name	Big L
alt	An African-American man, in his early twenties, poses for a camera shot. He is wearing a tan jacket with a tan hat tilted to the side.
background	solo_singer
birth name	Lamont Coleman
birth date	May 30, 1974
birth place	Harlem, New York City, USA
origin	Harlem, New York City
death date	February 15, 1999
death place	Harlem, New York
genre	Hip hop
occupation	Rapper
years active	1990–1999
label	Columbia, Sony, Flamboyant Entertainment, Rawkus
associated acts	D.I.T.C., Children of the Corn, Jay-Z, Fat Joe, Kid Capri, Cam'ron, Mase, Shyheim, DJ Premier, Big Daddy Kane
website	}}

Lamont Coleman (May 30, 1974 – February 15, 1999), better known by his stage name Big L, was an American rapper. Coleman was born and raised in Harlem, New York, where he started his rap career with Three the Hard Way. He founded the group Children of the Corn and was a member of the Diggin' in the Crates Crew before pursuing a solo career. His first professional appearance came on Lord Finesse's "Yes You May (Remix)". He released his debut album, ''Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous'' in 1995, and significantly contributed to the underground hip hop scene. He created his own independent label, Flamboyant Entertainment, in 1998 where he released one of his best known singles "Ebonics" (1998).

On February 15, 1999, Coleman was killed by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting in his hometown of Harlem. Suspects, including the main suspect Gerald Woodley, were brought in for questioning, but no one was found guilty. His second studio album, ''The Big Picture'' was put together by Coleman's manager, Rich King. It was released the following year and certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Four posthumous albums have been released, mainly consisting of unreleased songs which were put together by Rich King and his brother, Donald. Multiple tributes have been given to Coleman, including in ''The Source'', MTV, and HipHop DX. A documentary is in the works titled ''Street Struck: The Big L Story'' (2012). About.com called him the twenty-third best MC of all time, and multiple writers at Allmusic have given him high praise.

Early life [link]

Born Lamont Coleman in Harlem, New York on May 30, 1974, he was the third and youngest child of Gilda Terry (d. 2008) and Charles Davis. His father left the family while Coleman was a child. He has two siblings, Donald and Leroy Phinazee (d. At the age of 12, Coleman became a big hip hop fan and started freestyling against his own neighborhood. He founded a group called Three the Hard Way in 1990, but was quickly broken up due to a lack of enthusiasm. It consisted of Coleman, a "Doc Reem", and a "Rodney". No studio albums were released, and after Rodney left, the group was called Two Hard Motherfuckers. In the summer of 1990, Coleman met Lord Finesse at an autograph session in a record shop on 125th Street. After he did a freestyle, Finesse and Coleman exchanged numbers.

Coleman attended Julia Richman High School. While in high school, Coleman freestyle battled in his hometown; in his last interview, he stated, "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." He graduated in 1992.

Professional career [link]

1991–1994: The beginnings [link]

Coleman began rhyming in 1990. In 1991, he founded the Harlem rap group Children of the Corn (COC) with Killa Cam, Murda Mase, and Bloodshed. On February 11, Coleman appeared on ''Yo! MTV Raps'' with Lord Finesse to help promote Finesse's studio album ''Return of the Funky Man''. Coleman's first professional appearance came on "Yes You May (Remix)", the B-side of "Party Over Here" (1992) by Lord Finesse, and his first album appearance was on "Represent" off of Showbiz & A.G.'s ''Runaway Slave'' (1992). In that same year, he won an amateur freestyle battle, which consisted of about 2,000 contestants and held by Nubian Productions. In 1993, Coleman signed to Columbia Records. Around this time, L joined Lord Finesse's Bronx-based hip hop collective Diggin' in the Crates Crew (DITC) which consisted of Lord Finesse, Diamond D, O.C., Fat Joe, Buckwild, Showbiz, and A.G.

Sometime in 1993, Coleman released his first promotional single, "Devil's Son", and claimed it was the first horrorcore single released. He said he wrote the song because "I've always been a fan of horror flicks. Plus the things I see in Harlem are very scary. So I just put it all together in a rhyme." On February 18, 1993, Coleman performed live at the Uptown Lord Finesse Birthday Bash at the 2,000 Club, which included other performances from Fat Joe, Nas, and Diamond D. In 1994, he released his second promotional single "Clinic". On July 11, 1994, Coleman released the radio edit of "Put It On", and three months later the video was released. In 1995, the video for the single "No Endz, No Skinz" debuted, which was directed by Brian Luvar.

1995–1999: ''Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous'' [link]

His debut solo album, ''Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous'', was released in March 1995. The album debuted at number 149 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and number 22 on Top R&B;/Hip-Hop Albums. ''Lifestylez'' would go on to sell over 200,000 copies as of 2000. Three singles were released from the album; the first two, "Put It On" and "M.V.P.", reached the top twenty-five of ''Billboard''s Hot Rap Tracks and the third "No Endz, No Skinz" did not chart. Even though the album received a three-star rating from Allmusic, it was an AMG Album Pick.

Sometime in 1996, Coleman was dropped from Columbia mainly because of the dispute between Coleman's rapping style and the production from Columbia. He stated "I was there with a bunch of strangers that didn't really know my music." In 1997, he started working on his second studio album, ''The Big Picture''. COC folded when Bloodshed died in a car accident in April 1996. DITC appeared in a July issue ''On The Go Magazine''. Coleman appeared on O.C.'s single "Dangerous" for O.C.'s second album ''Jewelz''. In November, he was the opening act for O.C.'s European Jewlez Tour. Sometime in 1998, Coleman formed his own independent label, Flamboyant Entertainment. According to the ''The Village Voice'', it was "planned to distribute the kind of hip-hop that sold without top 40 samples or r&b; hooks." He released the single "Ebonics" in 1998. The song was based on ebonics, and ''The Source'' called it on of the top five independent singles of the year. DITC released their first single, "Dignified Soldiers", that year.

Coleman caught the eye of Damon Dash, the CEO of Roc-A-Fella Records, after the release of "Ebonics". Dash wanted to sign Lamont to Roc-A-Fella, but Coleman wanted his crew to sign On February 8, 1999, Coleman, Herb McGruff, C-Town, and Jay-Z started the process to sign with Roc-A-Fella Records as a group called "The Wolfpack".

Death [link]

In a 2010 interview with Donald Phinazee, he commented on what led up to the death of Lamont Coleman Coleman was killed in the doorway of 45 West 139th Street in Harlem on February 15, 1999 after being shot nine times in the face and chest. Gerard Woodley, one of Coleman's childhood friends, was arrested in May for the crime. At the time of his death, Coleman had two brothers in prison. "It's a good possibility it was retaliation for something [Big L's] brother did, or [Woodley] believed he had done," said a spokesperson for the NYPD. Woodley was later released, and the murder case remains unsolved.

Posthumous career [link]

The tracks "Get Yours", "Way of Life", and "Shyheim's Manchild" b/w "Furious Anger" were released as singles in 1999 for DITC's self-titled album (2000) on Tommy Boy Records. The album peaked at number 31 on R&B;/Hip-Hop Albums and number 141 on the ''Billboard'' 200. Coleman's first posthumous single was "Flamboyant" b/w "On The Mic", which was released on May 30, 2000. The single peaked at number two on the ''Billboard'' Hot R&B;/Hip-Hop Songs and topped the Hot Rap Tracks, making it Coleman's first and only number-one single.

Coleman's second studio album, ''The Big Picture'', was released in August 1, 2000 and featured Fat Joe, Guru of Gang Starr, Kool G Rap, and Big Daddy Kane among others. ''The Big Picture'' was put together by his manager and partner in Flamboyant Entertainment, Rich King. It contains songs that he had recorded and a cappella recordings that were never used, completed by producers and guest emceess that Coleman respected or had worked with previously. ''The Big Picture'' debuted at number thirteen on the ''Billboard'' 200, number two on Top R&B;/Hip-Hop Albums, and sold 72,549 copies. The album was certified gold a month later for shipments of 500,000 copies by the RIAA. ''The Big Picture'' was the only music by Big L to appear on a music chart outside of the United States, peaking at number 122 on the UK Albums Chart.

A compilation album containing COC songs entitled ''Children of the Corn: The Collector's Edition'' was released in 2003. The next posthumous album released was ''139 & Lenox'', which was released on August 31, 2010. It contained previously unreleased and rare tracks. It was released by Rich King on Flamboyant Entertainment. The next album to follow was ''Return of the Devil's Son'' (2010), which peaked at number 73 on R&B;/Hip-Hop Albums. Coleman's next release was ''The Danger Zone'' (2011), and an upcoming album called ''L Corleone'' is planned to release February 14, 2012.

Legacy[link]

Henry Adaso, a music journalist for About.com, called him the twenty-third best MC of 1987 to 2007, claiming "[he was] one of the most auspicious storytellers in hip hop history." HipHop DX called Coleman "the most underrated lyricist".

Many tributes have been given to Coleman. The first was by Lord Finesse and the other members of DITC on March 6, 1999 at the Tramps. ''The Source'' has done multiple tributes to him: first in July 2000 followed by March 2002. ''XXL'' did a tribute to Fat Joe and Lamont in March 2003. On February 16, 2005, at SOB's restaurant and nightclub in Manhattan, held a commemoration for him. It included special guests such as DITC, Herb McGruff, and Kid Capri. All the money earned went to his estate.

Style [link]

Coleman is often credited in helping to create the horrorcore genre of hip hop due to his 1992 song "Devil's Son." However, not all his songs fall into this genre, for example, in the song "Street Struck" Coleman discusses the difficulties of growing up in the ghetto and describes the consequences of living a life of crime. Idris Goodwin of ''The Boston Globe'' said, "[Big L had an] impressive command of the English language", and the best example was Coleman's song "Ebonics".

He was notable for using a rap style called "compounding". He also used one-liners: an example is in the song 98 Freestyle" from ''The Big Picture'' where he raps "If my girl think I'm loyal, then that bitch is a fool." Coleman also used metaphors in his rhymes. M.F. DiBella of Allmusic stated Coleman was "a master of the lyrical stickup undressing his competition with kinetic metaphors and a brash comedic repertoire". On the review of ''The Big Picture'', she adds "the Harlem MC as a master of the punch line and a vicious storyteller with a razor blade-under-the-tongue flow." Trent Fitzgerald of Allmusic said "a lyrically ferocious MC with raps deadlier than a snakebite and mannerisms cooler than the uptown pimp he claimed to be on records."

Documentary [link]

A movie title ''Street Struck: The Big L Story'' is set to be released in 2012. It is directed by a childhood friend and independent film director, Jewlz. Approximately nine hours of footage was brought in, and the film is planned to be 90 to 120 minutes long. The first trailer was released on August 29, 2009. ''Street Struck'' contains interviews from his mother Gilda Terry; his brother Donald; childhood friends E-Cash, D.O.C., McGruff, and Stan Spit; artists Mysonne and Doug E. Fresh; producers Showbiz and Premiere; and recording DJs Cipha Sounds and Paul Rosenberg. A soundtrack will be made for the documentary, and it will be put together by Lamont's brother Donald.

Discography[link]

;Studio

''Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous'' (1995)

''The Big Picture'' (2000)

;Posthumous

''139 & Lenox'' (2010)

''Return of the Devil's Son'' (2010)

''The Danger Zone'' (2011)

''L Corleone'' (2012)

See also[link]

Notes[link]

References [link]

External links[link]

Category:1974 births Category:1999 deaths Category:African American rappers Category:Diggin' in the Crates Crew members Category:Deaths by firearm in New York Category:Horrorcore artists Category:Murdered African-American people Category:Murdered rappers Category:People from Harlem Category:People murdered in New York Category:Rappers from New York City Category:Underground rappers Category:Unsolved murders in the United States

de:Big L (Rapper) et:Big L es:Big L fr:Big L ko:빅 엘 it:Big L lv:Big L nl:Big L (rapper) no:Lamont Coleman pl:Big L pt:Big L ro:Big L ru:Big L simple:Big L sr:Big L fi:Big L sv:Big L tr:Big L uk:Big L

Name	Lord Finesse
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Robert Hall
Birth date	February 19, 1970
Origin	The Bronx, New York
Genre	Hip hop
Years active	1987–present
Label	Wild Pitch/EMI RecordsGiant/Reprise/Warner Bros. RecordsPenalty/Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records
Associated acts	Diamond D, Big L, Fat Joe, Chill Rob G, Showbiz & AG, Ice-T, D.I.T.C.}}

Lord Finesse (born February 19, 1970) is a Hip hop artist and producer, from The Bronx, New York, best known as the leader of the D.I.T.C. rap crew.

Career [link]

In 1989, Finesse and his former partner DJ Mike Smooth signed to Wild Pitch Records, home to other popular Hip Hop artists like Gang Starr, Main Source, Chill Rob G, Percee P and O.C.. In 1990, the duo released their debut album ''Funky Technician''. The album featured production from future star beat-makers DJ Premier, Diamond D and Showbiz. Soon after, Finesse formed the popular New York underground crew D.I.T.C., an acronym for 'Diggin In The Crates', together with Showbiz & AG and Diamond D. Future members included Fat Joe, O.C., Buckwild, and the late great, Big L.

Finesse returned as a solo artist in late 1991 with his second effort, ''Return of the Funky Man''. The album featured guest appearances from Percee P and AG. The album's title track peaked at #13 on the Hot Rap Singles chart. ''Return of the Funky Man'' also included a couple of songs that were produced by Finesse himself, and this would be the start of a career as a much respected hip-hop producer. In 1994 Finesse made a production appearance on The Notorious B.I.G.'s classic debut ''Ready to Die'', on the track ''Suicidal Thoughts''. In 1995, he produced a big portion of Big L's debut album ''Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous'', including the single ''M.V.P.'' and also made an appearance on one of the album's highlight songs "Da Graveyard". He finally returned as an artist in 1996 with the now rare 12" single ''Check The Method'' and then the acclaimed album ''The Awakening''. Finesse produced the entire album himself, and enlisted a large number of guests, including O.C., KRS-One, MC Lyte, Akinyele, Showbiz and A.G., Diamond D and Kid Capri. The underground single ''Actual Facts'', featuring Sadat X, Grand Puba and Large Professor, was included as a hidden track on the album.

Finesse hasn't released a studio album since this effort, but has continued his production work. In 1997, he produced the title track to O.C.'s acclaimed effort ''Jewelz'' and also the track "Channel 10" off of Capone-n-Noreaga's debut ''The War Report''. Finesse released a mixtape called ''Diggin' On Blue'' in 1999. Later in the year, he produced the track ''The Message'' on Dr. Dre's seminal ''2001'' album. Finesse is currently working on a ''Funky Technician'' remix project, as well as a new D.I.T.C. album. Along with these projects, he and DJ Premier are working on a posthumous Big L album.

In 1998, Finesse provided the vocal sample on the hook to ''The Rockafeller Skank'', a hit single by British musician Fatboy Slim from his album ''You've Come a Long Way, Baby''. The song features Finesse's repeated line "Right about now, the funk soul brother. Check it out now, the funk soul brother".

Lord Finesse returned to the mic on Handsome Boy Modeling School's album ''White People'' in 2004. He was featured on the song entitled "Rock 'N' Roll (Could Never Hip-Hop Like This) pt. 2, collaborating with famous old-school DJ's Grand Wizard Theodore and Jazzy Jay. Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda from Linkin Park make appearances, as well as Rahzel of The Roots.

Discography[link]

Albums [link]

Studio albums [link]

+ List of albums, with selected chart positions	Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
! scope="col" style="width:2.2em;font-size:90%;"
''Funky Technician''		* Released: June 7, 1990	* Label: ''[[Return of the Funky Man">Wild Pitch Records	* Format: CD	93
		''[[Return of the Funky Man''		* Released: 1991	* Label:		* Released: February 20, 1996	* Label: [[Penalty Recordings	* Format: CD, CS, LP	36

Singles [link]

Album information
	*Singles: "Baby, You Nasty"/"Track the Movement", "Funky Technician"/"Bad Mutha", "Stricly for the Ladies"/"Back to Back Rhyming"
	*Singles: "Return of the Funky Man"/"Fuck Em", "Party Over Here"/"Save That Shit"
	*Singles: "Hip 2 Da Game"/"No Gimmicks", "Gameplan"/"Actual Facts"

References [link]

[[Category:1970 births">Giant Records (Warner) * Format: CD, CS 95

! scope="row" * Released: February 20, 1996 * Label: [[Penalty Recordings * Format: CD, CS, LP 36

Singles [link]

Album information
	*Singles: "Baby, You Nasty"/"Track the Movement", "Funky Technician"/"Bad Mutha", "Stricly for the Ladies"/"Back to Back Rhyming"
	*Singles: "Return of the Funky Man"/"Fuck Em", "Party Over Here"/"Save That Shit"
	*Singles: "Hip 2 Da Game"/"No Gimmicks", "Gameplan"/"Actual Facts"

References [link]

[[Category:1970 births Category:Living people Category:African American rappers Category:Hip hop record producers Category:American hip hop record producers Category:Diggin' in the Crates Crew members Category:Members of the Nation of Gods and Earths Category:Underground rappers Category:Wild Pitch Records artists Category:People from the Bronx

de:Lord Finesse es:Lord Finesse pt:Lord Finesse tr:Lord Finesse