You have the perspective of someone who has never left his town, let alone state fam.
Outkast had 2 classics leading up to Aquemini, No Limit and Cash Money were still on the come up in 98. The anticipation was with Outkast.
DMX was the biggest rapper in the world in 98, the numbers speak for themselves. Nobody was rushing to the radio to hear a master P 16, cut it out fam.