Everybody always says that rappers like Pac, Big, Pun, & L are rated high cuz they are dead. I really dont believe that. I mean it doesnt matter if a rapper is dead or not, if he's great, he's great. However, i do think it plays a small factor. When the rappers died, i think it give us a chance to look back and reflect on their music. We get to appreciate their music, since they are no longer around, cuz when they were alive, we took them for granted. Jay-Z says it best: "They don't really miss u til u dead or u gone". However it is not the deciding factor. I mean, rappers like Eazy-E, ODB, & Party Arty died, and  u dont hear ppl calling them the greatest. It's cuz they aint 1 of the GOATS. People believe that Pac & Big were the GOATS. they were highly praised when they were alive, and when they died they were praised even more cuz ppl appreciate their music. Jay-Z & Nas are already praised as some of the GOATS. If they die 2morrow, that will not change. if Soulja Boy or Vanilla Ice die 2morrow, nobody will call them great.

So basically, rappers dying is not the main reason why they are called great, its cuz ppl believe they are

That's true because Fat Pat died back in '98 and he still really never got any love outside the South, and he might be the best rapper to ever come out of Texas, so i agree with that