Big L: Difference between revisions
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===Later career=== |
===Later career=== |
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From 1997 to 1999, Big L worked on his second album ''[[The Big Picture (Big L album)|The Big Picture]]''. The album featured cameos from [[Fat Joe]], [[Tupac Shakur]], and [[Big Daddy Kane]] among other emcees. [[Jay-Z]] has said that Big L was set to sign with his [[Roc-A-Fella]] label, but died the week before.<ref name=jayz>[http://rocafella.com/News.aspx?item=102200§ionid=137 JayZ Chat Transcript]. [[Roc-A-Fella]] News. Retrieved on [[November 30]] [[2006]].</ref> |
From 1997 to 1999, Big L worked on his second album ''[[The Big Picture (Big L album)|The Big Picture]]''. The album featured cameos from [[Fat Joe]], [[Tupac Shakur]], and [[Big Daddy Kane]] among other emcees. [[Jay-Z]] has said that Big L was set to sign with his [[Roc-A-Fella]] label, but died the week before.<ref name=jayz>[http://rocafella.com/News.aspx?item=102200§ionid=137 JayZ Chat Transcript]. [[Roc-A-Fella]] News. Retrieved on [[November 30]] [[2006]].</ref> |
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===Death=== |
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Lamont Coleman was fatally shot nine times in head and chest on [[February 15]] [[1999]] on 139th Street in Harlem. It is disputed whether the shooter was his older brother [[Big Lee]] or [[Gerard Woodley]]. Woodley was arrested but released again based on a lack of evidence. The identity of the shooter remains to this day unknown. |
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===The Big Picture=== |
===The Big Picture=== |
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Revision as of 23:59, 4 November 2008
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2008) |
Big L |
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Lamont Coleman (May 31, 1974 - February 15, 1999), also known by his stage name Big L, was an American rapper.
Biography
Early life
Lamont Coleman was born to Gilda Terry on May 31, 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 nickname Big L in contrast to his childhood nickname, Little Lamont. He 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."[2] His lyrics described the world around him, covering Harlem shootouts and street life.
D.I.T.C.
While still in high school, he caught the attention of Finesse, Joe "Diamond D" Kirkland and Rodney "Showbiz" Lemay, 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 the remix of "Yes, You May". Soon after this Big L made apperances on the classic debut albums from Diamond D and Showbiz & A.G. which were both released in 1992.Soon L officially became a part of the DITC crew which featured numerous New York producers, deejays, and emcees on the mic. 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. A four song demo tape showcasing tracks such as the horror-core establisher "Devil’s Son" and the "Yes, You May" remix. He regularly appeared on the fellow DITC members albums, and 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.
Later career
From 1997 to 1999, Big L worked on his second album The Big Picture. The album featured cameos from Fat Joe, Tupac Shakur, and Big Daddy Kane among other emcees. Jay-Z has said that Big L was set to sign with his Roc-A-Fella label, but died the week before.[3]
Death
Lamont Coleman was fatally shot nine times in head and chest on February 15 1999 on 139th Street in Harlem. It is disputed whether the shooter was his older brother Big Lee or Gerard Woodley. Woodley was arrested but released again based on a lack of evidence. The identity of the shooter remains to this day unknown.
The Big Picture
His last recorded release, The Big Picture, was released posthumously on August 2 2000, and was put together by his manager and partner in Flamboyant Entertainment, Rich King. It contains songs that L had recorded and a cappella 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.
Discography
- 1995: Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous
- 2000: The Big Picture
References
- ^ a b Big L biography (HTML) Allmusic. Retrieved on 2008-08-07
- ^ Remembering Lamont "Big L" Coleman | Columns & Editorials > HipHopDX.com
- ^ JayZ Chat Transcript. Roc-A-Fella News. Retrieved on November 30 2006.
External links
