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(Redirected from Big L (rapper))
'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 frequently rhymed. He is mostly remembered for his freestyling, storytelling, punchlines, his critically acclaimed debut album ''Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous'', and his murder at the age of twenty-four.
Born and raised in Harlem's uptown sector, which 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).
In 1993 he signed with Columbia Records and released one vinyl 12", "Devil's Son". This song was quickly banned from radio because of its horrorcore 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.
His career took-off with a group called Children of the Corn, which he formed with fellow Harlemites Mase (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 Harlem in 1997 and Mase and Cam'ron temporarily quit rapping to pursue professional basketball careers.
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 reached number one in the charts. The album featured cameos from Fat Joe, Tupac Shakur, and Big Daddy Kane among other up-and-coming and established rappers. ''The Big Picture'' went platinum in 2001.
Jay-Z has said that Big L was set to sign with his Roc-A-Fella label, but died the week before.Jay-Z Chat Transcript. Roc-A-Fella News. Retrieved on November 30 2006. 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.
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 Lord Finesse, appearing on several of their albums. He appeared with the group regularly, notably on their single "Dignified Soldiers" and their later self-titled 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 in 2007, with all of the members.DITC Plotting New Album. AllHipHop.com Retrieved on April 252007
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 indications 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. Some time after his release from prison, Leroy Phinazee was murdered on the same street as his brother after attempting to find out who had shot him. Both murders remain unsolved.
His last recorded release was ''The Big Picture'' on August 1 2000, was released posthumously and was put together by his manager and partner in Flamboyant Entertainment, Rich King. It contains songs that 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.
Big L is often praised alongside slain rappers Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. as one of the three martyrs in the history of hip hop. His lyrical technique was new, impressive, and as his death proved, too good to last.
★ 1995: ''Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous''
★ 2000: ''The Big Picture''
★ 2007: ''Real Legends Never Die''
★ Big L on MTV
★ Big L Official Website
'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 frequently rhymed. He is mostly remembered for his freestyling, storytelling, punchlines, his critically acclaimed debut album ''Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous'', and his murder at the age of twenty-four.
| Contents |
| Biography |
| Early life |
| Career |
| D.I.T.C. |
| Murder |
| Legacy |
| Posthumous releases |
| Technique |
| Discography |
| External links |
| References |
Biography
Early life
Born and raised in Harlem's uptown sector, which 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).
Career
In 1993 he signed with Columbia Records and released one vinyl 12", "Devil's Son". This song was quickly banned from radio because of its horrorcore 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.
His career took-off with a group called Children of the Corn, which he formed with fellow Harlemites Mase (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 Harlem in 1997 and Mase and Cam'ron temporarily quit rapping to pursue professional basketball careers.
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 reached number one in the charts. The album featured cameos from Fat Joe, Tupac Shakur, and Big Daddy Kane among other up-and-coming and established rappers. ''The Big Picture'' went platinum in 2001.
Jay-Z has said that Big L was set to sign with his Roc-A-Fella label, but died the week before.Jay-Z Chat Transcript. Roc-A-Fella News. Retrieved on November 30 2006. 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.
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 Lord Finesse, appearing on several of their albums. He appeared with the group regularly, notably on their single "Dignified Soldiers" and their later self-titled 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 in 2007, with all of the members.DITC Plotting New Album. AllHipHop.com Retrieved on April 252007
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 indications 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. Some time after his release from prison, Leroy Phinazee was murdered on the same street as his brother after attempting to find out who had shot him. Both murders remain unsolved.
Legacy
Posthumous releases
His last recorded release was ''The Big Picture'' on August 1 2000, was released posthumously and was put together by his manager and partner in Flamboyant Entertainment, Rich King. It contains songs that 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.
Technique
Big L is often praised alongside slain rappers Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. as one of the three martyrs in the history of hip hop. His lyrical technique was new, impressive, and as his death proved, too good to last.
Discography
★ 1995: ''Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous''
★ 2000: ''The Big Picture''
★ 2007: ''Real Legends Never Die''
External links
★ Big L on MTV
★ Big L Official Website
References
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