Still, it's not like that album prevented any of that from happening. Biggie and Jay were both more interested in making pop records. Nas has had access to Primo for decades now, but it's Nas, who has handily the worst taste in production of any rapper of his caliber, and possibly ever, so the chances of that happening were always slim. The thing that fascinates me is why exactly he decided these guys were worth his time and talent. Guys like Jeru and Guru weren't the most technically gifted rappers, but they rapped circles around these dudes and had, y'know, personality and charisma