Big L
Background information
Birth name	Lamont Coleman
Born	May 30, 1974
Origin	Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Died	February 15, 1999
Genre(s)	Hip hop
Years active	1992–1995 1997-1999
Label(s)	Sony, Rawkus, Flamboyant Entertainment
Associated acts	Diggin' in the Crates Crew, Children of the Corn

Lamont Coleman (May 30, 1974–February 15, 1999), better known as Big L, was an American rapper. Big L was born, raised, lived, and was fatally shot in the same New York City neighborhood, Harlem, about which he so frequently rhymed. He is mostly remembered for his freestyling, storytelling, punchlines, virtuoso command of multies, his critically acclaimed debut album Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous and his murder at the age of twenty-four. Image File history File links Big_L_promo. ... May 30 is the 150th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (151st in leap years). ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... For other uses, see Harlem (disambiguation). ... Manhattan is a borough of New York City, USA, coterminous with New York County. ... New York, NY redirects here. ... NY redirects here. ... February 15 is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Sony Records is a record label courtesy of Columbia, Epic and American Recordings. ... Rawkus Records is an independent hip hop record label that enjoyed considerable exposure and massive success in the late 90s. ... The Diggin in the Crates Crew, also known as the DITC, is a New York-based hip-hop collective, deriving its name from a popular DJ sampling practice. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... May 30 is the 150th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (151st in leap years). ... 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... February 15 is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... West Coast rapper Snoop Dogg performing for the US Navy For information on rap music, see hip hop music. ... New York, NY redirects here. ... For other uses, see Harlem (disambiguation). ... Freestyle rap is an improvisational form of rapping, that is performed with no previously composed lyrics, and reflecting a direct mapping of the mental state and performing situation of the artist. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous is a Big L album released through Sony Records on March 28th, 1995. ...

Career

Born and raised in Harlem's uptown sector, what he called the "Danger Zone", at 139th Street and Lenox Avenue; Coleman chose rap as a way of getting away from the ghetto. His first appearance on a song came in 1992 on Lord Finesse's "Yes You May" (remix). Lenox Avenue runs north-south in Upper Manhattan. ... Lord Finesse is a Hip Hop artist and producer, hailing from The Bronx, New York. ...

In 1993 he signed with Columbia Records and released one vinyl 12", "Devil's Son". This song was quickly banned from radio, due to lyrics which stations dubbed too violent or vulgar, such as "I pistol whip the priest every Sunday". In 1995, still with Columbia, he released his debut album Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous. The album was hardly promoted and commercially not very popular, but was praised by The Source, a respected rap music publication, which gave it four mics out of five. The album featured now-popular rappers such as Jay-Z and Cam'ron, but after its lack of success, he was dropped from the label. Columbia Records is the oldest brand name in recorded sound, dating back to 1888, and was the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Jay-Z (aka the Jigga, HOV and Hova, born Shawn Carter on December 4, 1970 in Brooklyn, New York) is an African American rapper/hip hop artist and record label executive; one of the most popular and successful rappers of the late 1990s and early 2000s. ... Cameron Giles (born February 4, 1976), better known as Camron, or Killa Cam, is a platinum selling rapper from Harlem in New York City. ...

His career took-off with a group called Children of the Corn, formed by himself and fellow Harlemites Ma$e (under the name Murda Mase), Cam'ron (as Killa Cam), Cam'ron's cousin Bloodshed and McGruff. The group recorded numerous songs, enough to make a full length album, compiled later as The Collector's Edition. The group never signed a deal, as Bloodshed was killed in a car accident in 1997 and Ma$e and Cam'ron temporarily quit rapping to pursue professional basketball careers. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Mason Durrell Betha (born August 27, 1977 in Jacksonville, Florida),[1] known by stage name Mase, is an American rapper, best known as an artist on Sean Diddy Combs hip hop label Bad Boy Records during the late 1990s. ... Bloodshed Dev-C++ is a full-featured Integrated Development Environment for the C/[[C++]] programming languages. ... Sara Giauro shoots a three-point shot, FIBA Europe Cup for Women Finals 2005. ...

During the gap of 1997 and 1999, Big L worked on his second album The Big Picture. It was released worldwide at the summer of 2000 to critical acclaim. Two singles, entitled Ebonics and Flamboyant both topped the charts at number one. The album featured cameos from Fat Joe, Kool Moe Dee and Big Daddy Kane among other up-and-coming and established rappers. The Big Picture went platinum in 2001. The Big Picture can refer to: A Big Picture, a communication tool used internally or externally within organisations with complex messages. ... Ebonics is a term coined, originally intended and sometimes used for the language of all people of African ancestry, or for that of Black north American and west African people, emphasizing the African roots of the former; since 1996 it has been largely used to refer to African American Vernacular... Flamboyant is the name given to a florid style of architecture in vogue in France during the 15th and 16th century. ... Jose Antonio Cartagena (born August 19, 1970), better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an Puerto Rican-American rapper. ... Mohandas Dewese (born 8 August 1962), better known as Kool Moe Dee, was an American old-school rapper prominent in the late 1980s and early 90s. ... Antonio Hardy (born September 10, 1968), better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is a rapper from the Bed-Stuy section of Brooklyn, New York. ...

Jay-Z has said that Big L was set to sign with his Roc-A-Fella label, but died the week before.^[1] The two had a mutual respect dating back to a dual freestyle session on the radio and Jay-Z's appearance on Big L's first album. Roc-A-Fella Records, one of the largest United States hip hop/rap record labels, was co-founded in New York City by hip hop mogul Damon Dash and now multi-platinum rapper Jay-Z in 1995. ...

D.I.T.C.

Big L was inducted into the Bronx-based hip-hop group D.I.T.C. by mentor Lord Finesse, forming a strong relationship with his fellow crew-members, O.C., Showbiz & A.G., Diamond D, Buckwild, Fat Joe and ofcourse Lord Finesse, appearing on several of their albums. He appeared with the group regularly, notably on their single "Dignified Soldiers" and their later eponymous LP release, sometimes known as Worldwide. In an interview with Fat Joe and A.G. with hiphopgame.com they confirm that there will be another D.I.T.C album dropping in 2007, with all of the members.^{[citation needed]} The Bronx is New York Citys northernmost borough. ... The Diggin in the Crates Crew, also known as the DITC, is a New York-based hip-hop collective, deriving its name from a popular DJ sampling practice. ... A gramophone record, (also phonograph record - often simply record) is an analog sound recording medium: a flat disc rotating at a constant angular velocity, with inscribed spiral grooves in which a stylus or needle rides. ...

Murder

On the evening of February 15, 1999, Big L was shot multiple times in the head and chest and killed just blocks away from his Harlem home. Early implications led many to believe that Coleman was killed because of a debt owed by his older brother, Leroy Phinazee, who was in jail at the time and was therefore inaccessible. It has also been speculated that the murderer mistook Lamont for his brother on the night he was shot. It was later found out to be a member of Big L's "NFL" crew, which stands for Niggaz For Life, who was invited inside Lamont's home as a young teenager to eat lunch and a friend of Big L and his brothers. Later, sometime after his release from prison, Leroy Phinazee was also murdered on the same street as his brother after attempting to find out who had shot him. Both murders still remain unsolved. February 15 is the 46th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

Posthumous career

His last recorded release was The Big Picture on August 1, 2000, which was released posthumously and was put together by his manager and partner in Flamboyant Entertainment, Rich King, contains songs L had recorded and acapellas that were never used, completed by producers and guest rappers that Big L respected or had worked with previously. The album was certified gold a month later. A new album, is said to be named Real Legends Never Die is expected for release during summer 2007. The Big Picture is the final, and first posthomous album released from slain Harlem rapper Big L. Released on August 1, 2000, its lead single was Holdin It Down featuring Stan Spit and D.I.T.C. member A.G. The album also features the popular single Ebonics, as well... August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A posthumous work is a work of art (generally a book, musical composition, musical recording, or movie) that is published after the death of an author or performer. ... A cappella music is vocal music or singing without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with RIAA certification. ...

Discography

Main article: Big L discography

This is the discography of rapper Big L. // Clinic (I Shoulda Worn a Rubber) Aint No Half steppin Freestyle (featuring Lord Finesse) Times Is Hard on the Boulevard Holdin It Down (Original) (featuring A.G. & Party Arty) Devils Son Back Up off Me (featuring N.O.T.S...

Solo albums

Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous is a Big L album released through Sony Records on March 28th, 1995. ... March 28 is the 87th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (88th in leap years). ... See also: 1995 in music (UK) Musical groups established in 1995 Record labels established in 1995 other events of 1995 list of years in music 1990s in music // January 18 - Jerry Garcia wrecks his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California. ... Live from Amsterdam is the first compilation album posthumously created by Big L in the year of 2000 Categories: | | | ... August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Big Picture is the final, and first posthomous album released from slain Harlem rapper Big L. Released on August 1, 2000, its lead single was Holdin It Down featuring Stan Spit and D.I.T.C. member A.G. The album also features the popular single Ebonics, as well... August 1 is the 213th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (214th in leap years), with 152 days remaining. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Big L: The Archives 1996-2000 is a 2006 limited edition CD by the late Harlem rap artist Big L with only 500 reported pressings. ... June 28 is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 186 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Real Legends Never Die is an upcoming album by the late New York rapper Big L. Lord Finesse will be overseeing the project, and DJ Premier will be the executive producer. ...

Singles

July 14 is the 195th day (196th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 170 days remaining. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... May 30 is the 150th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (151st in leap years). ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

References

1. ^ Jay-Z Chat Transcript. Roc-A-Fella News. Retrieved on November 30, 2006.

Roc-A-Fella Records, one of the largest United States hip hop/rap record labels, was co-founded in New York City by hip hop mogul Damon Dash and now multi-platinum rapper Jay-Z in 1995. ... November 30 is the 334th day (335th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 31 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Big L (rapper)

• Big L on MTV