Lamont Coleman (May 30 1974 – February 15 1999), better known as Big L, was an American hip-hop emcee. Big L was born, raised, lived, and fatally shot in the same New York City neighborhood, Harlem, which frequently appeared in his rhymes. 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.

Biography

Early life

Lamont Coleman was born to Gilda Terry on May 30, 1974, in Harlem, New York. As an adolescent, Lamont listened to the talents of Run-D.M.C., The Cold Crush Brothers, and Big Daddy Kane. He learned to rhyme in the park near his house at 104th West 139th Street where he would spend hours trading rhymes with friends to pass the time. While attending Julia Richmond High School he was given the alias Big L to spite his childhood nickname, Little Lamont. L described his lyrical growth, ?I started writing rhymes in 1990 and was in a group called Three The Hard Way, but they wasn't serious so I went solo. Then I started winning rap contests and battling everybody in my 'hood and roastin' em.?http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/columns-editorials/id.722/title.remembering-lamont-big-l-coleman The MC kept perfecting his natural talent, and by the time he was 17 years old, he was fast approaching the line that divides pastime and profession. His lyrics were defined by the world around him and gave insight into fabled Harlem shootouts and legendary Harlem street life.

D.I.T.C.

When Big L was still in high school he caught the attention of Lord Finesse in the back of a New York record store called ?Rockin? Wills?. Finesse along with Diamond D, were the founders of the D.I.T.C. clique. L?s first professional appearance came on the B-side of ?Party Over Here? by Lord Finesse in 1992, the song was called ?Yes, You May? remix. Soon L officially became a part of the DITC crew which featured some of the best New York producers, deejays, and emcees on the mic, members came from several boroughs bringing to life the true sounds of New York hip-hop. The members of DITC included; O.C., Lord Finesse, Diamond D, Showbiz, A.G., Fat Joe, Buckwild, and Big L. His early successes in DITC lead to his signing with Columbia in 1992. Astoundingly, all it took was a four song demo tape showcasing tracks such as the horror-core establisher ?Devil?s Son? and of course the ?Yes, You May? remix. He also regularly appears on the fellow DITC members albums. He also contributed to the works of Success - N - Effect.

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

Later Career

From 1997 to 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, "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 emcees. The Big Picture was certified 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 mutual respect for each other, dating back to a dueling freestyle session on the radio and Jay-Z's appearance on Big L's first album.

Murder

On the evening of February 15 1999, Big L was shot multiple times in the head and chest and killed near 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 in 2002, Leroy Phinazee was murdered on the same street as his brother after attempting to find out who had shot him.

Legacy

The Big Picture

His last recorded release, The Big Picture, was released posthumously on August 1 2000, and was put together by his manager and partner in Flamboyant Entertainment, Rich King. It contains songs that L had recorded and acappella recordings that were never used, completed by producers and guest emcees that Big L respected or had worked with previously. The album was certified gold a month later. On the album he has guest features from hip-hop heavyweights such as Fat Joe, Kool G Rap, Tupac Shakur, and Big Daddy Kane along with production by Dj_premier. The album was eventually certified platinum and was critically acclaimed by most reviews.

Technique

Big L has a unique style in writing lyrics. His crude and violent lyrics substantiate his claim as the originator of the Horrorcore genre of hip hop.http://pressrewind.files.wordpress.com/2007/03/bigl_source495.jpg He also was able to evoke vivid visual and aural imagery in a humorous manner. A clear example of this is a verse from Put It On, from the album "Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous":

I got the wild style, always been a foul child
My guns go boom-boom, and yo' guns go pow-pow
I'm known to have a hottie open, I keep the shottie smokin
Front and get half the bones in your body broken.

He has also written in the horrorcore genre, his lyrics so extreme that they have been banned from being broadcasted on radio stations internationally. A clear example of this is a verse from the song Devil's Son:

It's Big L, and I'm all about taking funds
I'm a stone villain known for killing and raping nuns
Ai-yo, I even kill handicapped and crippled bitches
Look at my scalp real close and you'll see triple sixes.

His technique has been considered the best by many, as he has been able to adapt work very well under any beat or producer and has been consistent in writing good quality lyrics and punchlines, as well as using a sophisticated, unique, and adaptable flow.

Tributes

Lamont ?Big L? Coleman was equal parts freestyle king, storytelling genius and punch line specialist. And while he was the recipient of more press than Soundscan sales, his reputation far exceeded any Billboard chart position. Sadly, a week before he was reported to sign to then-conglomerate Roc-A-Fella Records, he was brutally gunned down just blocks from his Harlem home. But to those who knew him and knew of him, Big L wasn?t more than just a hometown hero, he was a legend in his own right. http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/columns-editorials/id.722/title.remembering-lamont-big-l-coleman

Lyrical Dedications

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, as Eminem says on 50 Cent's "Patiently Waiting". Many regard Tupac and The Notorious B.I.G beef to have overshadowed his would-be success. Gang Starr often pays tribute to Big L in concerts, asking the audience to "throw an L up in the air" with Big L's trademark L being held up in the air by the whole audience before playing the hit "Full Clip".

Thinking Of You- UNK "Ain't the same since they killed Jam Master J, Big Pawn, Big L yea Freaky Ty Camael Fudge, Souljah Slim, my girl Left Eye I wonder why"


Ghostface- Ghostface Killah " Under my wing like Sanford and Son, Weird sons, I'm a big gun, like Big Pun, Big L and Jason"


Bully- Eminem "Now what bothers me the most, About hip-hop is we so close, To picking up where we left off with Big and Pac, We just lost Jam Master J, Big L got blasted away..."


Ricky Ticky Toc- Eminem "I still remember the call up in ??
Big L had just got popped just a month before
If 50 lives he's getting dropped from Columbia"


Keep Frontin'- John Cena Uses Big L Samples for the chorus...


Me Against Myself- Jay Sean "And singin' backin the day, Back in the fu-schnickens and Big L phase"


Live Big (Remix)- Angie Martinez "Oh! It's just me the O.G.
And since this live big let's start with B.I.G.
And rep it for Big Pun and do it for Big L
And since I got a big truck you know I live well"


Patiently Waiting- Eminem "Take some BIG and some PAC
And you mix them up in a pot
Sprinkle a lil "BIG L" on top
What the fuck do you got?
You got the realest and illest killers"
Lick A Shot- Redman "Uptown with Big L watchin over
He tell me there's NARC's parked on the shoulder"


One Day I Smile- Juelz Santana "I see Eazy and Jam Master laughin'
Big L still rappin, like it never happened"


On The Grind- Cassidy "Dog, I got the best punch lines since Big L was alive
And this was a Big L so I'm already high
If a nigga better than me, then he already died"


Redemption Rosary- Benzino "No doubt, this one goin out to my brother Porky D
Hold ya head
Rest in peace Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls, Big Punisher, Big L, Freaky Tah"


Beat Novacane- Fat Joe "Now, through up your peace signs to the sky
For all our soldiers that died
That means Biggie Smalls, Tupac, Big L and Left Eye"


The Industry- Wyclef Jean "Big L never got found in the alley
Nas and Jay-Z they were still homies
Squash the beef with Ja Rule and 50"


I Can't Go To Sleep- Wu Tang Clan "Technique is ill son
Watch how I spill one
Peace to Biggie Tupac Big L and Big Pun"


We Miss You (Remix)- Jay Z "Pun we missing you
Big L we missing you
Left Eye we missing you Jay we missing you
Jam Master Jay, Freaky Tah, Scott La Rock, the list goes on........"


Champion Requiem- Mos Def "Feel free, we just keep movin on
For Aaliyah, Left Eye, Jam Master Jay
All the great hero's who have passed away
Scott Laraque, Big & Pac, Feaky Tai, Big L"


Just A Moment- Nas "For Pac, Biggie and Pun 'cause through us they live on
Jam Master Jay, Freaky Ty and Aaliyah
Big L and Left Eye, when we die we hope to see ya"

Discography

• 1995: Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
• 2000: The Big Picture

External links

• Big L (Official)
• Big L on MTV
• Discogs entry

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