Big L & Nas Connect On New Single “u aint gotta chance” & Mass Appeal Announces New Big L Album ‘Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King’
BIG L REINCARNATES WITH NAS FOR NEW SINGLE “U AINT GOTTA CHANCE”
BIG L ‘HARLEM’S FINEST: RETURN OF THE KING’ FEATURES COLLABORATIONS WITH NAS & JAY-Z
HARLEM’S FINEST: RETURN OF THE KING’ WILL BE RELEASED ON 10.31.25
STREAM “U AINT GOTTA CHANCE” NOW!
Flamboyant 4 Life!!
Mass Appeal proudly announces Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King, the forthcoming posthumous album from Harlem legend Big L, which will be released on Halloween, 10.31.25. Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King is the next release from the label’s Legend Has It campaign — celebrating seven iconic artists: Slick Rick, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Mobb Deep, Big L, De La Soul, and Nas/DJ Premier.
Today, a historic and long-overdue collaboration, “u aint gotta chance” featuring Nas, was released to officially announce the album. “u aint gotta chance” is now available at all DSPs.
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 to be assembled, and spawned hits “Ebonics” (the dizzying exhibition of slang, metaphors and double entendres), “Deadly Combination” ft 2Pac, “Casualties Of A Dice Game” which further illustrates his uncanny ability to vividly paint a picture with words, “98 Freestyle” another example of L’s raw talent, and freestyle acumen, and “Flamboyant,” which not only captures the effortlessness and true essence of Big L, but also went #1.
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”. The project features appearances from Nas & Jay-Z, with additional guests and producers to be unveiled leading up to the release of the album.
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 it 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.
“Big L was always ahead of his time. There’s some quotes out there from me about Big L, like how terrifyingly good that he was that made me have to step up my game. We were both signed to Columbia Records and I think the world never got a chance to get Big L the way they wanted him,” Nas commented. “It’s a blessing to have this celebration of him, and it’s a reminder that there’s different variants of hip hop and they’re all dope, but when it comes to lyricists, Big L’s the standard. A lot of people are safe out there and rap because Big L’s not no longer around. There’s a lot of stuff floating around today that’s really not good. This album will remind you that it’s not about hype, it’s about art. And that’s what Big L’s doing with this album, reminding the world, reminding New York, that even though there’s different styles that you should do and play with, which are very dope, never forget what this shit comes from. The roots of this shit is serious talent.”
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.
Stream Big L FEAT Nas “u aint gotta chance”: https://youtu.be/2iHQvBNKP1E
You can now Pre-Order, Add and Favorite Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King at your preferred DSP: https://big-l.sng.to/harlems-finest
For More Information:
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https://www.instagram.com/bigl_139/
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