Big L obituary:

He came into this world as Lamont Coleman and left this world as Big L. The rapper Big L was gunned down in Harlem on Monday night February 15, 1999, three blocks from his home. Big L was struck by nine bullets in the face and chest on the corner of 139th Street and Lenox Avenue in Harlem, the same block that was on the cover of his "Ebonics" / "Size 'Em Up" single. Police have no suspects and no motives at this time. His death did not get the same amount of press coverage as the deaths of Tupac and Biggie, but neither did his albums. Another act of senseless violence that shatters countless families every day, has once again shattered our hip hop family.
Big L first appeared on Lord Finesse's "Yes You May" remix which was on the B-Side of "Party Over Here" in 1992. Big L collaborated often with Lord Finesse as a member of the Diggin In the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.) which also included O.C., Fat Joe, Diamond D., Buckwild, Showbiz & AG. Through his reputation on other artists records, Big L landed a deal with Columbia Records and released the album "Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous". That album yielded the singles "Put It On", "M.V.P." and "Street Struck". Another standout track on the album was "8 Iz Enuff" which featured Big L and seven other emcees, including Herb McGruff and Killa Kam (Cam'Ron).
Ken James relayed this story to me about Big L, 'I worked his project when I was in promotions at Columbia and had the opportunity to bond with him. He was an extremely nice kid and hella talented. I remember once taking L, the Fugees, Schoolly D, Jamalski and Nas through the Bay area in a 15 passenger van on a promotional run. Somebody had a cassette with beats on it. I popped it in, cranked it up, and a cipher started. Big L ripped it and left everybody's mouth hung open.'
After the deal at Columbia ended, Big L continued to make a name for himself by blessing songs on other D.I.T.C. members' albums. This included "Dangerous" off of O.C.'s "Jewelz" album, the "Dangerous The Sequel" remix alongside the Lost Boyz, and "5 Fingaz of Death" with Fat Joe, Lord Finesse, and AG off of Diamond's "Hatred, Passions, and Infidelity" album. Even on all of these 'posse' cuts, Big L's voice is distinctive and his vocal delivery sharp. "I'll be that smooth cat you've never seen rolling with clowns, one of the few from uptown that's holding it down".