Album: The Big Picture
Artist: Big L Label:
Rawkus Year: 2000
The second album from the Big L does not disappoint. Although it is his first post-death album the quality is not affected. Everyone seems to have done a good job holding it together. Although one can only assume had L been around, this album would have been much better. Big L was gunned down in the streets of Harlem, very close to very he had grown up. The killer was after his brother but because he was in jail at the time, L paid the price. He was shot multiple times and was found in an alley. Justice was never brought to the killer. He was shot in the year 1998.
The Big Picture
Put you L’s up and get ready for the BIG L. This track starts off with a Big L RIP concert and then he starts flowing. Great lyrics dominate this track. The scratching may get slightly annoying but it’s indifferent. A great intro.
Ebonics
Big L basically breaks down slang. He goes at a crazy speed and just raps out the slang dictionary. He says slang and gives a definition. He keeps freakin’ it with slang and criminal sling.
“Check it, my weed smoke is my lye A ki of coke is a pie”
Size ‘Em Up
A good track. Big L raps hard on this track but the music starts off a little too loud. He has some great lyrics on this track but it is one of the weaker ones although he spits hard.
“Ayo, I shoulda been out I’m deadly when I pull the pin out”
Deadly Combination
One of the best tracks on the album. Tupac is featured on this track and he spits first. He comes pretty hard but it is Big L who dominates this track. With his quick and witty lyrics. This is truly a deadly combination from two fallen rap stars. A literally dope track.
“Follow me tell me if you feel me I think niggaz is tryin to kill me”
’98 Freestyle
Just a freestyle. But an amazing one. Big L spits hard and shows that he has true talent on the mic. He comes correct and from his dome comes with unbelievable lyrics that are better then most prewritten lyrics today.
“Yo, ***** all the glamours and glitz, I plan to get rich I’m from New York and never was a fan of the Knicks”
Holdin’ It Down
Big L adopts a kind of laid back style on this track. He keeps his lyrics cool and his flow mellow. It’s a nice track. Nothing hardcore but still good. On the seconds verse Stan Spit raps. He’s an average MC next to Big L but he keeps his own. His lyric’s are nothing like L’s though. Next AG flows and he’s alright. Nothing spectacular but is a nice accompaniment to the track.
“Yo, y’all fellas like to stress them chicks Impress them chicks, spend money to dress them chicks”
The Heist
On this track Big L gets a call about his wife being with another man in a hotel. This is a good track. Big L basically tells the story about his journey to the hotel. And then he talks about exactly what he does to everyone. Heist completed
“Hey yo, I just left the studio, and it’s about 2 in the morn’ I just finished doin a song”
The Enemy
This is a nice, laid back, dangerous track. Big L just flows with some great lyrics. He raps great and then Fat Joe goes. Fat Joe comes nicely on this track but his lyrics are nothing compared to Big L. Big L dominates this track.
“I drive up and down Harlem blocks, iced out watch Knots in my socks, cops think I’m selling rocks”
Fall Back
One of the best songs from the album. Big L rips apart the track immediately with incomparable lyrics. Then after, the great beginning, Kool G Rap has to follow up and he does a great job. An unbelievably hard track. Both of these great rappers spit strongly.
“Aiyyo; I heard your single, you better make a whole new song If they said that shit is hot then they told you wrong”
Flamboyant
A nice, laid back track. Big L has some nice lyrics on this soft track. It’s almost deceiving, covering up his great lyrics. A very different track, yet still great. May take a while to get into because of its simplicity.
“Make sure my mic is loud and my production is tight Better watch me round your girl if you ain’t *****ing her right”
Casualties Of A Dice Game
Big L basically raps about a dice game he has. It starts off easy going but then becomes increasingly harder. This is another storytelling track which ends in destruction.
“Me and my man was cruisin through the streets and everything was flowin nice The corner’s crowded, niggaz must be rollin dice”
Platinum Plus
From the very first line one can tell this is going to be a great track. Big L flows nicely with a great accompaniment of lyrics. Then, Big Daddy Kane comes on. He manages to shine with some astounding lyrics. This is a great combination on a dope track.
“Yo, I’m straight loco, to hell with you and your broke hoe You ain’t a big dog, you more like Toto, you got no dough”
Who You Slidin’ With
An alright track. The chorus is a bit annoying and L doesn’t seem on his top form, although he does manage to drop some heat. Stan Spit is featured on this track but he too, doesn’t come correct.
“Henn Rock and Alize I get drunk off Whattup miss? Get wit a real man and cut that punk off”
Games
This is a nice, slow paced track. Big L basically raps about the games that girls play with guys and to watch out for the tricks. Then Sadat X and Guru come on the track. They spits nicely but together all three of them aren’t the greatest of teams.
“Check it, a year ago I did a show for some dough Puffed a bag of hydro then broke out on the low”
The Heist Revisited
This track has been ruined. All of it has been completely slowed down to a pace that makes you want to skip the song. It was an unnecessary filler because it detracts from the album.
“Hey yo, I just left the studio, and it’s about 2 in the morn’ I just finished doin a song”
The Triboro
A great track. It features OC, Remi Martin Fat Joe along side Big L. It starts off at an unfamiliar fast pace. OC starts with a hard spit. He remains consistent until Big L rips the next verse. He overshadows OC who most definitely held his own. Fat Joe’s verse is a bit of a let down The previous two DITC rappers were far superior. His lyrics don’t really hold. Then Remi Martin starts rapping. Unheard of at the time. She comes with a slow pace and decent lyrics. She definitely fits in with the rest of the track. Even with this slight letdown it remains a great track. A great way to finish the album.
“I’m from a place where them niggaz don’t, talk no shit where them wigs get split, where the guns forever click”
A great album. Although nothing compared to his classic debut release, ‘Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous’ it is still built of material that had the potential to be classic. Big L was one of the greatest lyricists. This album proves that on tracks such as “Platnium Plus” “Fall Back” “Deadly Combination” and “’98 Freestyle” Lyrically Big L was on another level but the album could have had more thought put into it.
Rating:
4/5