Future Argues Jay Z Wasn't Great Until Biggie & Pac Died

When Jay Z dropped his debut album Reasonable Doubt in 1996 it wasn't a much of a hit, and only charted 23 on Billboard.

It's gone on to sell over 1.5 million, and is now considered a classic. So something obviously changed between June of 1996 and today.

During a barbershop debate with Ebro, James Harden and Steve Stoute, Future argues that it was the death of The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac -- which took place soon after Reasonable Doubt's release -- that helped Hov achieve greatness.

"Jay Z wasn’t great when Tupac and Biggie was alive,” Future says in a clip posted by Stoute. “It was Biggie, Tupac, Ice Cube. [Reasonable Doubt] wasn’t hot until [Tupac and Biggie] died." "They always go back for your classic album," Future continued. "When Nas dropped his first album, it was great then, Future continued. “When ‘I Ruled The World’ came out, it was the best then. You have to go back and listen to Reasonable Doubt and think this the best shit ever.”