Big L Is Immortalized With The Release Of New Album ‘Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King’
BIG L IS IMMORTALIZED WITH ‘HARLEM’S FINEST: RETURN OF THE KING’
BIG L ‘HARLEM’S FINEST: RETURN OF THE KING’ FEATURES COLLABORATIONS WITH NAS & JAY-Z, MAC MILLER, JOE BUDDEN, METHOD MAN, JOEY BADA$$, CONDUCTOR WILLIAMS, LORD FINESSE, SHOWBIZ, NOVEL, ERROL HOLDEN, STRETCH & BOBBITO, RON BROWZ & MORE
‘HARLEM’S FINEST: RETURN OF THE KING’ IS NOW AVAILABLE
LONG LIVE THE KING!
Flamboyant 4 Life!!
Mass Appeal proudly releases Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King, the new posthumous album from Harlem legend Big L, which is now available. Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King is the latest release from Mass Appeal’s Legend Has It campaign — which celebrates seven iconic artists: Slick Rick, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Mobb Deep, Big L, De La Soul, and Nas/DJ Premier.
Buoyed by the album’s historic and long overdue collaboration, “u aint gotta chance,” featuring Nas (which went #1 at iTunes), Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King also features appearances and production from Jay-Z, Mac Miller, Joe Budden, Method Man, Joey Bada$$, Conductor Williams, Lord Finesse, Showbiz, Novel, Errol Holden, Stretch & Bobbito, Ron Browz, Beat Butcha, McGruff and Party Arty among others.
In 1999, at 24 years of age and mere days away from announcing his signing with Roc-A-Fella Records, Big L was tragically gunned down and murdered. At the time of his passing, Big L was one of the culture’s fastest rising stars and was already becoming one of hip-hop’s sharpest lyricists, known for his intricate wordplay, humor, and street narratives. His exceptional debut album, Lifestyles ov da Poor & Dangerous (1995) was produced by luminaries such as Lord Finesse, Showbiz and Buckwild and included collaborations with Kid Capri, Cam’ron (his counterpart in the talent-laden group Children of The Corn with fellow aspiring neighborhood emcees Mase, Herb McGruff, Bloodshed, and producer Six Figga Digga and a then still relatively unknown Jay-Z. The album spawned classics such as “M.V.P.” (which would later go on to be sampled by the Notorious B.I.G. on the “One More Chance” Remix), “Put It On,” and “Da Graveyard.”
From 1997 until the time of his death, Big L was recording an album with the highly influential D.I.T.C. (Digging In the Crates Crew), which also consisted of Lord Finesse, Showbiz, Fat Joe, O.C., Diamond D and Showbiz & AG for Tommy Boy Records. After securing his release from Tommy Boy Records, Big L planned on signing a lucrative deal with Roc-A-Fella-Records; which never came to fruition. The majority of the material Big L recorded during those years would ultimately be used for his first posthumous release The Big Picture, which was released on 8.1.2000 by Rawkus Records. The Big Picture has since been certified Gold, and was executive produced by DJ Premier and includes collaborations and production from DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Lord Finesse, Showbiz, Ron Browz, Mike Heron, 2Pac, Fat Joe, Kool G Rap, Guru, Big Daddy Kane, Sadat X, Remy Ma, O.C., and his Flamboyant crew. The Big Picture is considered one of the best posthumous albums ever assembled.
Now, nearly 25 years later, Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King delivers Big L’s definitive and final album — executive produced by The Estate of Lamont “Big L” Coleman and associate produced by Mike “Heron” Herard & Royce 5’9”.
For over eight years, Big L’s brother Donald Phinazee and sister Tyece fought a quiet battle to regain control of L’s catalog-music that had racked up over one hundred million streams and views across platforms without the family ever seeing a dime. Things finally began to turn around when Nas and the Mass Appeal team stepped in. They not only funded efforts to track down unauthorized releases, but also made key calls behind the scenes that greatly aided in assisting the estate recover past royalties, and reclaim control of several masters; outside of Mass Appeal. Getting master’s and publishing back from major labels is nearly impossible—and this album is nothing short of a miracle for his family and a gift to Big L fans worldwide. The collaboration between the estates of Big L and Mac Miller made one of Mac’s dreams a reality. Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King represents unity, legacy and celebration.
In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Nas reflected on the life and enduring legacy of Big L, his lasting impact on the culture, and what he would have meant to the culture if he had not been tragically shot down, 26-years ago and mere days before signing a deal with Jay-Z and Roc-A-Fella Records.
Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King is a timeless reminder of why Big L’s name remains synonymous with lyrical excellence — a final salute to one of Harlem’s greatest storytellers. Long live the king!!
You can now Purchase, Stream, Add and FavoriteHarlem’s Finest: Return Of The King at your preferred DSP: https://big-l.sng.to/harlems-finest
You can now pre-order Vinyl editions of Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King at www.shop.massappeal.com
Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King TRACKLISTING:
Harlem Universal FEAT Mcgruff
u aint gotta chance FEAT Nas
RHN (Real Harlem Niggas) FEAT Errol Holden
Fred Samuel Playground FEAT Method Man
All Alone (Quiet Storm Mix) FEAT Novel
Big Lee & Reg FEAT Errol Holden
7 Minute Freestyle FEAT Jay-Z
Forever FEAT Mac Miller & Pale Jay
Doo Wop Freestyle (’99) FEAT Joe Budden
Stretch & Bob Freestyle (’98) FEAT Donald Phinazee & Sacha Jenkins
Grant’s Tomb ’97 FEAT Joey Bada$$, Bvngs & Ron G
Stretch & Bob Freestyle (’98) Don & Sacha Intro
Live @ Rock N Wil ’92 FEAT Showbiz
How Will I Make It (Park West High School Mix)
Don And Sacha @ Inwood Hill Park (Closing Scene)
Put The Mic Down ***Bonus FEAT Party Arty & Fergie Baby
