Born Lamont Coleman on the 30 May 1974, in Harlem, New York City USA, as Big L he was a rapper, songwriter and record producer, best known to the world for his debut studio album “Lifestyles ov da Poor & Dangerous” (1995), and his single “Ebonics” three years later. Big L passed away on the 15th February 1999 being killed by an unknown attacker in a drive-by shooting in Harlem.
Have you ever wondered how rich Big L was, at the time of his death? According to authoritative sources, it has been estimated that his net worth was as high as $1 million, earned through his successful career in the music industry active throughout the ‘90s.
Big L Net Worth $1 Million
Big L had a tough childhood, with his father, Charles Davis leaving L and his mother soon after L’s birth. His mother remarried and gave birth to two sons, Donald, and Leroy Phinazee who died in 2002. His career beginnings trace back to 1986 when he started freestyling in Harlem, and four years later started his first rap group, consisting of Doc Reem, Rodney and himself, but which didn’t last long. As early as 1992, his career became professional as he worked with Lord Finesse on his album “Return of the Funky Man”, particularly on the song “Yes You May”. After several years of struggling, Big L signed a contract with Columbia Records in 1993 and became a part of the hip-hop collective out of the Bronx, called Diggin’ in the Cates Crew, comprised of Lord Finesse, Fat Joe, Showbiz, A.G., Diamond D, O.C. and Buckwild.
He started releasing his own material, including singles “Devil Son”, which he described as the first-ever horrorcore single, then “Clinic” and “Put It On”, before releasing his debut, and as it turned out only studio album “Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous” in 1995. Though the album fared well, he was dropped from Columbia Records, mostly due to creative disagreements.
Before his premature death in 1999, Big L had numerous projects on his hands, including a second album “The Big Picture”, which was eventually released posthumously in 2000. He also started his own record label, Flamboyant Entertainment, releasing the extremely popular single, “Ebonics”, and became a part of the group called The Wolfpack, alongside Jay-Z, C-Town, and Herb McGruff.
Unfortunately, it all came to an end on the 15th February; Gerard Woodley was later arrested but was controversially released, and this murder has remained unresolved until the present day.
His body is buried at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.
Years later, another posthumous album came out – “139 & Lenox” (2010) – mixed by Roc Raida, Hi-Tek and Buckwild. The same year, Big L’s brother Donald Phinazee released the “Return of the Devil’s Son”, another posthumous release followed – “The Danger Zone” (2011) – also compiled by Donald.
When it comes to Big L’s life outside career, he kept his most intimate details hidden from the public eyes, therefore, no reliable information is available about him in the media.
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