Sicker Than Your Average: Big L

May 30, 1974 – February 15, 1999

Huddy Combs, Nas and Big L

  

Diamond D and Big L

Big L, Lord Finesse and Kid Capri

Big L, Diamond D and Fat Joe

Big L, Diamond D, Lord Finesse and Fat Joe

Canibus, Big L and Fat Joe

Big L and Ras Kass

Big L, Lord Finesse, Fat Joe and AG

Big L, Damon Dash and Jay-Z

DJ Khaled and Vado

Big L and Joey Crack

Mac Miller's "Street Struck" tattoo

 

Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous - 1995

The Big Picture - 2000

139 & Lenox - 2010

Return of the Devil's Son - 2010

The Danger Zone - 2011

Big L was born Lamont Coleman on May 30, 1974 in Harlem, New York. He was born and raised in a section of Harlem encompassing 139th St. and Lenox Avenue nicknamed "The Danger Zone". Ironically, one of Coleman's own childhood nicknames was "Little L" (another, which followed him into adulthood was Mont Mont). He attended Julia Richman High School which boasts several other celebrity alumni including Lisa Velez of Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam and actresses Judy Holliday and Lauren Bacall. Coleman attended Julia Richman High at the same time as Jade Trini of the hip hop group Mantronix.

The youngest child of Charles Davis and Gilda "Pinky" Terry, he made his first foray as a participant in hip hop at age 12 when he began freestylying and battling his peers. At 16, he co-founded the short-lived rap group Three the Hard Way with two friends. Later that year, following the dissolution of his group Coleman met Bronx rapper and leader of the Bronx-based Diggin' in the Crates (D.I.T.C.) collective, Lord Finesse. Impressed by the teenager's on-the-spot freestyle, Finesse agreed to take him under his wing. In early 1991, Coleman made his first television appearance, on an episode of Yo! MTV Raps alongside his new mentor. His first recording was released the following year, on the remix to Finesse's "Yes You May" - the B-side of the single "Party Over Here". Soon after, he appeared on the song "Represent" from D.I.T.C. duo Showbiz & A.G.'s highly acclaimed debut album Runaway Slave. In 1992, Coleman was signed to Columbia Records and a year later became an official member of D.I.T.C.

Coleman's debut album Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous, which wa initially slated to be titled Murder Inc., was released March 28, 1995. The album featured appearances by a few then unknown rappers, including Jay-Z. The bulk of the production was handled by D.I.T.C. members Lord Finesse (who also provides vocals on "Da Graveyard" alongside Jay-Z), Showbiz and Buckwild. In fact, Craig Boogie who contributed production on the final track, "Let 'Em Have it L" is the only non-D.I.T.C. producer credited on the album. Other notable appearances include legendary mixtape DJ Kid Capri, frequent D.I.T.C. collaborator Party Arty and former Juice Crew associate Granddaddy I.U. A then unknown and teenaged Cam'ron also appears on the album on the track "8 Iz Enuff" under the name Killa Cam. At the time, Cam'ron was a member of Children of the Corn (named after a Stephen King movie about a town of demon-worshipping children), a group of Harlem youngsters assemble by Coleman in 1991. Mase, who does not appear on the album, was also a member of the group and rapped under the name Murda Mase. McGruff, who was also a member of COC appears on "8 Iz Enuff" alongside Cam'ron. The track "MVP", which samples DeBarge's "Stay with Me" inspired the creation of Biggie's mega-hit remix of "One More Chance". Lifestylez has the distinction of being the only Big L album released while he was still alive.

While recording his second album, The Big Picture, throughout 1997 and 1998, Coleman embarked on a European tour opening for headliner and fellow D.I.T.C. member O.C. as well as a promotional campaign in the States where he performed numerous freestyles during radio interviews and on mixtapes. He also contributed verses to several tracks on the upcoming D.I.T.C. album, D.I.T.C., which was released in 2000. Coleman appears on the tracks "Thick", "Get Yours", "Way of Life", "Day One", "Da Enemy" and "Stand Strong". The album also contains a remix to the Big L solo song "Ebonics" as well as a tribute song dedicated to Coleman, fittingly titled, "Tribute". One of his most memorable appearances recorded during this period is his contribution to O.C.'s "Dangerous" from his 1997 album Jewelz. Coleman also provided features for other rappers including Wu-Tang affiliate Shyheim, on the track "Furious Anger" - the sole single from his 1999 album, Manchild. During this time, Roc-A-Fella Records CEO and fellow Harlem native Damon Dash attempted to recruit Coleman and his newly formed company, Flamboyant Entertainment, to join his label. It's worth noting that Jay-Z, who by this time had become a major star in his own right, was a co-founder and co-owner of Roc-A-Fella.

Coleman was murdered near his mother's West 139th St. brownstone in Harlem on February 25, 1999. He was shot 9 times in the head and chest in what many local residents believe to be a revenge killing directed at his brother, Leroy "Big Lee" Phinazee, who was later killed in 2002. On May 13, 1999, 29-year-old Gerard Woodley, the only suspect, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder for the shooting but the charges were later drooped due to insufficient evidence. No one has ever been prosecuted for the murder.

The Big Picture, which was never completed by Coleman was released August 1, 2000 on Rawkus Records and became his biggest selling album. Like his previous album, Picture contains production by fellow D.I.T.C. members Lord Finesse and Showbiz. Production duties were also handled by DJ Premier, Ron G, Pete Rock, Ron Browz, Shomari, Mike Heron and Ysae. Several guest artists make appearances, including: Big Daddy Kane, Kool G. Rap, Sadat X (who'd previously toured with Coleman), Guru, Flamboyant Entertainment artist Stan Spit (who portrayed the character Wise in the 1998 film Belly), Remy Ma, Miss Jones and fellow D.I.T.C. members Fat Joe, O.C. and A.G. Jay-Z was initially slated to appear on the track "Platinum Plus" but the collaboration never materialized. The track "Deadly Combination", which began as a mixtape track for DJ Ron G, features the posthumous trio of Big L, Biggie and Tupac Shakur. Within two months of it's release The Big Picture was certified gold and cracked the Top 20, debuting at number 13 on the Billboard 200 chart.  

Six more Big L albums have been released between 2003 and 2012, including: Children of the Corn: Collector's Edition (with Children of the Corn), 139 & Lenox, Return of the Devil's Son, The Danger Zone and L Corleone.

Chart-topping Pittsburgh rapper Mac Miller, who was 7 years old when Coleman was murdered, cites Big L as his biggest influence and bears an arm tattoo of the words "Street Struck" in homage to the deceased Harlemite.

Coleman possessed a distinctive, high-pitched, youthful sounding voice that stood in stark contrast to his peers. He is widely credited with pioneering the Horrorcore genre of hip hop, a style later popularized by Ganksta N-I-P, The Gravediggaz, Brotha Lynch Hung, Three 6 Mafia, Flatlinerz, Tyler, the Creator and Tech N9ne with his song, "Devil's Son". Coleman's lyrical style was characterized by a complex, multi-syllabic, rapid-fire delivery filled with punch lines and heavily laden with clever metaphors and intricate wordplay. He was also held in high esteem for his storytelling abilities that many critics compare to Slick Rick, Nas, Biggie and Scarface.




Originally Published: 2/13/12 8:18pm

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Murda Mase

The Immortals: Stack Bundles

by Ran

October 21, 1982 - June 11, 2007

Stack Bundles with DJ Clue

Stack and Jim Jones

Joe Budden and Stack Bundles

Fabolous and Stack Bundles 

Riot Squad: Chinx Druga, Stack Bundles, Bynoe and Cau2G$

Stack Bundles (far right), Max B (rear center), Mel Matrix 
(2nd to right)  and Jim Jones (seated)

Rap's Makeover Volume 1 - 2005

The Best of Stack Bundles - 2005























Biddin' War - 2006

My Life is Like a Movie - 2006

M.O.B.: Members of Byrdgang - 2006

Rayquon Elliott was born to Raymond and Yvette Almira Elliott on October 21, 1982 in the Far Rockaway section of Queens, NY. Elliott's mother performed as a rapper for a time, under the name "Classy E". 

Elliott, already a dance-enthusiast at the time, met future rapper Darryl Bynoe in the seventh grade.  

In 1997, Elliott appeared as a dancer in the music video for rapper Trevor "Busta Rhymes" Smith's song "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See". In 1999, he appeared as a dancer in the music video for R&B trio 702's song "Where My Girls At?". 

After being expelled from Far Rockaway High School, Elliott enrolled in South Jamaica, Queens' August Martin High School, where he met then aspiring rapper Christopher "Lloyd Banks" Lloyd. Inspired by up-and-coming rappers like Lloyd and Bynoe, with whom he reconnected in high school, Elliott began making songs (under the name "Stack Bundles") with the latter on a four-track recorder that they bought. That same year, Elliott joined local rap crew GRITS (the Greatest Rappers in the Streets), alongside rapper Gregory "Skyzoo" Taylor. Elliott reportedly composed songs in his head and didn't write or read any lyrics during recording sessions. 

Elliott made his entree into the music business as a rapper when he met Hot 97 radio personality Aston "Funkmaster Flex" Taylor after waiting for him outside of the station's offices. Impressed, Taylor let Elliott perform a freestyle on his show. Taylor also introduced the teenager to an Epic Records rep. Eventually, he was introduced to aspiring Chicago rapper Wasalu "Lupe Fiasco" Jaco. In October of 2001, Elliott moved to Chicago and lived with Jaco for six months. While in Chicago, Elliott met a number of producers based in the city, including: Kanye West; Khari "Needlz" Cain; and David "Prolyfic" Ewing and Boogz. West went on to produce Elliott's demo tape. 

After returning to Queens, Elliott formed the S5 rap collective with rappers Bynoe, Cau2G$, Mike Millz and Bishop. The group recruited "Mic Doc" to act as manager. One of the group's two freestyles, over the instrumental for the Clipse's song "Grindin'", caught the attention of influential mixtape host and fellow Queens-native Ernesto "DJ Clue" Shaw. Shaw arranged for Elliott to collaborate with members of his Desert Storm collective, rappers John "Fabolous" Jackson and Joseph "Joe Budden" Budden (Elliott was featured on Budden's song "6 Minutes of Death"), on songs which he released on his mixtapes. Following the departures of  Bishop and Mike Millz from S5, the group recruited another of Elliott's high school classmates, rapper Lionel "Chinx Drugz" Pickens, and changed its name to Riot Squad. During a recording session at New York's Quad Studios, West told the group: "Mase is my favorite rapper, and I love Jay-Z. I'm gonna start wearing pink Polo, and I don't care if I'm gonna be the illest rapper, but I'm gonna be the best-dressed rapper, and they're going to remember me." He continued, "I'm gonna be the best-dressed rapper. They're gonna remember me as a fashion icon."

After graduating high school, Elliott attended La Guardia Community College for 18 months. 

During this time, Elliott frequented the Cherry Lounge nightclub, where his penchant for dressing in flashy attire caused him to standout. It was during a night out at the Cherry Lounge that he introduced himself to Harlem rapper Joseph "Jim Jones" Jones and made an offer to collaborate musically. The meeting led to Elliott joining Jones' ByrdGang rap collective and inclusion on Jones' 2006 mixtape M.O.B. (Members of Byrdgang) in 2006. Elliott would appear on 12 of the mixtape's 22 songs. He was also featured on Jones' Hustler's P.O.M.E. album and the Dipset X-Mas album. Elliott's catchphrase "Squad up!" was commonly featured on the songs on which he appeared. 

Elliott also appeared on Jones' 2007 song "Weatherman", alongside New Orleans rapper Dwayne "Lil' Wayne" Carter. Both Elliott and Jones subsequently went on tour with Carter. 

On June 11, 2007, Elliott was shot to death in the lobby of his Redfern Houses building in which he resided in a second-floor apartment. He was still in possession of his wallet containing cash and credit cards when he was found. Elliott had just arrived at the 14-60 Beach Channel Drive building at about 5 a.m. when gunmen approached him and opened fire, hitting Elliott once in his head and once in his neck. He was returning from a White Castle restaurant, where he'd stopped after a night out with friends, including fellow Byrd Gang member Ezekiel "Freekey Zekey" Giles, at Manhattan nightclub Stereo. Elliott was transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving. According to Elliott's aunt, Davida Wooten, he was considering moving because his 2006 Porsche Boxster convertible had been vandalized the previous month. Mixtape host Raashaun "DJ Envy" Casey announced Elliotts' passing on the morning of his death on his show on New York City's Hot 97 radio station. Stack Bundles Day has been celebrated annually in Far Rockaway, Queens since 2008.

originally published 11/25/12 @ 5:06 pm

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The Immortals: Chinx Drugz