No rarities, just jams. Hot 97′s Mister Cee, the master of the tribute mix, drops a 22-minute burner in memory of Big Lamont, the former Child of the Corn, who went Moonlight Graham a dozen years ago today. The standard line always held that at the time of his death, L was poised for mainstream success — the deal with Roc-A-Fella was imminent and he was a single away. But I always imagined that L would’ve filled the same role as State Prop. He rapped like he carried a scythe, chopping competitors off at the knees.
The idea of him going mainstream, especially as the shiny suits continued to proliferate, always seemed like a stretch. L’s greatness was based on his ability to stay uncompromised. Cam was the flashy dude with the roly-poly flow. His friend from the Danger Zone was more cerebral, the quintessential underground head, who was fly in spite of the fact that he didn’t care about fashion. How else to explain sporting spectacles in the hyper-glossy late 90s. His main concern was slapping syllables together until he drew blood. A dozen years later he’s still remembered — a master of creating the perfect soundtrack for riding the iron horse and getting lifted.
Download:
MP3: Big L – Mister Cee Tribute Mix (Left-Click)
MP3: Big L & O.C. – “Freestyle in Zagreb, 1997″
4 comments
douglas martin says:
February 15, 2011 at 6:12 pm (UTC -7)
plus, wasn’t that deal with roc-a-fella a single-album deal for his group the wolfpack? it sounds like it would have been exactly a state property-type situation.
Selorm Denu says:
February 16, 2011 at 10:52 am (UTC -7)
Big L is a GENIUS man…great post!!!
DocZeus says:
February 16, 2011 at 11:52 am (UTC -7)
I never quite bought the notion that Big L was about to pop in the mainstream. I imagine “Ebonics” might have ended up being a hit on the “Simon Sez” or dead prez’s “Hip Hop” level if he was alive to promote it better but in some respect, it already was a hit. Still it seems hard to imagine he would be seeing the level of success that Cam’ron saw on Roc-A-Fella.
brazzey courville says:
October 7, 2011 at 9:08 pm (UTC -7)
big L whas a cold piece. definition of a hustler. i wishh i could see what harlem nights were like in the 90′s on one three nine street yaa knuhh. but i keeep big L on base cause the nigga still holds a crown. every gangster dies before 25 i’v learned. him and cormega are the siickest for the east coast.