Introduction: Welcome to the World of Big L
Step into the infectious pulse of 1990s Harlem, and you’ll quickly find there’s a name whispered with awe in every corner and celebrated by hip-hop heads worldwide: Big L. Born Lamont Coleman, Big L packed the swagger of an uptown hustler, the sharp wit of a seasoned poet, and the authenticity of someone who lived the life he rapped. In just a handful of years, he transformed from corner cyphers and street battles into a cult icon—becoming one of New York’s most respected, dissected, and endlessly imitated MCs. Though his life was tragically cut short at 24, his legacy pulses on in lyrics, Harlem murals, and the DNA of lyricists across generations.
What made Big L so fiercely beloved? It’s more than rhyme patterns—it’s the mixture of clever punchlines, street storytelling, and a flow so effortless fellow legends like Nas and Jay-Z publicly declared their admiration (and even intimidation). This article dives deep into what made Big L unique: his Harlem roots, the rise and fall of his collectives, his albums and lyrics, battles, influence, and the enduring impact that now lives on with a street in Harlem proudly bearing his name.
Harlem Roots: The Early Life and Ascent of Big L
Born on May 30, 1974, in Harlem, New York City, Lamont Coleman grew up amid a renaissance of hip-hop creativity and street hustling. The youngest of three children, his early life was colored by loss: his father left the family while he was still a child, leaving his mother, Gilda Terry, to raise Lamont and his half-brothers, Donald and Leroy.
A pivotal moment came at age 7. His brother Donald took him to a Run-DMC concert at the Beacon Theatre, an experience that, by all accounts, wowed young Lamont and set his heart beating to the rhythm of the burgeoning hip-hop movement. By 12, “Little L” or “Mont-Mont” (as he was called as a kid) was already a fixture in neighborhood freestyle battles—a tactic not just to earn respect, but for survival and belonging amid the “Danger Zone” sidewalks of 139th Street and Lenox Avenue.
His defining ethos was simple: be the best, in a rap world where skill was your only armor. Big L recalled, “In the beginning, all I ever saw me doing was battling everybody on the street corners, rhyming in the hallways, beating on the wall, rhyming to my friends. Every now and then, a house party, grab the mic, a block party, grab the mic”. Harlem’s realities—poverty, crime, hustle, hope—became the palette for his relentless lyricism.
Formation of Rap Collectives: D.I.T.C. and Children of the Corn
Big L’s story isn’t just about solo stardom—it’s about building, belonging, and elevating his crew. His early foray into group dynamics was with Three the Hard Way, which quickly fizzled out, but the taste for collaboration had been seeded. Around 1990, a chance meeting at a local Harlem record shop changed everything—Big L wowed established MC Lord Finesse with an impromptu freestyle, earning an invitation to join the Diggin’ In The Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.), a legendary collective including Lord Finesse, Diamond D, Fat Joe, Buckwild, Showbiz & AG, and O.C..
D.I.T.C. was a powerhouse—a loose association of the East Coast’s most revered boom-bap producers and MCs, each holding down their own but magnifying each other’s talents. Their ethos was crate-digging for rare beats, relentless cyphers, and crafting songs that would define the New York underground.
But Big L also had his sights set on building something homegrown. In 1993, he founded Children of the Corn (C.O.C.), a supergroup of Harlem up-and-comers: Killa Cam (later Cam’ron), Murda Ma$e (later Ma$e), Herb McGruff, Bloodshed, and producer Six Figga Digga. Their name—a play on “Corner”—reflected Harlem’s street life, and their music sold in the city’s corridors before wider fame called. Big L was the glue that inspired Ma$e and Cam’ron to put their basketball dreams aside for the microphone.
The collective dream was cut short when Bloodshed died in a car accident in 1997, but the seeds of star power, especially for Cam’ron and Ma$e, had been sown. Their later success would always be tethered to Big L’s vision and mentorship.
Debut Album: Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
The Making of a Street Classic
1995 brought the moment Big L and all of Harlem waited for: the release of his debut album, Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous, through Columbia Records. The road here wasn’t paved with major-label hype machines—before his deal, Big L had ground out a powerful demo, wowed Finesse, and gained a buzz through radio show shout-outs, especially a key appearance on Yo! MTV Raps and the B-side fire of “Yes You May (Remix)”.
“For as long as I can remember I was always a rap fan. Back in the days I used to listen to the Cold Crush Four and Run–D.M.C. tapes, but I really got serious after Big Daddy Kane came out…I was a really big fan of his. 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.”
—Big L, Bonafide Mag interview
The Sound and Impact
“Lifestylez” was and remains an underground juggernaut—a master class in lyrical acrobatics, vivid storytelling, and a caustic humor that could roast rivals or paint complex portraits of Harlem life in equal measure. Backed by the gritty soundscapes of Lord Finesse, Buckwild, and Showbiz, the LP is now lauded as a hip-hop classic, with The Source praising L as coming with “ill animated lyrics, combined with metaphors that stun”.
Essential tracks include:
- “Put It On”: The radio-friendly (but still rugged) lead single featuring Kid Capri, a bright banger that became L’s calling card.
- “M.V.P.”: Oozing confidence, layered with DeBarge samples, and replete with punchlines that snap and amuse all at once.
- “Street Struck”: An introspective look at the perils of the street life—a powerful break from endless bravado.
- “Da Graveyard”: Featuring a young Jay-Z, this cut became legendary among purists.
Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous peaked at #149 on the Billboard 200 and #22 on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, selling over 200,000 copies by 2000—an impressive feat for a then-underground act with no major marketing push.
Watch the classic “Put It On” music video
“It sold just by word of mouth. People were like, ‘Big L is hot, we like him’, not because the label put me out there or supported me.” —Big L, Bonafide interview
A Closer Look: Creative Battles with Columbia
Despite the album’s fire, label politics and a disconnect between Big L’s hardcore vision and Columbia’s commercial aspirations would eventually lead to friction and a split. As L himself explained, “They didn’t promote me in the way I needed to be promoted. I’m a lyricist and they were trying to point me in a different direction…a lot of the people I was originally working with at Columbia had left, so I was there with a bunch of strangers that didn’t really know my music”.
But in retrospect, Lifestylez set a blueprint for what real, raw New York rap could be, influencing both contemporaries and the coming generation of MCs. Later reissues and anniversary celebrations only cement its status as required listening for any student of lyricism.
Leaving Columbia: Building Flamboyant Entertainment and Going Independent
Freedom wasn’t something Big L would negotiate—after leaving Columbia in 1996, he struck out on his own, creating Flamboyant Entertainment. The label, distributed with the help of Fat Beats, aimed to put out the kind of no-compromise, street-centered hip-hop that L felt the majors were scared to support.
“Having your own label is financially rewarding and it’s good for long term growth. I’ve got total control of what I put out and don’t have anybody telling me what to do…They (A&R people) don’t let artists be themselves.” —Big L, Bonafide Mag interview
Flamboyant’s first major single, “Ebonics,” became an underground sensation both as a catchy anthem and as a cultural artifact—a lexicon of Harlem street slang, cleverly broken down with a professor’s precision and a comedian’s punchline (dive into the lyrics and see it for yourself on Genius). For many, “Ebonics” is as vital a record for understanding the late-’90s Harlem vernacular as a documentary or oral history.
But Flamboyant wasn’t just about L. He was always about squad goals—by 1998, he was working to sign his Wolfpack collective (Herb McGruff, C-Town, Stan Spit) to Roc-A-Fella Records with him. Tragically, those plans would never be realized.
Freestyle Mastery: The Art of the Radio Battle
If there is one arena where Big L ascended to god-level in the eyes of fans, peers, and rivals alike, it’s the freestyle cypher. Radio hosts, battle MCs and even hip-hop royalty viewed his quick-witted, off-the-dome prowess as near mystical.
The best example? The legendary Stretch & Bobbito Show session with a young Jay-Z (1995). Listen below and prepare to be dazzled by multisyllabic rhymes, twisted metaphors, and a head-spinning, almost mathematical command of language:
- Listen to the iconic 7 Minute Freestyle (Big L & Jay-Z):
- Read the full breakdown of his freestyle style at 90s Rap Music
“Nas, one of the most influential rappers of all time, acknowledged Big L’s prowess in an interview with Funkmaster Flex, stating that Big L’s skills scared him…Yo, it’s no way I can compete if this is what I gotta compete with.”
L’s legend was built on the street corners too. Whether on tape, on stage, or a block-wide audience, his battle rap credentials were spotless—a quick-fire flow, fearless subject matter, and a knack for leaving his opponents (and listeners) gasping or laughing.
Lyrical Style: Punchlines, Compounding Rhymes, and Storytelling
The Wordplay Wizard
What separated Big L from the crowd? The answer: an unmatched command of punchlines, metaphors, and the “compound rhyme”—where multi-syllabic words interlock like puzzle pieces for devastating lyrical effect. His flow wasn’t just about speed or bravado; it was about clever, unexpected connections, a brash comedic streak, and a “razor blade-under-the-tongue” delivery.
M.F. DiBella of AllMusic put it best, calling L “a master of the lyrical stickup—undressing his competition with kinetic metaphors and a brash comedic repertoire”.
- On “Put It On”: “I got the wild style, always been a foul child / My guns go “boom-boom,” and your guns go “pow-pow” / I’m known to have a hottie open, I keep the shotty smokin’ / Front and get half the bones in your body broken.”
- On “Ebonics”: “My weed smoke is my ‘lye,’ a key of coke is a ‘pie’ / When I’m lifted I’m high, with new clothes on, I’m ‘fly’ / Cars is ‘whips’ and sneakers is ‘kicks’ / Money is ‘chips,’ movies is ‘flicks’.”
L’s lyrics both explained and mythologized Harlem’s world. “Street Struck” is a lesson to those succumbing to the street’s temptations, while “Devil’s Son” kicked off the horrorcore movement, painting dark, cinematic scenes that would echo through later acts like Eminem.
Battle Ready, Always
Big L’s special magic, honed through battles and contests, was the way he spit with devastating humor and precision. As he told Bonafide Mag, “Face to face is a good way to battle, but only a few people are going to be there. If you do a record the whole world can listen. It really depends on the circumstances”.
Between the Albums: Collaborations, Guest Spots, and Diggin’ In The Crates
While Big L’s own discography is sadly slim, his fingerprints are all over the golden era of New York rap through endless features, posse cuts, and collab projects. His commitment was always to the crew—whether it was D.I.T.C., C.O.C., or the tapes of Lord Finesse, Showbiz & AG, Fat Joe, O.C., and Buckwild.
- Big L’s guest appearances:
- “Represent” with Showbiz & AG (1992)
- “7 Minute Freestyle” with Jay-Z and Stretch & Bobbito (1995)
- “Dangerous” with O.C. (1997)
- “Day One” with D.I.T.C. (1997)
- “Dignified Soldiers” with D.I.T.C. (1998)
- “Uptown Connection” with Ma$e, Herb McGruff (1998)
- “Furious Anger” with Shyheim (Manchild) (1999) See the full list of collaborations
His voice cut through any mix, often delivering the most quotable verse on any project. These guest spots, especially with D.I.T.C., cemented his influence—they were the training ground for his signature skills and later informed the style of everyone from Cam’ron to Fat Joe.
Iconic Singles and Music Videos
A blog on Big L wouldn’t be complete without celebrating his catalog of crisp, imaginative music videos. Above the music, L’s visuals gave the world a direct passport into Harlem’s attitude and flavor.
The Music Videos
- “Put It On” (Watch here) – directed by Brian “Black” Luvar, matching the energy and swagger of the single with shots of L strutting in slick gear and Harlem huddles.
- “M.V.P.” (Watch here) – another Luvar-directed joint, fusing hip-hop glamour and street edge.
- “No Endz, No Skinz” (Watch here) – directed by Richard Lewis, bringing L’s storytelling to life with sharp visual cuts and city streets.
- “Holdin’ It Down” and more, each stamping a new visual on his character-driven stories.
Luvar, who also worked with Nas and KRS-One, brought a cinematic eye that elevated these clips to classic status. Run these videos back on YouTube’s Big L – Music Videos playlist and see hip-hop history unfold.
The Sophomore Album and Posthumous Releases: The Big Picture and Beyond
Tragedy struck on February 15, 1999. Weeks away from signing to Roc-A-Fella and on the cusp of a second act, Big L was murdered outside his home on 139th Street, Harlem, gunned down in a case that remains unsolved. The hip-hop world was shaken—the pain of losing Biggie and Pac was still raw, and now another brilliant light had been extinguished.
A Posthumous Masterpiece: The Big Picture (2000)
But the music wasn’t done. In 2000, his manager and Flamboyant Entertainment partner, Rich King, pieced together The Big Picture—pulling from finished tracks, a cappellas, and verses L left behind. The result is a posthumous triumph: featuring production from DJ Premier, Lord Finesse, Ron Browz, and Pete Rock, and guest features from Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, 2Pac, Sadat X, and more.
Highlights include:
- “Ebonics” – L’s most inventive and influential track.
- “Size ‘Em Up” – punchline rap at its most kinetic.
- “Deadly Combination” (feat. 2Pac) – a posthumous meeting of lyrical titans.
- “98 Freestyle” – a dizzying display of rhyme technique.
- “Flamboyant” – which, posthumously, went #1 on Hot Rap Tracks.
“The Big Picture” sold over 500,000 copies and earned Gold status—a bittersweet confirmation of L’s undiminished appeal.
As RapReviews wrote:
“Tragically we have yet another posthumous album of a rapper gone far too soon…While this project officially started recording in 1998, this project is not a complete picture of what Big L had in mind. This project was pieced together by Big L’s manager and friends of L using tracks initially planned for the release along with some other vaulted recordings such as 98 freestyle.”
Other posthumous albums include 139 & Lenox (2010), Return of the Devil’s Son (2010), The Danger Zone (2011), and Harlem’s Finest: Rise of the Forgotten King slated for release in 2025.
Tributes, Legacy, and Influence on Hip-Hop
Twenty-six years after his death, Big L remains a founding pillar for lyricists, battle rappers, and anyone obsessed with wordplay, storytelling, and authenticity. His influence can be traced directly through generations of East Coast kings—Nas, Jay-Z, Cam’ron, Jadakiss, Eminem, and countless others have all either paid tribute or cited him as a direct influence.
“He scared me to death. When I heard that on tape, I was scared to death. I said, ‘Yo, it’s no way I can compete if this is what I gotta compete with.’”
—Nas on Big L’s legendary skills
Jay-Z, who once battled L and was slated to sign him to Roc-A-Fella, reflected:
“We were about to sign him right before he passed away. We were about to sign him to Roc-a-Fella. It was a done deal…I think he was very talented…I think he had the ability to write big records, and big choruses.”
Eminem paid tribute to Big L in the video for “Like Toy Soldiers.” Meanwhile, Royce da 5’9”, Funkmaster Flex, and other lyrical titans have insisted that L’s technical brilliance puts him at the top of MC rankings, even above Biggie and Jay-Z in terms of straight lyricism.
Posthumous honors and tributes:
- Annual tribute concerts in NYC and Europe.
- Murals and street art throughout Harlem.
- Underground tribute tracks, covers, and remixes by artists and fans worldwide.
- In 2022, Harlem renamed the corner of 140th Street and Lenox Avenue “Lamont ‘Big L’ Coleman Way” in a massive celebration attended by hundreds of fans and family.
- Harlem hosts memorial tours, including a visit to Big L’s old apartment, battle sites (including the legendary Jay-Z battle spot), and his mural—offering fans a living, breathing walk through hip-hop history (check out this live stream Harlem tour).
The lore only grows: legends circulate about unreleased tapes, an ever-longed-for documentary (Street Struck: The Big L Story), and new music projects curated by his family and former collaborators.
Comprehensive Discography: The Big L Catalog
Below you’ll find an overview table, followed by insight and context for each major Big L project:
| Album/Release | Year | Label | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous | 1995 | Columbia | Debut album, underground classic, led by “Put It On” |
| The Big Picture | 2000 | Rawkus/Flamboyant | Posthumous, Gold-certified, “Ebonics,” 2Pac feature |
| 139 & Lenox | 2010 | Flamboyant | Unreleased/rare tracks, posthumous |
| Return of the Devil’s Son | 2010 | SMC Recordings | Rarities and previously unreleased tracks |
| The Danger Zone | 2011 | RBC Records | Demos & rare cuts |
| Harlem’s Finest: Rise… | 2025 | Mass Appeal | Upcoming, curated by family |
| Children of the Corn: Collector’s Edition | 2003 | Six Figga Entertainment | COC era unreleased tracks |
| Devil’s Son EP (From the Vaults) | 2017 | Columbia Records | Vaulted tracks, demos |
| Compilation albums, mixtapes, and live tapes | 2001–2022 | Various | See full Big L Discography |
Singles and Memorable Cuts:
- “Put It On” (1994) — music video
- “M.V.P.” (1995) — music video
- “Ebonics” (1998)
- “Flamboyant” (2000) — Big L’s sole #1 Rap Track (posthumously)
- “No Endz, No Skinz” (1995) — music video
For full lyrics, tracklists, and context, check Genius – Big L Albums.
Harlem Heritage and Memorial Tours
Walking Where Legends Roamed
Big L didn’t just rap about Harlem—he is Harlem. From the “Danger Zone” corners immortalized in his lyrics to the spots where he would destroy his foes in battle, Harlem bears the footprints—and now the name—of its fallen son.
Modern-day hip-hop walking tours in Harlem will take you past:
- Big L’s former apartment at 104 West 139th Street.
- The famed corner at 139th and Lenox, backdrop to his album covers and the site of his murder.
- His mural on W 140th Street, centerpiece of community memory and fandom.
- The legendary battle site, where he and Jay-Z reportedly faced off in person—now a pilgrimage stop for those in the know.
- Lamont “Big L” Coleman Way, officially dedicated in 2022, signifying, in concrete terms, the city’s eternal love for its own.
View a recent video tribute walking tour here
Conclusion: The Unstoppable Influence of a Legend Gone Too Soon
To write a conclusion about Big L is to admit paradox: How does a rapper who only lived to 24, who signed only two albums, and who missed his chance at world-conquering superstardom, cast a shadow so wide and deep in hip-hop?
It’s the bars. It’s the vision. It’s Harlem. It’s the unwavering authenticity.
Big L’s punchlines, compound raps, and wordplay changed the rules for what lyricism could accomplish, inspiring scores of MCs who chased the technical peaks he scaled so easily. He built coalitions, mentored future stars, and left behind a map for surviving and thriving in rap’s toughest terrain. He did not cower before label politics or change his sound for chart success. He simply put it on, every time the beat dropped.
Two decades after his death, the elements of hip-hop and the city of New York itself continue to honor, debate, and study his contributions. His name is now carved into the Harlem streets, in the flows of today’s lyrical titans, and on the playlists of fans who refuse to let real talent be forgotten.
Big L is forever.
Dig deeper: Experience the genius directly—explore interviews, live videos, album lyrics, and exclusive tributes:
- Genius Lyrics & Tracklists
- Harlem’s Finest Freestyles Archive
- Big L – Classic Music Videos
- Big L Harlem Tour & Jay-Z Battle Spot
- Jay-Z, Nas, Cam’ron, and others on Big L (interviews and tributes)
“He was one of the best lyricists… His metaphors and similes were phenomenal. When you talk about wordplay, you gotta put Big L up there with the best.”
—Mysonne, D.I.T.C.
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