Lamont Coleman (May 30, 1974 - February 15, 1999), also known by
his stage name Big L, was an American rapper who made significant
contributions to the New York City music scene in the 1990s as a
member of the hip hop collective D.I.T.C. He was shot and killed
in February 1999 before releasing his second album. Big L is famous
for his catchy lyrics, punch lines and clean delivery. Coleman rose
to underground fame after the release of his debut album, Lifestylez
Ov Da Poor & Dangerous, was released in 1995.
Born in Harlem, Big L grew up with Cam'ron (who was known as Killa
Cam at the time). Big L was regarded as one of the best of his time
and along with Lord Finesse recorded many of his hits such as "You
Know What im About" and "Yes you May (remix)". Big
L also regularly references in his lyrics (139th Street & Lenox
Avenue).[1] Big L began rhyming in 1990 and his first professional
appearance came on the B-side of "Party Over Here" by Lord
Finesse in 1992, the song was the remix to "Yes, You May".
Around this time, L also joined Lord Finesse's Bronx-based hip hop
collective Diggin' in the Crates Crew. Big L also founded Harlem
rap group Children of the Corn with fellow aspiring MC's Killa Cam,
Murda Mase and Killa Cam's cousin Bloodshed while Darll "Digga" Branch
provided production. Unfortunately the group folded in 1997 when
Bloodshed died in a car accident. In 1993 Big L signed to Columbia
Records and released his first single "Devil's Son". Big
L's debut solo album, Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous, was
released in March 1995. The album featured guest appearances from
a number of artists, notably Jay-Z, Kid Capri, Lord Finesse, and
then-unknown Cam'ron. Two singles, "M.V.P" and "Put
It On", were released from the album, both of which reached
the top twenty-five of Billboard's Hot Rap Tracks. The album itself
also reached the Billboard 200, but due to its poor commercial status
Big L was dropped from Columbia Records. From 1997 to 1999, Big L
worked on his second album through his own Flamboyant Entertainment
label. He released the acclaimed single "Ebonics" in 1998.
He also appeared on D.I.T.C.'s first single "Dignified Soldiers" that
year.[2] The Big Picture was released in August 2000 and featured
guest appearances by Fat Joe, Guru of Gang Starr, Kool G Rap, and
Big Daddy Kane among others. Jay-Z has said that Big L was to sign
with Roc-A-Fella, but he was murdered the week before.[3] The Big
Picture was Big L's last recorded album before he was murdered. It
was put together by his manager and partner in Flamboyant Entertainment,
Rich King. It contains songs that L had recorded and a cappella recordings
that were never used, completed by producers and guest MC's that
Big L respected or had worked with previously. The album was certified
gold a month later.
[edit] Death and legacy
At 8:30 pm on February 14, 1999, Big L was shot nine times and died
on the scene in his own neighborhood. At the time of his death, Coleman's
brother was in prison on drug charges. "It's a good possibility
it was retaliation for something Big L's brother did, or Woodley
believed he had done," said a spokesperson for the NYPD.[4]
Woodley was later released and the murder case remains unsolved.[5]
Big L's brother Leroy Phinazee aka "Big Lee" was murdered
in the same neighborhood in 2002. In the time leading up to his death,
Phinazee had apparently been in search of information regarding Big
L's murder.[according to whom?]
Gang Starr released the song "Full Clip" an album in which
the first song referenced Big L. Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr,
and more recently on a SiriusXM satellite radio show.[clarification
needed] "New York's underground hip-hop community was shaken
by the loss of a beloved figure last week. On the evening of February
15, Lamont Coleman, known to fans as Big L, was found murdered in
his Harlem neighborhood. Police discovered his body in a West 139th
Street building with fatal bullet wounds to the head and chest. Detectives
at Harlem's 32nd Precinct refused to comment on the case until their
investigation is complete, but recent published reports indicate
that there are no known suspects or motives at this time. The 24-year-old
Coleman joins a tragic succession of New York rap artists, including
Tribe Called Quest associate Kid Hood and Boogie Down Productions
founder Scott LaRock, as well as Stack Bundles, whose promising careers
were cut short by violence."
Known for his witty, literary, lyrical style and for being near,
although never quite at the center of commercial success, Coleman
appeared to be on the verge of a breakthrough in 1999. Mase and Cam'ron,
two of his partners in the early '90s group Children of the Corn,
went on to MTV stardom, but Coleman's 1995 Columbia debut, Lifestylez
of the Poor & Dangerous, only earned limited critical attention.
At the time of his death, though, Coleman's independently released
single, "Ebonics," was receiving consistent airplay on
the indiecentric radio mix shows hosted by WKCR's Bobbito Garcia
and WNYU's DJ Eclipse. Reflecting on Big L's love for hip-hop, Garcia
notes, "He didn't care whether he had a record out or not, he
was the type of cat who just loved to rhyme. I don't remember him
being all that talkative. He'd just come into the studio and f****n'
rip it."[cite this quote]
With other members of the influential Diggin' In Tha Crates collective,
including rappers Fat Joe, JFredricks, and O.C., and rapper-producer
Diamond D, Coleman had also begun working on a full-length album
for Tommy Boy Records that was to be released in June. According
to Eclipse, proceeds from two forthcoming independent singles will
go toward burial costs, and a DITC concert scheduled for March 6
at Tramps will serve as a memorial for Coleman.[citation needed]
The Faculty pays tribute to the "Yes You May Remix" By
Big L and Lord Finesse by doing their own version.[6] At the end
of Eminem's song Like Toy Soldiers he along with Deceased rappers
2Pac, Biggie Smalls and former D12 member Bugz are also shown at
the end of the music video.
[edit] Discography
Main article: Big L discography
[edit] Studio albums
* 1995: Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
* 2000: The Big Picture
[edit] Posthumous albums
* 2010: 139 & Lenox
* 2010: Return of the Devil's Son
[edit] Collaboration albums
* 2000: D.I.T.C. (album)
[edit] Compilation albums
* 2006: The Archives 1996–2000