Lamont Coleman (Big L), American rapper, MC, and songwriter, passed away on February 15th, 1999 at the age of 24. At an early age, Coleman developed a talent for language and a knack for lyrical metaphors, and began to make waves on the NYC hip-hop underground rap scene. In 1995 Big L released his debut album, Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous, and quickly became known for his clever wordplay and wry humor. Big L’s tracks often touched on topics of his personal struggles and urban life, including tracks such as “Put it on” and “MVP”. Big L was a respected figure in the hip-hop scene and his legacy remains in part due to popular and critical success of his two albums, as well as his influence on many upcoming New York City rappers. Due to his premature death, fans and other rap artists can only speculate to what his career would have been.