Big L

Lamont Coleman † (May 30, 1974 - c. February 15, 1999 [aged 24]), better known online as Big L, was an American rapper. 
==History==
Coleman was born on May 30, 1974, in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/big-l-p144340 He was the third and youngest child of Gilda Terry and Charles Davis. https://web.archive.org/web/20120502115056/http://biglonline.com/index.php?showtopic=766 Coleman received the nicknames "Little L" and "Mont-Mont" as a child. His elder brother, Donald Phinazee, took Coleman to a Run-DMC concert at the Beacon Theatre when Coleman was about 7 years old. According to Phinazee, Coleman was surprised by the performance which sparked his interest in rapping. By age 12, Coleman became a big hip hop fan and started freestyling with other people in his neighborhood. https://web.archive.org/web/20110926095259/http://www.craveonline.com/music/interviews/131904-donald-phinazee-on-the-life-of-big-l
Coleman began writing rhymes in 1990. He also founded a group known as Three the Hard Way in 1990, but it was quickly broken up due to a lack of enthusiasm among the members which consisted of Coleman, Doc Reem, and Rodney. https://web.archive.org/web/20111215144527/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/editorials/id.722/title.remembering-lamont-big-l-coleman After Rodney left, the group was renamed Two Hard Motherfuckers. Around this time, people started to refer to Coleman as "Big L". https://web.archive.org/web/20120502115056/http://biglonline.com/index.php?showtopic=766 In the summer of 1990, Coleman met Lord Finesse at an autograph session in a record shop. After he did a freestyle, Finesse and Coleman exchanged numbers. https://web.archive.org/web/20010331034930/http://www.rawkus.com/artist_bigl.html
In 1992, Coleman recorded various demos, some of which were featured on his debut album Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous. 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)" by Lord Finesse, and his first album appearance was on "Represent" off of Showbiz & A.G.'s Runaway Slave. https://www.amazon.com/Hip-Hop-America-Regional-Hardcover/dp/B00E7SPA2E
In 1993, Coleman signed to Columbia Records. https://hiphopgoldenage.com/artists/big-l/ He then joined Lord Finesse's Bronx-based hip hop collective Diggin' in the Crates Crew which consisted of Lord Finesse, Diamond D, O.C., Fat Joe, Buckwild, Showbiz and A.G. https://medium.com/cuepoint/still-diggin-an-oral-history-of-d-i-t-c-b91d44360a8e
Coleman founded the Harlem rap group Children of the Corn with Killa Cam, Murda Mase, Bloodshed and Herb McGruff in 1993. https://web.archive.org/web/20140224001444/http://www.kevinnottingham.com/2009/03/04/big-l-camron-mase-children-of-the-corn/
In 1996, Big L was dropped from Columbia mainly because of a dispute with the label over artistic differences. http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-big-picture-r489942/review
In 1998, Big L formed his own independent label, Flamboyant Entertainment. https://web.archive.org/web/20130810070419/http://www.riverfronttimes.com/2000-09-13/music/big-l/ On February 8, 1999, Coleman, Herb McGruff, C-Town, and Jay-Z started the process to sign with Roc-A-Fella as a group called "The Wolfpack". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6F0-i6sBAY&feature=fvwrel 
==Death==
On February 15, 1999, Coleman was killed in a drive-by shooting. He was hit nine times in the face and chest. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2381387.stm Gerard Woodley was arrested three months later for the crime. Woodley was later released due to lack of evidence, and the murder case remains officially unsolved. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1425709/suspect-arrested-big-l-shooting.jhtml
===Legacy===
On February 16, 2005, at SOB's restaurant and nightclub in Manhattan, a commemoration was held for him. It included special guests such as DITC, Herb McGruff, and Kid Capri. All the money earned went to his estate. https://web.archive.org/web/20050204033836/http://sobs.com/urban/0216.htm In 2004, Eminem paid tribute to Coleman in the music video for his single "Like Toy Soldiers". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lexLAjh8fPA In 2022, the 140th Street and Lennox Avenue intersection in Harlem was co-named Lamont "Big L" Coleman Way. https://www.vulture.com/2022/06/big-l-rapper-harlem-street-naming.html
==Discography==
===Albums===
*Life Stylez ov da Poor & Dangerous (1995)
*The Big Picture (2000)
*139 and Lenox (2010)
*Return of the Devil's Son (2010)
*The Danger Zone (2011)
===Compilation Albums===
*Harlem's Finest - A Freestyle History (2001)
*Harlem's Finest - A Freestyle History - Volume 2 (2001)
*Big L: The Archives 1996-2000 (2006)
*Unreleased (2017)
*The Concealed Tape (2017)
*Straight From The Crate Cave - Big L Edition (2022)
===Collaborative Albums===
*Children of the Corn: Collector's Edition (2003)
*In Memory Of... Vol. 2 (2004)
*Night Of The Living Dead Part III (2010)
===Live Albums===
*Live from Amsterdam (2003)
===Extended Plays===
*Rare Tracks (EP) (2008)
*Devil's Son EP (From the Vaults) (2017)
===Singles===
*Devil's Son (1993)
*Clinic (Shoulda Worn A Rubba) (1994)
*We Got This (1999)
==References==
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