big l

Today In Hip Hop History: Big L Was Shot And Killed In Harlem 24 Years Ago

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Big L

On February 15, 1999 the Hip Hop legend was murdered at 45 West 139th Street in Harlem after being shot nine times in the face and chest in a drive-by shooting. Gerard Woodley, one of Big L’s friends shot in the head near the same street in 2016, was arrested three months later but was shortly released. The shooting was said to have been retaliation for something Big L’s brother did. Unfortunately his murder case remains unsolved.

Big L began his career with the Hip Hop trio, Three the Hard Way. His first notable appearance came on Lord Finesse’s “Yes You May (Remix)”. He released his debut album, Lifestylez of da Poor & Dangerous, in 1995 and in 98′, he founded Flamboyant Entertainment, his own indie label, through which he released one of his most popular singles, “Ebonics”. His second studio album, The Big Picture, was put together by  his manager, Rich King, and released the year after his death. It went certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

A documentary is in the works titled Street Struck: The Big L Story. Big L is buried at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Big L Was Shot And Killed In Harlem 24 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Rare Footage Of Cam’Ron In Cipher In Harlem Circa 1995

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Diplomats General Cam’ROn took to social media to post footage of himself, MA$e, Big L(RIP), Bloodshed(RIP) and McGruff from 1995 in a rhyme cipher in St. Nicholas Houses in Harlem.

“Before DIPSET IT WAS BBO then COC!!! This is footage is In ST Nick PJ’s, These are the bars u get when u spar with @rsvpmase #BigL #BloodShed and @therealherbmcgruff (in a good way) every week,” said Cam. He continued with his pending hoop dreams and drug dealing reality, saying, “Still wasn’t taking rap serious tho. This was a month after I got kicked out of college. Still thought I was going to the NBA. So I got a 8 ball to hold me over till I got back into school. Never went back tho 🤷🏾‍♂️ I’ll post part 2 on Monday!!”

The post [WATCH] Rare Footage Of Cam’Ron In Cipher In Harlem Circa 1995 appeared first on The Source.

[WATCH] Rare Footage Of Cam’Ron In Cipher In Harlem Circa 1995

by
Screen Shot 2022 08 15 at 8.56.57 AM

Diplomats General Cam’ROn took to social media to post footage of himself, MA$e, Big L(RIP), Bloodshed(RIP) and McGruff from 1995 in a rhyme cipher in St. Nicholas Houses in Harlem.

“Before DIPSET IT WAS BBO then COC!!! This is footage is In ST Nick PJ’s, These are the bars u get when u spar with @rsvpmase #BigL #BloodShed and @therealherbmcgruff (in a good way) every week,” said Cam. He continued with his pending hoop dreams and drug dealing reality, saying, “Still wasn’t taking rap serious tho. This was a month after I got kicked out of college. Still thought I was going to the NBA. So I got a 8 ball to hold me over till I got back into school. Never went back tho 🤷🏾‍♂️ I’ll post part 2 on Monday!!”

The post [WATCH] Rare Footage Of Cam’Ron In Cipher In Harlem Circa 1995 appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Big L’s Second And Final Album ‘The Big Picture’ Dropped 22 Years Ago

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On this date in 2000, Big L’s posthumous album The Big Picture was released on Rawkus Records. The LP was originally slated as the late Lamont Coleman’s debut album, but L was tragically murdered in Harlem while the album was in production.

The album was produced by DJ Premier, Ron Browz, Ron G, Lord Finesse, Pete Rock, Shomari, Mike Heron, Ysae, and Showbiz and features appearances from Fat Joe, Guru, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane and the late Tupac Shakur.

Big L is regarded as one of the games best emcees that never got their chance in the spotlight, however, because of his ability to foresee great talent, he was the one who introduced Jay-Z as a force in 90s era crime rhyme, which dominated NYC Hip Hop via the Stretch Armstrong and Bobbito Show in 89.9 FM in 1995.

Big up to the Rawkus team, the entire DITC and Big L himself for this eternal Hip Hop classic!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Big L’s Second And Final Album ‘The Big Picture’ Dropped 22 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Harlem Street 140th And Lenox Avenue Is Officially Renamed ‘Lamont ‘Big L’ Coleman Way’

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Big L is officially able to be remembered in more ways than one as 140th and Lenox Avenue in Harlem has now been renamed “Lamont ‘Big L’ Coleman Way.” The renaming ceremony took place on Saturday (May 28) near where the rapper was shot and killed in 1999. Several people attended, decorating their cars and loudly cheering during the unveiling of the sign located on the corner of the street.

“It took a whole lot of effort and support to get to this great point but as a collective we made it happen,” stated the team behind the upcoming Big L documentary titled Street Struck. “The biggest thank you’s go out to the Dope 500 plus people who signed and passed the petition around so we could get this street renamed.”

Big L got his start alongside The Children Of The Corn group, which also featured fellow Harlem wordsmiths Mase, Cam’ron, Herb McGruff, and Bloodshed. Big L is known for his debut LP Lifestylz Ov Da Poor & Dangerous featuring tracks such as “Put It On,” “MVP,” “Street Struck,” and “Let Em Have It L.” He was shot and killed at the age of 24.

Check out the unveiling of the new street sign in Harlem above.

Big L Will Have A Street Named After Him In Harlem

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Big L Chicago 1995
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Though Big L’s career was unfortunately cut short when he was fatally shot in 1999, just four years after releasing his debut album, he has been heralded for decades. The recognition will continue in a big way as the late rapper is set to have a street named after him in Harlem, his hometown.

Big L’s official Instagram page announced this past weekend, with a flyer, that 140th and Lenox Avenue will be renamed “Lamont ‘Big L’ Coleman Way” and an official ceremony will occur at noon on May 28. The caption was full of gratitude, thanking the 500 people who signed the petition to make this happen.

“It took a whole lot of effort and Support to get to this great point but as an collective we made it happen, The Biggest Thank you’s go out to the Dope 500 plus people who signed and passed the petition around so we could get this street renamed,” the caption read. “There are entirely tooo many good people that gave this their Support, so with all my Heart I personally want to say THANK YOU!!!!”

Big L got his start alongside The Children Of The Corn group, which also featured fellow Harlem wordsmiths Mase, Cam’ron, Herb McGruff and Bloodshed. Big L is known for his debut LP Lifestylz Ov Da Poor & Dangerous featuring tracks such as “Put It On,” “MVP,” “Street Struck,” and “Let Em Have It L.” He was shot and killed at the age of 24.

Big L Will Be Honored With A Street Named After Him In Harlem

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Big L

One of the first rappers to make it big with the name Big, the late Big L, will be honored in his hometown with a street. For being one of the pioneers of the rap genre and his ability to influence the peers of his time, Harlem will recognize the legacy of Lamont Coleman, also known as Big L.

On Friday (May 6), Big L’s official documentary Instagram page, Street Struck, shared a post revealing the news of the renaming of 140th and Lenox Avenue. The new street name will be “Lamont “Big L” Coleman Way.”

“It took a whole lot of effort and Support to get to this great point but as an collective we made it happen, The Biggest Thank you’s go out to the Dope 500 plus people who signed and passed the petition around so we could get this street renamed,” the caption read. “There are entirely tooo many good people that gave this their Support, so with all my Heart I personally want to say THANK YOU!!!! #biglrestinpeace #LamontBiglcolemanway #behindthelenstv.”

The ceremony will be held on May 28 on 140th and Lenox Ave from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Fans are welcomed to attend.

The New York emcee made a name for himself in the early ’90s. He came up with the Children of the Corn collective, which consisted of fellow Harlem’s own Mase, Cam’ron, Herb McGruff, and Bloodshed. 

In March 1995, the then-20-year-old rapper released his debut album Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous, which featured the iconic singles “Put It On” and “M.V.P.,” as well as fan favorite cuts such as “Street Struck” and “Let Em Have It L.”

Fours years later, Big L was murdered. On February 15, 1999 was gunned down on 139th street, one block away from the where his street will be. Big L died at 24-years-old.

The post Big L Will Be Honored With A Street Named After Him In Harlem appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Big L Dropped His Debut Album ‘Lifestylez Ov Da Poor and Dangerous’ 27 Years Ago

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On this date twenty-seven years ago, Big L dropped his debut and only full-length studio album Lifestylez Ov Da Poor And Dangerous, on Columbia Records.

Aside from, eloquently stated by The Source Magazine at the time, “[coming] with ill animated lyrics, combined with metaphors that stun; a combo sure to have suckas on the run,” Big L also ushered in two emcees that are very prominent in the culture today: a then-unknown Killa Cam and a semi-established Jay-Z.

Produced primarily by the legendary Lord Finesse with Showbiz and Buckwild on the help out, this was a Diggin’ In The Crates album. According to “Funky Technician” Lord Finesse, who had a hand in some of the album’s production, in an interview commemorating the album’s 15th anniversary, he said this about the posse track “8 Iz Enuff”, “With that [song] L just thought he had to do a track with the rappers from his hood. And he definitely wanted to put on [those particular emcees]… We looking like, ‘How you gonna put eight niggas on one track?’ [And he was like], ‘Don’t worry, I got this.’”

He definitely had it too.

Unfortunately, Lifestylez Ov Da Poor And Dangerous would be the only album released by L in his life as he was fatally shot in Harlem in 1999.

Salute to Big L kaka Lamont Coleman(RIP), Lord Finesse, Jay-Z, Cam’ron, Grand Daddy I, U, and everyone else who helped make this album a piece of Hip Hop history!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Big L Dropped His Debut Album ‘Lifestylez Ov Da Poor and Dangerous’ 27 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.