Rapper Big L Remembered 10 Years Later

Youngmoneyclick · 02-16-2009, 01:58 AM

It has been 10 years since the tragic loss of Harlem's "Big L," but the revered wordsmith 's legacy continues to live on.

Born Lamont Coleman in 1974, L began writing rhymes at the age of 16 in 1990.

“Lamont was a funny little boy, a jealous little boy. ‘Come on mama, let’s race.’ When I’d win, he’d get mad. One Christmas I bought [Lamont and his brothers] turntables and a mixer. [Lamont] would be the MC. Leroy would be the DJ,” Big L’s mother Gilda Terry told AllHipHop.com in a previous interview. “Donald would be the dancer. I’d laugh at them. It was the worst thing I could’ve done. It made so much noise. That’s how he got into music and stuff. He really, really was into it. After a while, the newness of that went. But Lamont stayed right with it. He just loved it. He was a good kid. He always had a mind of his own. When he set his mind to do something, he just did it.”

Even though he was still cultivating his craft as a teenager, his natural talent drew the attention from members of the famed collective Diggin' In the Crates (DITC).

Lord Finesse then placed the young emcee on the 1992 song "Party Over Here."

Later in that year, L went on to further build his name on critically acclaimed LPs from Diamond D (Stunts, Blunts, and Hip-Hop) and Showbiz and A.G. (Runaway Slave).

In 1993, L signed with Columbia Records and created a minor buzz courtesy of the blasphemous single "Devil's Son."

He released his embryonic debut Lifestylez ov da Poor and Dangerous in 1995.

The project featured appearances from then largely unknown future stars Jay-Z and Cam'ron.

Despite mostly positive reviews and buzz around his native New York through the Lord Finesse produced single "M.V.P.," the album did not receive the promotion and attention of his contemporaries like the Notorious B.I.G., Wu Tang Clan, Nas, and others.

After being dropped, L sought out fellow Harlem emcees Mase, Cam'ron, McGruff, and Bloodshed to form Children of the Corn.

Although the group recorded over 30 songs while shopping for a record deal with producer Digga, the collective rapidly fell apart after the death of Bloodshed in a car accident.

Starting in 1997, L began working on what would be become his final album, The Big Picture.

Through his very own label Flamboyant Records, Big L scored an underground hit in the summer of 1998 courtesy of the single "Ebonics (Criminal Slang)."

L would follow up his momentum with other underground favorites such as "Size 'Em Up" and "Flamboyant."

The innovative lead single caught the ear of former collaborator Jay-Z, who was in the process of finalizing terms to bring L to Roc-A-Fella before tragedy struck in February 1999.

At the age of 24, Big L was shot repeatedly in the head and chest on February 15, shortly after leaving his home in Harlem.

The brutal slaying yielded an early arrest of a childhood friend, but the suspect was subsequently released due to lack of evidence.

The murder remains unsolved, and speculation has ranged from the execution being a case of mistaken identity to retaliation against L's brother Big Lee, a street figure who was in prison at the time.

Lee was also murdered shortly after his release from prison.

Big L's final album The Big Picture was released in August 2000 via Rawkus Records.

L's tragic death and the reverence bestowed on him from various Hip-Hop stars helped push the project well past gold at over 600,000 copies sold.

Today, Big L remains well respected in Hip-Hop culture, and a shining albeit somber example of unfulfilled potential.

This year, Lamont "Big L" Colman would have celebrated his 35th birthday.

“He loved the neighborhood,” Mrs. Terry said. “He loved 139th Street. I loved 139th Street until he got killed, because before that, it was a close-knit block.”

Source-

Ciya · 02-16-2009, 09:46 AM

one of the sickest rapper, RIP

Dezerin · 02-16-2009, 11:30 AM

Rip big l, best punchline rapper to EVER have lived

Majcip · 02-16-2009, 11:38 AM

RIP. The Big L was the beast. I miss him.

DCJohnnyDC · 02-16-2009, 02:29 PM

Big L, The Best Lyricist Ever... Miss Em, RIP Big L

El Scorpio · 02-16-2009, 02:36 PM

it's really messed up that he died so young and we hardly got to hear anything from him...I'd rather be able to hear more Big L than Pac or Biggie to be honest

Majesty · 02-16-2009, 04:32 PM

daam its crazy how fast the time goes REST IN PEACE BIG L

YoungGunna · 02-16-2009, 05:45 PM

rip big L..one of the first dope artists i really got into

AzawX · 02-16-2009, 06:14 PM

i really hope people do remember him..... RIP

TWOGUNZUP518 · 02-16-2009, 08:16 PM

Big L

GMNRecordsCT3 · 02-17-2009, 12:32 PM

R.i.p. Big l

02-16-2009, 01:58 AM	#1
Youngmoneyclick FREE T.I Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: in tha hood Posts: 3,094 Repped: 207 Repped 5,553 Times in 1,685 Posts Neg Reps: 90 Neg Repped at 219 Times in 127 Posts	Rapper Big L Remembered 10 Years Later Rapper Big L Remembered 10 Years Later It has been 10 years since the tragic loss of Harlem's "Big L," but the revered wordsmith 's legacy continues to live on. Born Lamont Coleman in 1974, L began writing rhymes at the age of 16 in 1990. “Lamont was a funny little boy, a jealous little boy. ‘Come on mama, let’s race.’ When I’d win, he’d get mad. One Christmas I bought [Lamont and his brothers] turntables and a mixer. [Lamont] would be the MC. Leroy would be the DJ,” Big L’s mother Gilda Terry told AllHipHop.com in a previous interview. “Donald would be the dancer. I’d laugh at them. It was the worst thing I could’ve done. It made so much noise. That’s how he got into music and stuff. He really, really was into it. After a while, the newness of that went. But Lamont stayed right with it. He just loved it. He was a good kid. He always had a mind of his own. When he set his mind to do something, he just did it.” Even though he was still cultivating his craft as a teenager, his natural talent drew the attention from members of the famed collective Diggin' In the Crates (DITC). Lord Finesse then placed the young emcee on the 1992 song "Party Over Here." Later in that year, L went on to further build his name on critically acclaimed LPs from Diamond D (Stunts, Blunts, and Hip-Hop) and Showbiz and A.G. (Runaway Slave). In 1993, L signed with Columbia Records and created a minor buzz courtesy of the blasphemous single "Devil's Son." He released his embryonic debut Lifestylez ov da Poor and Dangerous in 1995. The project featured appearances from then largely unknown future stars Jay-Z and Cam'ron. Despite mostly positive reviews and buzz around his native New York through the Lord Finesse produced single "M.V.P.," the album did not receive the promotion and attention of his contemporaries like the Notorious B.I.G., Wu Tang Clan, Nas, and others. After being dropped, L sought out fellow Harlem emcees Mase, Cam'ron, McGruff, and Bloodshed to form Children of the Corn. Although the group recorded over 30 songs while shopping for a record deal with producer Digga, the collective rapidly fell apart after the death of Bloodshed in a car accident. Starting in 1997, L began working on what would be become his final album, The Big Picture. Through his very own label Flamboyant Records, Big L scored an underground hit in the summer of 1998 courtesy of the single "Ebonics (Criminal Slang)." L would follow up his momentum with other underground favorites such as "Size 'Em Up" and "Flamboyant." The innovative lead single caught the ear of former collaborator Jay-Z, who was in the process of finalizing terms to bring L to Roc-A-Fella before tragedy struck in February 1999. At the age of 24, Big L was shot repeatedly in the head and chest on February 15, shortly after leaving his home in Harlem. The brutal slaying yielded an early arrest of a childhood friend, but the suspect was subsequently released due to lack of evidence. The murder remains unsolved, and speculation has ranged from the execution being a case of mistaken identity to retaliation against L's brother Big Lee, a street figure who was in prison at the time. Lee was also murdered shortly after his release from prison. Big L's final album The Big Picture was released in August 2000 via Rawkus Records. L's tragic death and the reverence bestowed on him from various Hip-Hop stars helped push the project well past gold at over 600,000 copies sold. Today, Big L remains well respected in Hip-Hop culture, and a shining albeit somber example of unfulfilled potential. This year, Lamont "Big L" Colman would have celebrated his 35th birthday. “He loved the neighborhood,” Mrs. Terry said. “He loved 139th Street. I loved 139th Street until he got killed, because before that, it was a close-knit block.” Source- __________________

02-16-2009, 09:46 AM	#2
Ciya Veteran Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Where Benz,BMW,Porsche..... from/Bremen City Posts: 7,155 Repped: 2,387 Repped 1,292 Times in 317 Posts Neg Reps: 7 Neg Repped at 37 Times in 28 Posts	one of the sickest rapper, RIP __________________ A Girl Ask Me For A Ring And I Put One Around Her Whole Eye - Big L

02-16-2009, 11:38 AM	#4
Majcip Veteran Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: SK Posts: 3,111 Repped: 1,353 Repped 744 Times in 336 Posts Neg Reps: 33 Neg Repped at 48 Times in 40 Posts	RIP. The Big L was the beast. I miss him. __________________ Rest in peace to Michael Jackson aka Forever King of POP

02-16-2009, 02:29 PM	#5
DCJohnnyDC Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 157 Repped: 23 Repped 62 Times in 16 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 2 Times in 2 Posts	Big L, The Best Lyricist Ever... Miss Em, RIP Big L __________________ Big L - "You aint make A Hit yet, You Flop In a Split Sec/ In The Showers the Only Time you get your Dick Wet/ Facts On Track I Recite Well/ Everybody Body wanna be Like Mike, But Mike Wanna Be Like L.

02-16-2009, 05:45 PM	#8
YoungGunna Young Gunna Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: T Dot Posts: 11,079 Repped: 348 Repped 128 Times in 87 Posts Neg Reps: 33 Neg Repped at 7 Times in 7 Posts	rip big L..one of the first dope artists i really got into __________________

02-16-2009, 11:30 AM	#3
Dezerin Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Baltimore, Maryland Posts: 40 Repped: 0 Repped 3 Times in 3 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Rip big l, best punchline rapper to EVER have lived

02-16-2009, 02:36 PM	#6
El Scorpio Veteran Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Switzerland (but from UK) Posts: 8,922 Repped: 1,350 Repped 867 Times in 279 Posts Neg Reps: 2 Neg Repped at 3 Times in 3 Posts	it's really messed up that he died so young and we hardly got to hear anything from him...I'd rather be able to hear more Big L than Pac or Biggie to be honest

02-16-2009, 04:32 PM	#7
Majesty Miss Taylor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: LA Posts: 719 Repped: 40 Repped 158 Times in 63 Posts Neg Reps: 17 Neg Repped at 86 Times in 50 Posts	daam its crazy how fast the time goes REST IN PEACE BIG L

02-16-2009, 06:14 PM	#9
AzawX Psycho Join Date: May 2007 Location: Flight 187 - Destination Hell or Heaven Posts: 3,857 Repped: 2,064 Repped 450 Times in 134 Posts Neg Reps: 346 Neg Repped at 63 Times in 37 Posts	i really hope people do remember him..... RIP __________________ "Hip Hop used to console my soul, now its a bunch of assholes" - Crooked I

02-16-2009, 08:16 PM	#10
TWOGUNZUP518 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 8 Repped: 0 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	Big L

02-17-2009, 12:32 PM	#11
GMNRecordsCT3 Macaroni wit the Cheeesse Join Date: May 2005 Location: Wash Heights, NYC Posts: 17,607 Repped: 6,779 Repped 2,309 Times in 618 Posts Neg Reps: 202 Neg Repped at 50 Times in 40 Posts	R.i.p. Big l __________________ myspace.com/bummydavis - soundclick.com/gmnproductions "The name on my car insurance is YOUR FUKIN FAULT!!"

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