Big L
Big L |
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Lamont Coleman (May 30, 1974 – February 15, 1999), better known as Big L, was an American rap artist. Big L was born, grew up, lived, and was fatally shot in the same Harlem neighborhood he so frequently rhymed about. He is mostly remembered for his freestyle ability, his critically acclaimed debut album Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous and his death at the age of twenty four.
Performance history
His early career began in a group called Children of the Corn with fellow Harlemites Ma$e (then known as Murda Mase), Bloodshed and Cam'ron (then known as "Killa Cam"). His first recording under the name Big L was made in 1995 with Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous. He gained recognition within the genre of rap music for his renditions of Put it on; No Endz, No Skinz; Street Struck and Da Graveyard (which featured a then unknown Jay-Z). His biggest success came with Ebonics which he recorded on his own 'Flamboyant' label in the summer of 1998. The single, which consists of defininitions of slang terms, is widely regarded as his best work:
Check it: My weed smoke is my lah.
A key of coke is a pie.
When I'm lifted, I'm high.
With new clothes on, I'm fly.
Cars is whips and sneakers is kicks.
Money is chips, movies is flicks.
Also, cribs is homes. Jacks is pay phones.
Cocaine is nose candy; cigarettes is bones.
A radio is a box, a razor blade is a ox.
Fat diamonds is rocks, and jakes is cops.
D.I.T.C.
Big L joined the Bronx-based hip-hop supergroup Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.) and appeared on their single recording of Dignified Soldiers and their later LP. Rumours among hip hop fans suggested that Big L had signed with the Roc-a-fella label owned by Jay-Z. His last recorded release was The Big Picture on August 1, 2000.
Murder
On the evening of February 15, 1999 Big L was shot nine times and killed just blocks away from his Harlem home. He was 24 years old. Early implications led many to believe that Coleman was killed because of a debt owed by his brother, Lee, who was in jail at the time and was therefore unaccessible.
Discography
Albums
- Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous
- The Big Picture
- Big L featuring AG "Live From Amsterdam"
- Harlem's Finest - A Freestyle History
- Harlem's Finest - A Freestyle History (Volume II)
- D.I.T.C. - Diggin' In The Crates (rap group)
Singles
- Ebonics, on the Flamboyant label
- Flamboyant
- The enemy (ft fat joe)
- Platinum Plus (ft Big Daddy Kane)
- Holdin it down
- The Heist
Unreleased Tracks
- Clinic (Should of Wore A Rubber)
- Times Is Hard on the Boulevard
- Holdin It Down (Album Cut)
- Devil's Son (released in vinyl)
- Work Is Never Done