Big L

Lamont Coleman (30 May 1974 – 15 February 1999) was an American rapper, songwriter and record producer better known by his stage name, Big L.

Big L
Birth name	Lamont Coleman
Born	(1974-05-30)May 30, 1974 Harlem, New York City, United States
Origin	Harlem, New York City, United States
Died	February 15, 1999(1999-02-15) (aged 24) Harlem, New York City, United States
Genres	East Coast hip hop mafioso rap hardcore hip hop underground hip hop gangsta rap horrorcore
Occupations	Rapper songwriter record executive record producer
Years active	1992–1999
Labels	Columbia Sony Rawkus Priority Flamboyant

Henry Adaso from About.com ranked him #23 of the "Top 50 Greatest MCs of Our Time (1987 - 2007)" and said the "[he was] one of the most auspicious storytellers in hip hop history." Coleman was also called "the most underrated lyricist ever" by HipHopDX.^[1]

Murder

On 15 February 1999, Big L was murdered at 45 West 139th Street after being shot nine times in the face and chest in a drive-by shooting at the age of 24. Gerard Woodley, his childhood friend, was arrested for the shooting.

A spokesperson for the New York City Police Department said that "It's a good possibility it was retaliation for something [Big L's] brother did, or [Woodley] believed he had done".^[2] Woodley was later released and the murder is still unsolved.^[3]

Discography

Studio albums

• Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous (1995)
• The Big Picture (2000)
• 139 & Lenox (2010)^*
• Return of the Devil's Son (2010)^*
• The Danger Zone (2011)^*

Compilation albums

• Live from Amsterdam (2000)
• Harlem's Finest – A Freestyle History (2003)
• Big L: The Archives 1996–2000 (2006)

Collaboration albums

• D.I.T.C. (2000)^*

^*Album was released posthumously.