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The Notorious B.I.G. could be on the same level as JAY-Z if he was still living, according to Stephen A. Smith during a debate about Hip Hop greats.
The ESPN personality was a guest on the Connect the Dots podcast, and in a clip published on Wednesday (March 6), he was asked to rank the GOATs in the rap game in a bracket challenge.
Choosing between eight MCs, Smith narrowed the battle down to Biggie versus Hov, but first chose the former over Eminem in the semifinals.
He explained: “If Biggie were alive today, I think he could be Hov. I’m not sure though, but I will tell you that his lyrics, along with his music, the sound of it…I would say to you I gotta give it to Biggie.” Check out the clip, which begins at about the 40 minute mark.
When it came time for the finals, though, Stephen A. went with the Marcy Ave. icon.
“I have to go with JAY-Z. I personally think he’s the greatest. Biggie was something special, make no mistake about it, rapping about what he knows. JAY-Z knows more. Jay is more seasoned, so he had more to say,” said the First Take host.
“Even though Biggie spectacular, Nas is spectacular, Eminem is spectacular, LL [Cool J], DMX, all of them, spectacular. But, there’s only one Hov, bro…He has proven that through the test of time, with everything he’s done.”
Though Stephen A. chose the Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder as his GOAT, he recently discussed a spat they went through.
Jay is known to be highly protective of his family and friends, and he apparently didn’t take kindly to Smith’s controversial comments about his wife Beyoncé and Roc Nation signee Rihanna.
The ESPN personality shared the story on that same episode of Connect the Dots. he explained how Hov phoned him after he ignited a debate about Bey and RiRi’s respective talents.
Smith began by recapping his initial statement, saying: “I love Rihanna. I bought her album, she gets my money. Mad love for her, wish her nothing but the best … But you do know there’s only one Beyoncé.”
The First Take host later revealed that unspecified “Hollywood stars” were mad at him for his remarks and that a few have never spoken to him since.
“A month later, Hov and I were on the phone,” he shared. “Hov was like, ‘My dawg, you family, that’s family. That’s too close to say that.’ I said, ‘I didn’t know.’ He said, ‘I know.’ Done!
“In other words, it’s a business, it’s a part of it, you don’t know how she’ll receive it, etc. etc. etc. That’s all he had to say. I appreciated that.”
