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 third and final season of Wu-Tang: An American Saga debuts on Hulu on Feb. 15th. Wu-Wednesdays include brand-new episodes.
Wu-Tang: An American Saga follows the Wu-Tang Clan over the course of their five-year plan as they encounter and surmount various difficulties following the release of their debut album and their ongoing ascent to stardom. RZA fights to remain on top of things in order to keep his promise to his Wu brothers as each member of the group embarks on a unique quest to discover their place in the music industry. They must find a way to unite and solidify their legacy as threats from ego, celebrity, money, and business loom above them.
In an The Source exclusive, a clip from the first episode of the season is available below. Be sure to visit Hulu today to watch the full episode.
On this date twenty-seven ago, the Hip Hop legend Tupac Shakur officially released his fourth album, All Eyez On Me, on the Death Row/Interscope imprint.
The album featured five singles with two topping number one on the Billboard Hot 100; “How Do U Want It” and “California Love.” It made Hip Hop history the first double-full-length solo Hip-Hop studio album released. It was the second album from Tupac Shakur to hit number one on both the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, selling 566,000 copies in the first week. Shortly after his untimely death, the album then won the 1997 Soul Train R&B/Soul or Rap Album of the Year Award. Shakur also won the Award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Artist at the 24th Annual American Music Awards. The album was certified diamond by the RIAA on July 23, 2014.
All Eyez On Me, the biopic about Pac’s life with the same name, was released on June 16, 2017.
On this date in 2006, James Dewitt Yancey better known as J Dilla lost his battle with Lupus and died from cardiac arrest in his home in Los Angeles. The Detroit beatmaker extraordinaire was only 32 years old.
He passed away just three days after his 32nd born day, but managed to release his final album, Donuts, to the public, which received its name because of Dilla’s love for the sugar-saturated pastries.
Dilla has produced classic tracks for several Hip Hop legends including A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Common, MF Doom and a host of others.
J Dilla will forever be etched in the history of Hip Hop, with the unofficial “Dilla Day” holiday that is celebrated on his birthday every year in his honor for his contributions to Hip Hop.
On this date in 2004, Def Jam Records through the Roc-A-Fella imprint dropped the debut album of the uber-talented producer/emcee Kanye West properly entitled College Dropout.
The LP debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 441,000 copies during its first week. The five singles that achieved chart success and got him a Grammy award at the 47th Grammy Awards include “Through the Wire” and “Jesus Walks”. The singles “All Falls Down” and “Slow Jamz” charted within the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the Jamie Foxx and Twista feature also charted number one.
It is West’s best-selling album in the United States, with domestic sales of 3.4 million and worldwide over 4 million copies. It’s been listed among the greatest debut albums of all time and by Time and Rolling Stone as one of the greatest albums of all time.
Jazz has again begun to find its way into mainstream Hip-Hop. With the success of Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly, more artists have started to incorporate the classic brass and string jazz sound. On this day in Hip Hop history, one of the first jazz-fusion Hip-Hop albums, Reachin’ (A New Refutation of Time and Space) was released by Brooklyn-based trio Digable Planets in 1993.
Peaking at #81 on the Billboard 200, this successful debut introduced a fresh new element to the boom-bap scene in New York. With members hailing from all corners of the country (Butterfly from Seattle, Ladybug Mecca from Washington D.C., and Doodlebug from Philadelphia), Digable Planets was able to bring a unique flair to the conscious rap game. Although not as overtly political as the group follow up album, this project does touch on some controversial subjects such as abortion rights and artistic drug abuse. The album’s hit single “The Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)” has become a Hip Hop classic. By peaking at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100, selling 500,000 copies in a year, and winning the Grammy for Best Rap Performance by Duo or Group, this single cemented its place in music history. The song is still used to this day in various advertisements, TV shows, and movies.
On this date at the turn of the millennium, Ghostface Killah of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan released his second full-length album, Supreme Clientele. This album was the anticipated four-year follow-up to his critically acclaimed Iron Man debut. According to critics, this album has been ranked as Ghost’s best album to date.
RZA oversaw the production of the album, but it also included tracks from the Beatnuts’ Juju as well as in-house production from Inspectah Deck and DJ Allah Mathematics. Mainstream songs such as “Apollo Kids” and “Cherchez La Ghost” helped the album reach gold status within two months of its release.
Salute to Ghost, RZA and the entire WTC for their contribution to this Hip-Hop classic!
“Peace to Ron G, Brucie B, Kid Capri/ Funkmaster Flex and Lovebug Starski…” -Biggie Smalls “Juicy”
The Hip Hop community mourned the loss of one of the founding fathers of Hip Hop culture, Lovebug Starski, who passed away on this date three years ago at 57 years old.
Starski, whose real name is Kevin Smith, allegedly died from a heart attack in Las Vegas, but the cause of his death has never been confirmed,
Lovebug Starski is one of only two people who is said to have coined the term “Hip Hop” and along with partners Brucie B and DJ Hollywood, was instrumental as a DJ, emcee, and producer in the instructional days of Hip Hop in the South Bronx. He was a regular DJ at spots like Harlem World and the legendary Rooftop Roller Disco.
On this date at the turn of the millennium, Brooklyn-based revolutionary duo dead prez released their conceptually advanced Let’s Get Free LP on Loud Records.
Founded in the late 90s by Brand Nubian member Lord Jamar, stic and M1 changed the perception of conscious rap, touching on pragmatic socio-political issues in their content without sacrificing the lyrical prowess of genuine emcees. With production exclusively by Lord Jamar and stic, Let’s Get Free gives an unprecedented viewpoint of the Black experience in modern times with a twist of revolutionary get back. Tracks like “They Schools”, “Psychology” and “Behind Enemy Lines” address the social ills of today, while songs like “Mind Sex”, “Be Healthy” and “Discipline” use pragmatic approaches in an attempt to curb common negative connotations in the hood.
Both commercially and critically successful, Let’s Get Free is a two decade old reminder of the innate purpose of Hip shop culture; to enlighten, empower and uplift. Salute to stic, M-1 and the rest of the RBG crew for giving us such an important part of Hip Hop history!
Fivio Foreign stepped onto the Grammys red carpet looking fresh to death, decked out in all pink and even matching pink shades. But this isn’t his first stroll down the legendary award show, the “Big Drip” rapper was nominated last year for his feature on Kanye West’s album Donda, which held its place for Album of the Year. The song “City of Gods” features himself alongside Alicia Keys, a fan favorite from the project.
This year, however, Fivio walked down the carpet nominated for yet another Grammy. This time, it’s his collaboration with Mary J. Blige on Good Morning Gorgeous, which was a contender for Album of the Year. The two worked on “On Top,” a huge moment as both hail from New York.
The Source had the pleasure of speaking with Fivio Foreign on the red carpet, asking him about his collaboration with Nicki Minaj on “We Go Up.”
How are you doing?
I’m doing good. I’m just chillin’. I’m staying blessed. I’m happy to slip through the cracks and make it here. Word.
Check out the pink, who styled you today?
Come on man, my homegirl Jenna. She be hooking me up. I told her I don’t want to go suited and booted or nothing like that, but I still want to keep it classy. She’s like yo, do it like that.
Was this inspired by Cam’Ron / Dipset at all?
You know, I love big bro Cam’Ron. So I could say yeah.
Second Grammy nomination, how does it feel?
I got nominated last year. I’m just blessed, ain’t gon’ lie. Coming from where come from, n*ggas ain’t making it this far. So I snuck little cracks on them, I’m chillin’.
What are you going to do if you win?
Probably drink some Casamigos. [laughs]
Hip-Hop celebrates 50 years this year. What does Hip-Hop mean to you?
Shit, Hip-Hop means everything. When I was growing up and coming outside, it molded me. Taught me how to move and live, dress and feel. It almost means everything to me.
Do you have a favorite artist right now?
Right now, I’m fucking with me. I only listen to me. Drill music!
“We Go Up” is such a banger. How was it working with Nicki Minaj on that?
I ain’t gon’ lie, I was surprised that she was gonna let me rock out like that. I was just so happy she let me rock out, shout out to Nicki.
That verse from her was crazy. Did you feel pressure?
Hell yeah. She had sent me the beat and she had rapped the verse to me, like “Yo, da-da-da.” I’m like “yo, you went crazy!” I just finished up, did what I did and sent it back. When she put it tougher and sent me the finished product, I’m like damn! Crazy. Legend, big sis!
