Remembering A Lost Potential: 7 Years Since the Death of Big L

With all this recent Jay-Z and Nas interview that everyone has been talking about the last 2 days, I did not have a chance to remember the 7 year anniversary of the death of Big L. A rapper who has definetly made his mark in hip-hop without ever reaching mainstream attention. Big L made a name of himself with his strong freestyling skills and and clever word play such as "I cook the mic like a beef steak cause my techniques great/ And I'm the nigga police hate in each state" from his 7 minute freestyle with Jay-Z. In his short career, Big L has managed to release two albums, his critcally acclaimed debut, Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous and his final album released after his death, The Big Picture. He has also worked many big name rappers such as fellow Harlem rapper Mase, Jay-Z, and former group member of D.I.T.C., Fat Joe.

Unfortunatley Big L was shot and killed in Harlem because of a rumored debt his imprisoned brother was in. The legacy he left speaks for itself but to say that he is one of the greatest rappers is over doing it a bit. Lyrically, he is definetly a good rapper but based on the material he left us with, it is an exaggeration to say he is in the ranks of Tupac or Nas. When I hear people praise Big L as a G.O.A.T. it makes me think that they only say that because it's safe to rely on Big L as a potential great but not for what he really was, just potential that has left us all in debate.

Check out these tracks if you are unfamiliar with Big L's music:

Flamboyant.mp3
Put It On.mp3
M.V.P..mp3