Big L
Name : Lamont Coleman
Group : DITC (Diggin’ in the Crates)
Birth : May 30, 1974, Harlem
Death : February 15, 1999

Big L Biography :

Born Lamont Coleman in 1975, Big L was a big hip hop fan ever since he could remember listening to old Run DMC and Cold Crush tapes and always rhyming around the way in Harlem but there was one emcee who inspired him to take it seriously. After he heard Big Daddy Kane rapping he became part of a group called Three the hard way in 1990 and also claimed to be the first emcee to invent the short lived fad ‘Horror core’ hip hop with his track ‘The devils son’. As the group wasn’t as serious as him about making it he went for delf and started winning rap contests and battling other emcees. His break came when he met a member of Ice T’s Rhyme Syndicate and long time respected emcee, Lord Finesse. This hook up led to Big L opening shows for Lord Finesse and would eventually lead to bigger things.

The member of the clique, Children of the corn, Big L made his debut to all of us on vinyl way back in 1992 on the remix of Finesse’s ‘Yes you may’ from the album ‘Return of the funkyman’. This record alone was to showcase the nitty gritty skills of this street bred emcee. At the end of that year he unleashed one more rhyme on the classic Showbiz & AG album ‘Runaway slave’ on the posse cut ‘Represent’, this continued the buzz for solo material from L. This was also one of the first gatherings of the Diggin’ In The Crates (DITC), a collection of emcees, deejays and producers which includes Big L, Lord Finesse, Showbiz, AG, Diamond, Roc Raida plus more to join over the years.

In 1993 He Signed With Columbia Records And Released One Of The Illest Records Of Underground Hip-Hop. The Record Was The Vinyl, Promo-Only "Devil’s Son." That Song Was Quickly Banned From Radio, Due To Such Lyrics As : "I Pistol Whip The Priest Every Sunday." With Hardcore Lyrics Made For The Fans And Not Radio, Big L Proved Himself As One Of The Kings Of The Underground.

Between ’93 and ’94 Big L put together a 4 track demo which him and Lord Finesse made, they shopped it to Columbia and he was signed on the strength of the demo alone. It was case of real talent finally being signed to a major label but as always with this combination there were problems. In 1995 the album finally dropped “Lifestyle of the poor and dangerous” was an honest hardcore album that displayed both strong lyrical flows along with hardcore beats & rhymes courtesy of the DITC collective. Two singles were released in 1995 which gained L both substantial video and airplay. The first single ‘Put it on’ featured NY DJ Kid Capri while his second track showcased a more commercial edge with ‘MVP’ (Most Valuable Poet). Two years after his initial signing things began to strain between him and Columbia and he eventually left under an amicable agreement.

In the fickle world of hip hop, Big L kept his name alive over the years by doing shows and various cameos with the DITC. They released a slew of independent 12"s that included ‘day one’, ‘dignified soldiers’, ‘All luv’ and the incredible DJ Premier produced ‘The enemy’ in 1997 which vividly told of police harassment in a way which only L could break down along with Boogie Down Bronx Latino Fat Joe.

Creating a buzz in 1997 on OC’s ‘dangerous’ Big L started moving things along by himself by starting his own record label which would initially be distributed by Fat Beats in NY. Falmboyant records was the start of big things for him, in 1998 he released one 12" ‘Ebonics/Size em up’ which was a success in the underground. It even gained recognition from the Source magazine in its best independent ‘Albums’ of that year, despite only being a single, it was that good it had to be included. The A side gained most attention with its breakdown of criminal slang, it basically read as an audio hip hop dictionary.

In 1999 the DITC prepared to release their long awaited debut album on Tommy boy records tentatively scheduled for May. Just as things started to progress, tragedy struck and on 15th February Big L was murdered in Harlem by a gang who were after his brother for money. He was wounded badly in both the face and body and was dead before the police arrived. Details on the incident are still sketchy.

Big L’s posthomous album “The Big Picture” was released certified gold in the Summer of 2000. Collaberations On The Album Include Guru, D.I.T.C. And Rap Vets Like Big Daddy Kane And Kool G. Rap As Well As The Late Tupac Shakur.

RIP Big L

Big L Discography :

Big L Albums

Big L Big Picture 2000	Big L Lifestylez Ov Da Poor and Dangerous 1995

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No profanity, or inaproppriate remarks.

Big L, by Zwe [2008-07-14 06:27:55]

Probably the Greatest Of All Times, yet Not recognised, BIG L 4 EVER.

Big L, by Travis Laramee Smagata [2008-06-02 10:39:57]

Yo,,fuck anyone who is agAINST the Big l docta,cause he was by far tha best rappa eva,,so,,RESPECT THAT BITCHES,,

Big L, by thermo [2008-02-06 20:39:52]

big L is in my mind equal best rapper wif 2pac nah actually big L is better

Big L, by rydah- [2008-02-04 07:22:05]

What a flow he had and what a shame he was shot. R.I.P. L

Big L, by heartbreakkid [2007-10-10 22:44:27]

one of the illest MC’s to ever pick up a mic...we gonna miss L !!! hip hop will never be the same.

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If you want to netwerk with other independents in the music world visit us at WWW.NEEDANETWERK.COM and register now !!

Big L, by Ess Da Hustla’ [2007-10-07 11:33:09]

I miss u flyin’ boy. hope u still fly up in Heaven hommy ! Miss U, Real king of new-york.R.I.P

Big L, by Alvaro [2007-08-28 22:14:55]

I personally think it was a tragedy that he died very very talented and well known young man yo the dude didnt reach 30 years of age... he would’ve been like pac or better but on a diffrent flow

Big L, by nick [2007-08-20 22:15:51]

r.i.p big L one of the greatest rapper to live til this day its a shame that he was killed , amazin talent str8 down tha effin drain

Big L, by jbob [2007-08-13 17:03:35]

i agree papoose is big l

Big L, by SON FRESH 138 CYPRESS BDP [2007-08-10 17:26:37]

PEACE I USED TO RUN THROUGH HARLEM BACK IN THEM DAYS OF BIG LWOW ITS LIKE HE IS STILL HERE I STILL ROCK HIS CD HE IS A HARLEM LEGEND SON FRESH BDP

Big L, by HipHoppa [2007-08-01 15:24:17]

one of the greatest of all time. RIP

Big L, by jonny [2007-05-31 13:16:45]

Anybody Agree That Papoose has The Same flow and lyricist style as big L ??.. R.I.P Big L... a loss of a massive talent

Big L, by MR. CHARLES E. DAVIS, HIS FATHER [2007-05-24 00:31:04]

"Danger Zone 139St. & Lenox My Son The Rapper" By Mr. Charles E. Davis May 30, 1974 my son was born, Lamont Coleman.. It was Sept. Before I had a chance to see him for the first time. The problem, her family. I was working at Sak’s fifth ave. When I met his mother for the first time she came in to work there on a temp work order.. Terry was a Beautiful woman. 5ft. 5in. Her hair was short her skin was like caramel and when she smiled the world lit up around her. The group she was in came in to help out doing the rush period.. Every guy their was hitting on her, and she ate it up.. My Daughter Tyece was a baby I had got the job there with the help of my sister, Pinky.. It was the first time I was working for my little family, my Girl Delinda’s mother was giving me a hard time over money, thus a.... job. It was a good start for a street person.. I gave it my best.. As it would happen Terry and I worked together one week. I tried not to get involved...But we talked and laughed alot which led us to lunch one day, it was during that lunch we found each other and it was on.. We couldn’t keep our hands off each other. I had not met her family yet, She lived in the Bronx. I had my own place on 136th st. My daughter’s mother stayed with her family and was in School to become a Nurse.. Terry and I were in love and before we could say hey, she was pregnant with Lamont. I finally met her parents, for some reason her mother did not like me at all, I stayed away from her too. The day of his birth I was not there it was September when I got a call from the Hospital were he was Born saying they needed to talk to me about my Son.. What was they talking about I had not heard from Terry.. When I would call the family would say she did’t want to talk to me I could’nt figure out why, what had I done ? I wanted to see my Son and now I get a call from the Hospital where he was born ?.. We are from atlanta Ga. We moved to New York to find a better life.. We was a very close family when my family moved to 139 St. Between 7th Ave. and Lenox Ave. The best part about that move was the people on the block we knew from home it made the transition easier..We are a large family My Mother, 5 Sisters an 4 brothers.. "The Phinazee Family".. The day I had to go to the hospital, I had not slept all night I didn’t know what to think or do I could’nt wait to get there, the appointment was for 1 pm.. The Nurse I spoke to told me something that broke my Heart, she had said that Terry’s Family did’nt want him and had put him up for adoption but they had to talk to me before that could happen and I still had’nt seen Lamont. I didn’t know, was he deformed or what ? What is wrong with my Son I asked. She said he’s fine one of the best babies on the ward when she said that, when can I see him ? Now if you want, I want !!! Lamont was a big baby the first moment I saw him, I only had that feeling one other time it was the first time I saw My daughter Tyece, Love !!!, Nuttin But Love, I looked into his eyes and that handsome fat face it was him and I against the world. From that moment on... I knew that I could not do it alone. Family stuck together I knew my family would help me with this problem getting him Home.. I got together with my Mother and Sister to find away to get him, my sister Pinky would help me do that.. It started out with me having visitations then it went to a Day out.. It was during this time that I got in touch with Terry, I needed to hear her side of it I had to know. It was a day out with Lamont that we got together at her place in the Bronx, It was a beautiful day I picked Lamont up an went to the Bronx. I had’nt seen Terry in over 6 months, dam she looked good...What she said next was her mother didn’t like the fact that she got pregnant out of marriage. She wanted better for her, and she did not like me. It was for that reason her mother had her put Lamont up for adoption and for her not to see me again.. We talked a while longer but life had changed, we had changed, the only thing we had at that moment was that moment. It was then I decided to let my son keep his mothers name Coleman. So that he would always have a piece of her.It hurt to have to learn what I had but it gave closure for me to move on with what was ahead.. I saw Terry twice since then and not a thing since. Pinky worked at Sak’s in the accountant department because of her job the hospital agreeded to let him stay with her with me as a support.. My sister gave my Son a Mother and I will love her forever just for that alone.. As Family we set out to raise the new member and like most kids Lamont was no different.. My sister once said to me he does not like to lose I wonder where he got that from ? Lamont was truly a Gemini there was a quite side of him and on the other side he had a funny since of humor.. My sister did a wonderful job raising him, Leroy an Donald her two son’s. They grew up as brothers The only people that knew that she was not his mother was the block and that was Family.. I was away or doing my thang during a lot of his life however the talks we had, the time we spent is treasured time for me. Not because of who he became but because of who he was to me, my Son.. When he decided that Rapping was what he wanted to do my advice to him was be the best at what ever you do but make sure you love what you do, other wise why do it ?.. Lamont did not want any of the women in the family to see his show because of its content.. As I said Lamont was a true Gemini I believed it was because of that blend and the life style of 139st. That gave him the range he had with his way of putting together his life and music.. NUTTIN BUT LUV 4 U, Mr.Charles By Mr. Charles E. Davis WWW.LUV4UWEAR.COM

Big L, by djgoldisnise [2007-02-26 21:50:36]

helloe n guudbyeee was up big l big pun b.i.g. mother...furrrrrss thats was up big daddy kane kool g rap krs 1 rakim was up yea 2pac is one of th nicest but wut bout ice cube mother fukkers you guys quick to say 2pac this 2pac that rip 2pac..................but wiat minut wut about the future king king of the future whos gonna hold new york down papoose saigon juelz styles p hell rell shitt for got bout 2 other mcs jay z naz ghostface killa rakewon cnn whole wut tang family redman lot of mcesss man but in my opinion big l s floww aint beatable (i drive up and down harlem blocks iced out whatch nots in my socks cops think im sellin rocks pullin me over to see if im drunk but im sober they wouldent fuk wit me if i drove a nova listen columbo u mad bcuz yo money cum slow n wut u make in a year i make in one show) (word up them federals got my phone and my house tapped prayin that i fall for the mouse trap i dought that)big l rip(the enemy)harlems finest the best of big l track 6 yeaaaa

Big L, by Jon F.E.V.A [2006-11-22 11:38:10]

As Cannibus said,"The greatest rapper of all time died on march 9".B.I.G was the G.O.A.T but Big L is the runner-up. Rest in peace L.1

Big L, by Bliz aka Bobby T da Slic Kid [2006-10-24 09:59:14]

yo i leave thugz in ditchez/squeez trigs and bus slugz on snitches/fuc aroun get hit by da hollo tip witta quiccniss/cuzz T spit relentliss/so dont temp diss crazy brotha/i wuz blessed wit ill rap skills dats y u hate me succa/da gat busta/i hate all u toy rap niggaz/ya fake u cant rap ya wacc/Im known ta pacc da gat and dats a fact/dat ill put da macc 2 ya cap n blast/den jakes ’ill find ya bloody body in da trash/ down in the gutta/creep in ya house n strangle ya mutha/n in da mornin when u come in ta check on ha/I step out da closet n put da tecc on ya/ ugh !! yea Big L R.I.P.

Big L, by MARC [2006-10-24 08:31:01]

WWW.SKYLINEMIXTAPES.COM

NEW MIXTAPES !!!!!!!! DOWNLOAD NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Big L, by HIP HOP IZ DEAD [2006-10-21 13:32:40]

REST IN PEACE DADDY ONE OF THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME. 1

RIP, by [2006-10-16 00:16:31]

In terms of skills, no one could touch him, ever. Only if he had the chance to blow up, then he would’ve definitely had the whole package.

> Big Lby Don Colione, by don colione [2006-07-17 03:53:37]

I love pac but he didnt have better lyrical skillz than big L...I listen to both of their albums with out getting tired, but big L is def a better rapper as far as lyrics go. The shit thing is that l’s lyrics have always been and will always be underappreciated. Pac was marketable thats wy he was mainstream. And thats why most people like pac better, shit most people dont even know about L fuk 50 cent, dont play snap songs on rap stations,thats pop...all tru rap fans (RAP FANS, not hip hop, RAP FANS SIGN UP AT RAP WORLD FORUMS AN ARGUE WIT ME)... RAP=BIG L,PAC,NAS HIP HOP=LUDA, T.I AN ALL THE REST,NOT SNAP SONGS...

Big L, by Treblecleff [2006-07-07 01:44:01]

Big L was good but Tupac was and still is the best rapper of all time.Tupac had the sickest beats and the lyrics were real.Tupac never talked shit he was all about the ghetto same wit Big L.Biggie was a poser he neva shot a gun in his life.Big L and 2Pac were both better than him.But those three rappers are still the best 3 rappers in history. RIP Tupac,Biggie, and Big L

> Big L, by freddy.B [2006-06-09 18:41:29]

hey rich swallow your immatures bullshits. everybody gotta eat right ? punk stop being a player hater don’t hate on them brothers Dawg suck a deck by the way. hip hop has 3 poles right now east west & the durrty durrty hip hop was born on the east but Them southern rappers got a god damn flavor muhfucka. don’t hate c’se they tipping so stop tripping L is a legend but T.I is alive he’s maintaining he got a dope flow this is my e-mail if u wanna discuss

> Big L, by freddy.B [2006-06-09 18:17:27]

each artist has his particularity L is the definition of Speed & Lyricism he had too many charism the best MC who ever spit on a DJ premier beat. much respect for your soul fuck the haters

> Big L, by BIG [2006-06-01 19:52:39]

Nigga Pleez ! The Notorious BIG will shit on him and anyone else you think is the greatest. "The greatest rapper of alltime died on March 9th". Big L (RIP) was tight, but he couldn’t see no B.I.G. Big L himself said Biggie was the best. BOTTOM LINE IS : THE NOTORIOUS BIG IS THE GREATEST EVER AND FUCK ANY OTHER MC BEFORE HIM AND AFTER HIM.

Big L Da Best Eva To Walk Earth, by Hiphopologist (JC) [2006-04-06 16:42:00]

Now many people neva bothered to pay attention to Big L, but he was the greast MC of all time. I do’nt care what nobody say, that man was a monster when it came to rhyming. Freestyling wasn’t a challenge for the man cause he killed that 98’ freestyle. he set most of these rappers careers today. like Jay-z (that man don’t give no respect to Big-L)and Killa Cam. Big L the best and fuck anyone who say otherwise cuz they don’t know true hip-hop. it’s a culture bitch...don’t knock it !

> Big L, by MOWY [2006-03-31 07:41:34]

Big L Rip.

The big picture is a brilliant album the freestyle says it all one of the best that ever did it.

> Big L R.I.P, by Big L 4eva [2006-02-22 13:24:02]

Big L is the most talented emcee and its a shame that not many people actually listen to him, Big L has just as much or even more talent than big n pac and if he was still here today he would be the rapper every other rapper would look up to instead of diddy,jay z,50 cent and all the other faggot rappers around today

R.I.P - Big L

> Big L, by rip l [2006-02-10 05:51:55]

big l wasn’t the greatest rapper of all time, but that doesn’t change the fact that he has mad skills, spit ill shit.. rip son

Big L like no other, by tito [2006-02-01 04:46:14]

Lamont "Big L" Coleman. A Hip Hop Legend who i think was forggotten and shouldnt have been. Big L is the best MC to ever lay hands on a mic and best ever to step in a Booth

R.I.P. Big L Truly urs TITO ur Greatest Fan Flamboyant 4 Life

> Big L, by Tha1 [2006-01-25 13:48:38]

Big L forever !! he is the best i ever heard. Not about Jay Z, hes awful and how can he not give shout outs to Big L, when L was the one who started him off on his career !!! remember "Da Graveyard" jay z featured in this clique song and produced his only good verse i ever heard ! but L’s was just superior on it. Just like the 7 minute freestyle wiv L and Jay z. Where L is just rippin the mic and when Jay z comes on he cant even get to levels of the way L just rapped.

Big L FOREVER !!!!! The Best Ever !!! PEACE.........

> Big L, by $RICH$ [2006-01-18 05:34:31]

Wuzz up with this man ? Nobody’s paying respect tha mutha fuckin hip-hop legend ! If he was still around he would put an end to this southern hick bull shit. Man fuck paul wall fuck t.I fuck D4L fuck Dem Franchize Boyz fuck all that shit. Big-L was one of tha best lyrical emcee’s no doubt about it. One of the best songs was "Casualties of a dice game" and "Ebonics". But R.I.P. Big L where ever you are. FLAMBOYANT 4 LIFE !

> Big L, by david cano [2006-01-06 04:55:46]

big l by far is the best rapper of all time. If he was still alive today he would treat all the rappers like 50 cent and nas. His rhymes is ill and nobody would be able to compete against him. Every track he made was raw and u never would want to turn it off. R.I.P Big L Flamboyant Baby

> Big L, by BlaSphEmOus [2006-01-03 05:44:45]

I’m suprise no one posted no love to Big L, R.I.P and stay Flamboyant where ever you are dawg.

Big L by far is one of the most UNDER-RATED rappers of all time, his lyrical abilities is undeniably, by the best of all time. His albums were full of rap’s best punchlines and an ill flow which no one has yet to uphold. Even the late great Jay-Z during the ’War’ concert where he made up with Nas forgot about R.I.P until a loyal fan told him.

One of his classical punchline is - "I’m far from broke got enough bread, ask Beavis I get nothin Butt-Head".

If you readers love that there are way more on his LPs and unreleased, ’Lifestyles ov da Poor n Dangerous’ and "The Big Picture" finished after his death Febuary 19th.

R.I.P Big L you talent will be great miss and NEVER forgotten !