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

Big L. One of the most underrated rappers of all time but among the greatest lyricists of all time. Coming from the streets of Harlem, brought up by Lord Finesse, and apart of the DITC crew, Big L comes on the rap scene with a bang. Big L’s lyrics are unstoppable. He has a flow hard to be matched. And he raps the truth. But the best part about him is his lyrical genius. This amazing debut of his is proof of that.

 

Put It On

Big L comes hard on this track! He raps about himself. It’s a great track to begin with. His flow is great and his lyrics even better. With mainly just a steady beat the listener can focus on his lyrics. Big L does, without a doubt, put it on.
“Aiyyo, you betta flee Hobbes, or get your head flown three blocks L keep rapper’s hearts pumpin like Reeboks”

All Black

An ill track. This track showcases some great lyricism. Big L rips it apart. It can be said that it is slightly racist but that’s besides the point. He raps about killing people if you mess with him but the way he says it makes you love the song. One of the best from the album.
“Yo once again it’s the Big L, that kid who got much props from killin corrupt cops, with mother*****in buck shots”

All Endz, No Skinz

One of the best from the album. This song is on point, lyrically and material wise. L raps the truth. It basically says that if you have money all the chicks want to be with you and if you’re poor you don’t get anyone. L flows nicely on this dope track. He manages to twist and turn witty lyrics to get his point across.
“Let me get to the point real quick When ya pockets are thick”

MVP

The best track on the album. Lyricism which is hard to be matched, and a perfect flow to match it. This is L’s greatest song, of all time. This track is all about him being the best. And he certainly proves that. Not many artists can do anything that comes close the this. He is indeed the most valuable poet on the m-i-c.
“A yo spark up the phillies and pass the stout Making quick money grip before your ass is out”

8 Iz Enuff

Big L raps nicely on this track. It probably should have been the introduction track. This is a great song all about himself. He showcases his incredible skills on it. Great lyricism combined with a good beat makes it a deadly track.
“Aiyo, folks who quote what I wrote get choked You better surrender before you get smoked”

I Don’t Understand It

An amazing track. Big L raps about how so many rappers are making it big when they really don’t deserve it. He raps about how untalented MC’s are selling out when there is really nothing to him. He then goes on to rap about those who really rap, and rap truth, don’t even go gold. Too many MC’s take the rap game for granted…
“There are too many MC’s who are overrated You ask me, they wasn’t even supposed to make it”

Fed Up With The Bullsthit

L raps about how he is sick of all the constant bullshitting. He basically talks about how people are being treated like dirt and nothing is done about it. He raps about how ignorant people are and how they can turn a blind eye on the many issues that affect minorities.
“Yo, on the scene is the brother that’s big, I’m not a little kid I’m a nig who don’t dig a mutha*****in pig”

Danger Zone

Big L has an odd flow on this song. But the listener quickly gets used to it. He raps about the streets, the danger zone. This is an extremely vicious song. Violent, but great. He cant be stopped. He raps about how “no man can withstand a hole in his zone” IT also has a bit of Malcolm X sampling.
“The microphone is through when this rap legend grab it Sendin poems to have them faggots diggin hoes like Reverand Swaggart”

Da Graveyard

Big L raps with and unstoppable flow on this track and comes uncontrollably hard. He adds some witty lines to this ill track. He features Lord Finesse, Microphone Nut, Jay-Z and Y.U. They all come correct and manage to all shine on this track, despite L’s great lyrics. An unbelievable track.
“Big L be lightin’ niggas like incense Gettin’ men lynched to win tits”

Let ‘Em Have It “L”

L adopts a style on this track listen to the rest of the album. He slows down the pace but his tongue never tires. He just keeps going on and on. He raps about himself on this track and basically gives it all he has. A dope track.
“Aiyo, folks who quote what I wrote get choked You better surrender before you get smoked”

Street Struck

Just from the beat in the beginning and the title of this track, the listener knows it’s going to be a dangerous one. He raps about the streets and life on it. He has some great, meaningful lyrics on this great track.
“Yo where I’m from it ain’t cookies and cream There’s a lot of peer pressure growin up as a young teen”

Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous

The title of the track basically breaks down the track. He raps about street life and about what happens and how dangerous it is. This is a great track. He raps the truth on this slightly violent song.
“My name is L, and I’m from a part of town where clowns Get beat down and all you hear is gunshot sounds”

 

There you have it. The classic debut by the late Big L. This album basically secured his spot as one of the greatest lyricists of all time. Big L met his unfortunate end in the streets of Harlem where he was gunned down. Truly living the lifestyle of the poor and dangerous. Amidst all the violence he has managed to stay true to rap despite all the obstacles. Through everything, he has forever left his mark in the rap game. And this classic album proves that…

Rating: 5/5