Big L (Lamont Coleman)

Big L was born Lamont Coleman on May 30, 1974. He was shot to death on February 15, 1999 and he is remembered as a murdered 25 years of age rapper, who briefly lived and died in Harlem, New York, USA.

Brief biography

Big L was given the name Lamont Coleman at his birth on May 30, 1974. However, Lamont sought a new identity for himself in the Harlem community in which he grew up, lived and died at age 25 years. In the late 1980s rap music dominated his neighborhood, and at a time when his friends were adopting other identies to associate themselves with the culture that it created, he decided that he wanted to be known as Big L, rather than Lamont.

Style

Big L achieved recognition as a creator of rap lyrics by expressing himself in the African-American variation of the American-English language known as Ebonics, for his primary method of communication.

Performance history

His early career began in a group called Children of the Corn with fellow Harlemites Ma$e (then known as Murda Mase) and Cam'ron (then known as "Killa Kam") . His first recording under the name Big L was made in 1995 with Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous. He gained recognition within the genre of rap music for his renditions of Put it on; No Endz, No Skinz; Street Struck and Da Graveyard. His biggest success came with Ebonics which he recorded on his own 'Flamboyant' label in the summer of 1998. The single came to be regarded as his best work with his unique definitions of the English language within its lyrics ...

"Check it: My weed smoke is my lye,
A ki 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.
Also, cribs is homes, jacks is pay phones,
Cocaine is nose candy, cigarettes is bones,
A radio is a box, a razor blade is a ox,
Fat diamonds is rocks and jakes is cops."

D.I.T.C.

Big L joined the Bronx-based hip-hop supergroup D.I.T.C. (Diggin' in the Crates) and appeared on their single recording of Dignified Soldiers and their later LP. Hip-hop rumours among fans suggested that Big L had signed with the Roc-a-fella label owned by Jay-Z. His last recorded release was The Big Picture on August 1, 2000.

Murder

On the evening of February 15, 1999 Big L was shot nine times and killed just blocks away from his Harlem home. He was 24 years old at the time of his death. It has been claimed that the murderer was originally seeking revenge on Big Lee, the brother of Big L. However, because Big Lee was in jail at the time, the killer decided to kill Big L instead.

Legacy

Although his recordings did not achieve large sales Big L is remembered by the fans of rap music for his technical skills at producing rap recordings. His ultimate legacy was to join the deceased ranks of Tupac; Notorious B.I.G; and Big Pun as a short lived star of rap music.

References

Press coverage

Discography

1. Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous (album): Put it on; No Endz, No Skinz; Street Struck; Da Graveyard.
2. Ebonics (single), on the Flamboyant label.

External links

• Harlem's Finest
• OHHLA.COM - Favorite Artists: Big L