, movies, and culture.

The two albums are still relevant and popular to this day, with new generations of fans discovering them various platforms. "California Love" is quickly approaching a billion streams, with many other Tupac songs having hundreds of millions of streams across different platforms. While Biggie's top songs from the Ready to Die album don't quite reach those numbers, that's pretty much expected given his narrower crossover appeal. 

The early 1990s were the peak of hip-hop — a time when the genre still had its raw street element but had gained enough visibility to achieve mainstream success. Tupac and Biggie are the two most cited names from that era, not only because they left us too soon but also due to their legendary body of work. There's no objective way to determine which of their best-selling albums was better, so all we can do is enjoy them both.