Big L is easily one of Hip Hop’s best lyricists to ever touch the mic. Point blank. His voice, cadence, witty punchlines and cocky delivery set him up to be a legend even before he had an album out. From mixtape appearances and various features on D.I.T.C related albums, Big L’s rep only grew as fans and other rappers alike marveled at his talent. When his debut Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous dropped in 1995 it was an immediate street hit. Few at the time would realize that Lifestylez – which was only a modest commercial success at the time – would go on to be considered a true classic of the era, comparable to Illmatic itself.

With production handled by his D.I.T.C brethren – Lord Finesse, Buckwild and Showbiz , Lifestylez…was an album that balanced radio appeal with uncompromising hardcore lyricism. From the lead single “Put It On” to “M.V.P.” and posse cuts like “8 Iz Enuff” and “Da Graveyard” (which featured a rookie MC from Brooklyn by the name of Jay-Z), Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous solidified Big L’s status as a Hip Hop legend despite being the only studio album released prior to his tragic death in 1999.