He's dead. But the whole situation surrounding his death stinks, including the fact that it's still officially an unsolved murder. So much happened, and so little has been disclosed. There was never any closure for the public / fans regarding his death, and that in my opinion is why so many people are unable to come to terms with the loss. Was he caught up in some serious underworld sh!t, was it a simple person to person dispute, did someone hire a hit on him... Some people even think the government killed him and BIG to tone down hip hop . Whatever the truth is, it seems unlikely it will surface.
But on a high note, his legacy will live on for centuries without question. He'll be looked upon as the Mozart of hip hop, while every other rapper will most likely fade into history.
