However, a closer look informed the people that DMX was actually two years older than Tupac. Not only that, but while Tupac was becoming the biggest rap star in the game, DMX was still a rising star. Representing from the streets on Yonkers, X, along with many other future stars was against Tupac.
Because of the nature of the times, DMX was releasing diss records aimed at Tupac Shakur. Had Tupac still been alive, DMX would have still been signed by Ruff Ryders. Not only that, but he would have continued to diss him. Of course, had Tupac been alive, he was not done.
Unlike the other artists who challenged Tupac Shakur, by name, DMX would have made it against him because he simply does not care. People are unwilling to admit it, now, but Tupac was very close to ending the career of The Notorious B.I.G. Had both rappers lived, a truce would have been made, but Biggie would not have been a living legend. Instead, DMX would have risen to represent the East. For the entire feud, Biggie was representing the East and he was afraid to deliver a response. Deep down, he knew that he would always be friends with Tupac Shakur and he did not want to ruin that.
By 1998, DMX would have emerged in the game, but not alongside Ja Rule and Jay-Z. Irv Gotti would have quickly aligned himself and Ja Rule with the Bad Boy camp and Biggie, much as Jay-Z had already done. But, being on his own as the leader of the Ruff Ryders, a competitive back-and-forth would have taken place between DMX and Tupac Shakur. The only other rappers from the East going at Tupac the way that DMX was happened to be Mobb Deep. In the coming months, they would have aligned with each other in an attempt to take out Tupac. Over time, however, Jay-Z would have still had his run alongside Rule, but they would have had Tupac in their corner.
So, there is a strong likelihood that DMX would have still feuded with Jay-Z and Ja Rule, but they would have never once been united the way that they were.