Big L - Lifestylez ov da Poor & DangerousAnd so for review #5, we delve into Big L's only album released in his lifetime, Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous.
Big L was born Lamont Coleman on May 30th, 1974. Unfortunately, Big L only lived up to 24. February 15th, 1999, Big L was shot and killed in Harlem. The case is unsolved, although there is speculation it might've been retaliation for something one of his two brothers did, however, that's not what this blog is about. This review is about Big L's first album.
Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous has been hailed as an East coast classic, with good reason: This is a classic album. And while I can't say I'm a hardcore fan (I only have his two albums) nor can I say I was listening to Big L before it got cool (I took my first listen a couple years ago and then forgot about this disc when I got into metal), I can say that I really enjoy his work.
Big L was the final member added to D.I.T.C. (Diggin' in the Crates), which members were Lord Finesse, Showbiz, A.G., Diamond D, O.C., Fat Joe (who also had a hand in finding another legendary MC, and Buckwild. And while I don't believe I've heard of any of their solo albums (except Lord Finesse and Fat Joe, the latter of which has gone south lately), D.I.T.C. is regarded as a classic group.
For his debut album, Lamont brought Buckwild, Showbiz, and Lord Finesse to produce, with Finesse contributing a verse for the second of two posse cuts "Da Graveyard." He also brought along Kid Capri, Cam'ron (then known as Killa Cam), Jay-Z, and a bunch of no name MCs. This combination made for a classsic LP.
But let's get on with this...
1. Put It On (feat. Kid Capri) Produced by Buckwild
The first single. Buckwild provides a good beat for L to wake up at 7:00 AM and walk down the street rhyming to himself (see the video). The chorus gets annoying after a while, as it primarily consists of Kid Capri telling L to "put it on." Before the last verse, there's a really random reggae-esque interlude. I don't know anything about regge, so I won't say anything about it except that it doesn't really fit here. However, this is a good way to open up your debut album. MUCH better than an intro or a skit. Oh, and Big L threatening to throw your head three blocks is actually kind of frightening.
2. MVP
Produced by Lord Finesse
Producer/MC/fellow D.I.T.C. member Lord Finesse shows up for his first of five contributions. This song was released as the second single. I guess I should note that the same loop in here shows up on Notorious B.I.G.'s "One More Chance Remix" and that L's use of it was released before Biggie's. ANYWAY... the track's good. I begin to get bored of the track near the end, and I'll probably just skip the remaining 20 seconds.
3. No Endz, No Skinz
Produced by Showbiz
This one is also a single, except this one was the fourth and final single. Wow... doesn't this sound misogynistic? Pretty much "girls only like rich guys." If you look past that (is that possible, though?), I guess this might be a good song, but I find myself unable to do that.
4. 8 Iz Enuff (feat. Terra, Herb McGruff, Buddah Bless, Twan, Killa Cam, Trooper J & Mike Boogie)
Produced by Buckwild
Mike Boogie unrelated to mixtape DJ Mick Boogie. Killa Cam also known as Cam'ron. L, Cam, and McGruff were all in the Children of the Corn. Where the hell Terra, Buddah Bless, Twan, Trooper J, & Mike Boogie came from is beyond me. Nonetheless, this serves as a good posse cut, where you can presumably guess that the host (that would be Big L, people...) comes off the best out of these eight.
5. All Black
Produced by Lord Finesse
"Ducks better scat when the gat goes click-clack, or I'ma have your family dressed in all black." Oh, what's up, Irony? Haven't seen ya for a while. Push that aside, this is actually a very good track. And thanks to the relatively quick chours, we get four verses of awesome.
6. Danger Zone
Produced by Buckwild
WOW. In a song warning visitors to not go to 139th & Lennox in Harlem, Big L pretty much says he has, will, or wants to EVERY FUCKING VIOLENT ACT KNOWN TO MAN. Hell, L in here says he might just rape Jesus if he gets up in Heaven. That and a decent Buckwild beat make this out to be a good song. YAY.
7. Street Struck
Produced by Lord Finesse
This is one of those songs telling tales about teens up in the gang world, which allows L to brag about what he did when he was in that and not be yelled at by conservative television hosts for glorifying gang violence and drug abuse. It's a meh track.
8. Da Graveyard (feat. Lord Finesse, Microphone Nut, Jay-Z, Party Arty, & Y.U.)
Produced by Buckwild
Once again, this posse cut features a name that would become big in the hip-hop world, this one would obviously be a young fella known as "Jay-Z." And that young fella's flow is quite different from we would see on his debut LP. Lord Finesse also shows up, though I don't know why he didn't provide the beat for this. Not like I'm complaining though, Buckwild's beat is pretty good here. All-in-all, I consider this the better posse cut of the two.
9. Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
Produced by Lord Finesse
Lord Finesse gives L a slower beat than earlier seen on the album. And Big L responds by making this one of my favorites on the album. Thanks, Big L.
10. I Don't Understand It
Produced by Showbiz
Oh, hey, look. People were complaining about the state of hip-hop even back in 1995.
11. Fed Up Wit the Bullshit
Produced by Lord Finesse
Big L pens a song dedicated to police brutality. While we've heard this many times before (most famously by NWA with their subtle "Fuck tha Police"), it's still relevant today. It helps Big L's cause that this is also a good song.
12. Let 'Em Have It "L"
Produced by Craig Boogie
Who the hell is Craig Boogie? Whoever he is, I'm not a huge fan of his beat, though Big L's lyrics make up for it as even the beat can't stop this from being a great way to end not just a debut album, but an album... period.
Conclusion: Big L made a classic disc here. It makes you wonder how his career would've gone had he not been tragically killed and had his career gone on. I'd suggest you run down to Best Buy and pick this CD up.
Big L was born Lamont Coleman on May 30th, 1974. Unfortunately, Big L only lived up to 24. February 15th, 1999, Big L was shot and killed in Harlem. The case is unsolved, although there is speculation it might've been retaliation for something one of his two brothers did, however, that's not what this blog is about. This review is about Big L's first album.
Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous has been hailed as an East coast classic, with good reason: This is a classic album. And while I can't say I'm a hardcore fan (I only have his two albums) nor can I say I was listening to Big L before it got cool (I took my first listen a couple years ago and then forgot about this disc when I got into metal), I can say that I really enjoy his work.
Big L was the final member added to D.I.T.C. (Diggin' in the Crates), which members were Lord Finesse, Showbiz, A.G., Diamond D, O.C., Fat Joe (who also had a hand in finding another legendary MC, and Buckwild. And while I don't believe I've heard of any of their solo albums (except Lord Finesse and Fat Joe, the latter of which has gone south lately), D.I.T.C. is regarded as a classic group.
For his debut album, Lamont brought Buckwild, Showbiz, and Lord Finesse to produce, with Finesse contributing a verse for the second of two posse cuts "Da Graveyard." He also brought along Kid Capri, Cam'ron (then known as Killa Cam), Jay-Z, and a bunch of no name MCs. This combination made for a classsic LP.
But let's get on with this...
1. Put It On (feat. Kid Capri) Produced by Buckwild
The first single. Buckwild provides a good beat for L to wake up at 7:00 AM and walk down the street rhyming to himself (see the video). The chorus gets annoying after a while, as it primarily consists of Kid Capri telling L to "put it on." Before the last verse, there's a really random reggae-esque interlude. I don't know anything about regge, so I won't say anything about it except that it doesn't really fit here. However, this is a good way to open up your debut album. MUCH better than an intro or a skit. Oh, and Big L threatening to throw your head three blocks is actually kind of frightening.
2. MVP
Produced by Lord Finesse
Producer/MC/fellow D.I.T.C. member Lord Finesse shows up for his first of five contributions. This song was released as the second single. I guess I should note that the same loop in here shows up on Notorious B.I.G.'s "One More Chance Remix" and that L's use of it was released before Biggie's. ANYWAY... the track's good. I begin to get bored of the track near the end, and I'll probably just skip the remaining 20 seconds.
3. No Endz, No Skinz
Produced by Showbiz
This one is also a single, except this one was the fourth and final single. Wow... doesn't this sound misogynistic? Pretty much "girls only like rich guys." If you look past that (is that possible, though?), I guess this might be a good song, but I find myself unable to do that.
4. 8 Iz Enuff (feat. Terra, Herb McGruff, Buddah Bless, Twan, Killa Cam, Trooper J & Mike Boogie)
Produced by Buckwild
Mike Boogie unrelated to mixtape DJ Mick Boogie. Killa Cam also known as Cam'ron. L, Cam, and McGruff were all in the Children of the Corn. Where the hell Terra, Buddah Bless, Twan, Trooper J, & Mike Boogie came from is beyond me. Nonetheless, this serves as a good posse cut, where you can presumably guess that the host (that would be Big L, people...) comes off the best out of these eight.
5. All Black
Produced by Lord Finesse
"Ducks better scat when the gat goes click-clack, or I'ma have your family dressed in all black." Oh, what's up, Irony? Haven't seen ya for a while. Push that aside, this is actually a very good track. And thanks to the relatively quick chours, we get four verses of awesome.
6. Danger Zone
Produced by Buckwild
WOW. In a song warning visitors to not go to 139th & Lennox in Harlem, Big L pretty much says he has, will, or wants to EVERY FUCKING VIOLENT ACT KNOWN TO MAN. Hell, L in here says he might just rape Jesus if he gets up in Heaven. That and a decent Buckwild beat make this out to be a good song. YAY.
7. Street Struck
Produced by Lord Finesse
This is one of those songs telling tales about teens up in the gang world, which allows L to brag about what he did when he was in that and not be yelled at by conservative television hosts for glorifying gang violence and drug abuse. It's a meh track.
8. Da Graveyard (feat. Lord Finesse, Microphone Nut, Jay-Z, Party Arty, & Y.U.)
Produced by Buckwild
Once again, this posse cut features a name that would become big in the hip-hop world, this one would obviously be a young fella known as "Jay-Z." And that young fella's flow is quite different from we would see on his debut LP. Lord Finesse also shows up, though I don't know why he didn't provide the beat for this. Not like I'm complaining though, Buckwild's beat is pretty good here. All-in-all, I consider this the better posse cut of the two.
9. Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
Produced by Lord Finesse
Lord Finesse gives L a slower beat than earlier seen on the album. And Big L responds by making this one of my favorites on the album. Thanks, Big L.
10. I Don't Understand It
Produced by Showbiz
Oh, hey, look. People were complaining about the state of hip-hop even back in 1995.
11. Fed Up Wit the Bullshit
Produced by Lord Finesse
Big L pens a song dedicated to police brutality. While we've heard this many times before (most famously by NWA with their subtle "Fuck tha Police"), it's still relevant today. It helps Big L's cause that this is also a good song.
12. Let 'Em Have It "L"
Produced by Craig Boogie
Who the hell is Craig Boogie? Whoever he is, I'm not a huge fan of his beat, though Big L's lyrics make up for it as even the beat can't stop this from being a great way to end not just a debut album, but an album... period.
Conclusion: Big L made a classic disc here. It makes you wonder how his career would've gone had he not been tragically killed and had his career gone on. I'd suggest you run down to Best Buy and pick this CD up.
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