Obituary #1
By Kem Poston
New York's underground hip-hop community was shaken by the loss of a beloved figure last week. On the evening of February 15, Lamont Coleman, known to fans as Big L, was found murdered in his Harlem neighborhood. Police discovered his body in a West 139th Street building with fatal wounds to the head and chest. Detectives at Harlem's 32nd Precinct refused to comment on the case until their investigation is complete, but recent published reports indicate that there are no known suspects or motives at this time. The 24-year-old Coleman joins a tragic succession of New York rap artists, including Tribe Called Quest associate Kid Hood and Boogie Down Productions founder Scott LaRock, whose promising careers were cut short by violence.
Known for his witty, literary, lyrical style and for being near, but never quite at the center of commercial success, Coleman appeared to be on the verge of a breakthrough in 1999. Mase and Cam'ron, two of his partners in the early '90s group Children of the Corn, went on to MTV stardom, but Coleman's 1995 Columbia debut, Lifestylez of the Poor and Dangerous, only earned limited critical attention. At the time of his death, though, Coleman's independently released single, "Ebonics," was receiving consistent airplay on the indiecentric radio mix shows hosted by WKCR's Bobbito Garcia and WNYU's DJ Eclipse. Reflecting on Big L's love for hip-hop, Garcia notes, "He didn't care whether he had a record out or not, he was the type of cat who just loved to rhyme. I don't remember him being all that talkative. He'd just come into the studio and fuckin' rip it."
Obituary #2
By DJ Toast
He came into this world as Lamont Coleman and left this world as Big L. The rapper Big L was gunned down in Harlem on Monday night February 15, 1999, three blocks from his home. Big L was struck by nine bullets in the face and chest on the corner of 139th Street and Lenox Avenue in Harlem, the same block that was on the cover of his "Ebonics" / "Size 'Em Up" single. Police have no suspects and no motives at this time. His death did not get the same amount of press coverage as the deaths of Tupac and Biggie, but neither did his albums. Another act of senseless violence that shatters countless families every day, has once again shattered our hip hop family.
Big L first appeared on Lord Finesse's "Yes You May" remix which was on the B-Side of "Party Over Here" in 1992. Big L collaborated often with Lord Finesse as a member of the Diggin In the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.) which also included O.C., Fat Joe, Diamond D., Buckwild, Showbiz & AG. Through his reputation on other artists records, Big L landed a deal with Columbia Records and released the album "Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous". That album yielded the singles "Put It On", "M.V.P." and "Street Struck". Another standout track on the album was "8 Iz Enuff" which featured Big L and seven other emcees, including Herb McGruff and Killa Kam (Cam'Ron).
Ken James relayed this story to me about Big L, 'I worked his project when I was in promotions at Columbia and had the opportunity to bond with him. He was an extremely nice kid and hella talented. I remember once taking L, the Fugees, Schoolly D, Jamalski and Nas through the Bay area in a 15 passenger van on a promotional run. Somebody had a cassette with beats on it. I popped it in, cranked it up, and a cipher started. Big L ripped it and left everybody's mouth hung open.
After the deal at Columbia ended, Big L continued to make a name for himself by blessing songs on other D.I.T.C. members' albums. This included "Dangerous" off of O.C.'s "Jewelz" album, the "Dangerous The Sequel" remix alongside the Lost Boyz, and "5 Fingaz of Death" with Fat Joe, Lord Finesse, and AG off of Diamond's "Hatred, Passions, and Infidelity" album. Even on all of these 'posse' cuts, Big L's voice is distinctive and his vocal delivery sharp. "I'll be that smooth cat you've never seen rolling with clowns, one of the few from uptown that's holding it down".
Unfortunately Big L is another talented youth that has left this world too soon. I can imagine him ripping a cypher in another world alongside Biggie and Tupac. Rest in Peace!
