Today marks the 11 year anniversary of one of Harlem's greatest rappers, Big L's death. Lamont Coleman was born May 30, 1974 in New York City, and grew up in uptown Harlem. It wasn't until the late 90's that people really began to recognize Big L's skills in storytelling through rapping. He released Ebonics in 1998 which had New Yorkers going wild. DJ Enuff and Amanda Diva released statements this morning regarding Big L. DJ Enuff said in his blog:

When Big L Passed I was just a new jack at Hot97. I remember being on Sat. Nights 12 to 4am playing Ebonics like it was yesterday. And it being so good that it had to play also 8am during the Traffic Jam. I really didn't know him well. But his name rang bells all over the world. We called him the son of Finesse. He had similar flow and ill punch lines. Then just grew and grew and grew. Artists Like Big L defined the true meaning of the underground. If Columbia didn't know what to do with him then Flamboyant would go for it. All I know I was playing the flamboyant stuff more then the Columbia stuff on the radio. When L passed even the Columbia stuff seemed important now. We took for granted what great Lyrics and stories Big L told on that LP. He murdered Cats. He at the time was considered the best lyrical cat pound for pound. I kind of wanted to take you back into time: Check out this old news article on Big L's Death."

Harlemite Amanda Diva said on twitter earlier today:

RIP Big L! Flamboyant Entertainment FTW! "I'm so ahead of my time my parents aint met yet! @STUNNABOIMUSIC HUH? NO!! BIG L FROM 139TH/LENOX! HARLEM! 1 OF THE DOPEST MC'S TO DO IT!"

And one of our favorites from Big L: