The Big Picture (Big L album)

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The Big Picture
A man wearing a black shirt, a black hat, glasses, and a chain with a cross on it is pointing his finger like a gun
Studio album by Big L
Released August 1, 2000 (2000-08-01)
Recorded 1997–1998
D&D Studios
(New York City, New York)
Genre East Coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop, underground hip hop
Length 55:36
Label Rawkus / Flamboyant Entertainment
Producer DJ Premier, Ron Browz, Ron G, Lord Finesse, Pete Rock, Shomari, Mike Heron, Ysae, Showbiz
Big L chronology
Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
(1995)Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous1995		 The Big Picture
(2000)		 Big L: The Archives 1996–2000
(2006)Big L: The Archives 1996–20002006
Singles from The Big Picture
  1. "Ebonics (Criminal Slang)"
    Released: 1998
  2. "Holdin' It Down"
    Released: 1999
  3. "Flamboyant"
    Released: May 30, 2000
  4. "Platinum Plus"
    Released: 2001

The Big Picture is the second and final studio album by American rapper Big L. The album was slated for a 1999 release, but due to L's murder, the album was posthumously released on August 1, 2000 on Rawkus Records. Recording sessions for the album took place primarily at D&D Studios in New York City, New York during 1997 to 1998. The album was produced by DJ Premier, Ron Browz, Ron G, Lord Finesse, Pete Rock, Shomari, Mike Heron, Ysae, and Showbiz. The album features the popular singles "Ebonics" and "Size 'Em Up" (the later of which was the last single released while Big L was still alive), as well as the #1 Rap single "Flamboyant". The Big Picture features appearances from Fat Joe, Guru, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane and 2Pac. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in October 2000.[1]

It sold 72,549 copies in the first week.[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 3/5 stars[3]
RapReviews 8/10[4]
Rolling Stone 3.5/5 stars[5]
Vibe 3.5/5 stars[6]

The Big Picture has received generally favorable reviews from music critics. M.F. DiBella of Allmusic gave the album three out of five stars.[3] RapReviews' Steve Juon gave the album eight out of ten stars.[4] Rolling Stone gave the album three and a half stars out of five. Many say that it is one of the most underrated hardcore hip hop albums of all time.[5]

Content

"The Enemy", featuring fellow New York rapper Fat Joe, talks about the NYPD in a bad way, "criticizing its provoking and shady ways", according to April Park of the Riverfront Times.[7]

Track listing

Writers by Allmusic.[8]

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "The Big Picture" (Intro) Lamont Coleman, Christopher Martin DJ Premier 2:59
2. "Ebonics (Criminal Slang)"   Coleman, Rondell Turner Ron Browz 3:21
3. "Size ’Em Up"   Coleman, Turner Ron Browz 3:55
4. "Deadly Combination" (featuring 2Pac) Coleman, Ronald Bowser, Tupac Shakur Ron G 2:32
5. "'98 Freestyle"   Coleman Lord Finesse 2:09
6. "Holdin' It Down" (featuring A.G., Miss Jones & Stan Spit) Andre Barnes, Coleman, Peter Phillips, Stan Draton, Tarsha Jones Pete Rock 4:39
7. "The Heist"   Coleman, Turner Ron Browz 3:02
8. "The Enemy" (featuring Fat Joe) Coleman, Joseph Cartagena, Martin DJ Premier 2:48
9. "Fall Back" (featuring Kool G Rap) Coleman, James Elite, Nathaniel Wilson, Shomari Jackson Shomari 2:49
10. "Flamboyant"   Bobby Ervin, Coleman, Gail Farrell, Mickael Heron Mike Heron 3:07
11. "Casualties of a Dice Game"   Coleman, Turner Ron Browz 3:18
12. "Platinum Plus" (featuring Big Daddy Kane) Antonio Hardy, Coleman, Martin DJ Premier 3:37
13. "Who You Slidin' Wit" (featuring Stan Spit) Coleman, Draton, Phillips Pete Rock 4:13
14. "Games" (featuring Guru & Sadat X) Coleman, Derek Murphy, Keith Elam, Leroy Southwell Ysae 4:32
15. "The Heist Revisited"   Coleman, Robert Hall Lord Finesse 3:01
16. "The Triboro" (featuring Fat Joe, O.C. & Remy Ma) Cartagena, Coleman, Martin, Omar Credle, Rodney Lemay Showbiz 5:29
Samples
  • "The Big Picture (Intro)" — Live performance of "Full Clip" by Gang Starr; "Whatever Goes Around" by Jerry Butler
  • "The Enemy" — "Time's Up" by O.C.
  • "Flamboyant" — "Move Me" by James Gilstrap

Personnel

Credits for The Big Picture adapted from Allmusic.[9]

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  • Louis Alfred III — mixing
  • Big Daddy Kane — performer
  • Big L — Executive Producer
  • Bob Brown — engineer
  • Ron Browz — producer
  • Rob Dinero — composer, engineer
  • DJ Premier — executive producer, producer
  • Fat Joe — performer
  • 2Pac - performer, writer
  • Mike Heron — executive producer, producer
  • Kool G Rap — performer
  • Lord Finesse — executive producer, mixing, producer
  • Eric Lynch — engineer
  • Miss Jones — performer
  • Pete Rock — producer
  • Sadat X — performer
  • Shomari — producer
  • Duncan Stanbury — mastering
  • Max Vargas — engineer
  • Carlisle Young — mixing
  • YSAE — producer

Charts and certifications

Release history

Region Date Label Format Catalog
United States August 1, 2000 Rawkus CD 26136
Cassette tape
LP

References

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External links

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  9. ↑ Credits: The Big Picture at AllMusic. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
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  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
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