2Pac vs. The Notorious B.I.G. - objective comparisons

Question

People have argued for decades who is the best between rap legends Tupac and Notorious BIG. Most people just choose which artist they love.

Who would come out as the objective winner by the following statistics:

• Influence on other artists and the rest of the world.
• Impact in the community.
• Top charts hits.
• Overall Sales.
• Music made - Overall number of albums during each artist's time in the industry.

Answer 1

Notorious BIG

• 3 studio albums + 3 posthumous studio albums (including collaborations)
• 3 #1 albums, 2 #1 singles
• Subject of 4 documentaries and 1 feature
• 2 Billboard Music Awards, 4 Grammy nominations, a MTV Music Award, and a Soul Train Award
• described by AllMusic as "the savior of East Coast hip-hop".
• Named greatest rapper of all time by The Source, Rolling Stone and Billboard
• His Life After Death went Diamond
• 17 million records sold (US)

Tupac

• 5 studio albums & 7 posthumous albums (including collaborations)
• 5 #1 albums (no #1 singles)
• Starred in 6 movies, subject of 16 documentaries, 1 feature
• Wrote 1 book (poetry)
• Voted "#1 MC" by MTV viewers
• Named greatest rapper of all time by Vibe
• Named one of the top 100 artists of all time by Rolling Stone and VH1
• Inducted into the Hip Hop and Rock & Roll Halls of Fame
• His album All Eyez on Me went 10x platinum
• His song "Dear Mama" is one of 25 songs that were added to the National Recording Registry in 2010
• 75 million records sold (worldwide)

The Notorious B.I.G. had better charting singles, more awards during his life, and was considered the greatest rapper by a wider number of sources. He perhaps had the higher standing during his lifetime in America, in the black American community and specifically among hip hop fans (and of course, on the East Coast).

Tupac was more prolific, and has cast a longer shadow after death. He also crossed more boundaries, as a actor and poet as well as MC, and was considered more socially conscious in his lyrics. Considered overall, he had the better selling albums. Tupac is more of a global and a crossover star (as well as specifically being a West Coast hip hop superstar).

Source for all info: Wikipedia

So, it's a close call, but, strictly by the numbers, I think the edge goes to Tupac.