Emerging from Harlem, New York in the early to mid-1990s, Coleman became well known amongst underground hip-hop fans for his freestyling ability, and was eventually signed to Columbia Records, where he released his debut album, Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous in 1995 and is now considered by many fans as a classic album. On February 15, 1999, Coleman was shot nine times and killed by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting in his hometown of Harlem.
Noted for his use of wordplay, multiple writers at AllMusic, HipHopDX and The Source have praised Coleman for his lyrical ability, and he has also been described as "one of the most auspicious storytellers in hip hop history." Regarding Coleman's legacy, Nas said on MTV, “He scared me to death. When I heard that on tape, I was scared to death. I said, ’Yo, it’s no way I can compete if this is what I gotta compete with.'
Lamont Coleman was born in Harlem, New York City, on May 30, 1974, the third and youngest child of Gilda Terry (d. 2008) and Charles Davis. Davis left the family while Coleman was a child. His two older siblings, Donald Coleman and Leroy Phinazee (d.2002), were the children of Gilda and a man named Mr. Phinazee. Coleman received the nicknames "Little L" and "'mont 'mont" as a child. At the age of 12, Coleman became a big hip hop fan and started freestyling with other people in his neighborhood. He founded a group known as Three the Hard Way in 1990, but it was quickly broken up due to a lack of enthusiasm amongst the members. It consisted of Coleman, Doc Reem, and Rodney. No projects were released, and after Rodney left, the group was renamed Two Hard Motherfuckers. Around this time, people started to refer to Coleman as "Big L". In the summer of 1990, Coleman met Lord Finesse at an autograph session in a record shop on 125th Street. After he did a freestyle, Finesse and Coleman exchanged numbers.
Coleman attended Julia Richman High School. While in high school, Coleman freestyle battled in his hometown; in his last interview, he stated, "in the beginning, all I ever saw me doing was battling everybody on the street corners, rhyming in the hallways, beating on the wall, rhyming to my friends. Every now and then, a house party, grab the mic, a block party, grab the mic." He graduated in 1992.
On February 15, 1999, Big L was killed at 45 West 139th Street in his native Harlem after being shot nine times in the face and chest in a drive-by shooting. Gerard Woodley, one of Big L's childhood friends, was arrested three months later for the crime. "It's a good possibility it was retaliation for something Big L's brother did, or Woodley believed he had done," said a spokesperson for the New York City Police Department. Woodley was later controversially released, and the murder case remains unsolved.
Big L is buried at George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.
On June 24, 2016 at 139th St. and Lenox Avenue, Woodley, 46, was shot in the head and later died at Harlem Hospital.
Coleman is often credited in helping to create the horrorcore genre of hip hop with his 1992 song "Devil Son." However, not all his songs fall into this genre, for example, in the song "Street Struck" Coleman discusses the difficulties of growing up in the ghetto and describes the consequences of living a life of crime. Idris Goodwin of The Boston Globe wrote that "[Big L had an] impressive command of the English language", with his song "Ebonics" being the best example of this.
He was notable for using a rap style called "compounding". Coleman also used metaphors in his rhymes. M.F. DiBella of Allmusic stated Coleman was "a master of the lyrical stickup undressing his competition with kinetic metaphors and a brash comedic repertoire". On the review of The Big Picture, she adds "the Harlem MC as a master of the punch line and a vicious storyteller with a razor blade-under-the-tongue flow." Trent Fitzgerald of Allmusic said "a lyrically ferocious MC with raps deadlier than a snakebite and mannerisms cooler than the uptown pimp he claimed to be on records.
Now or Never
Big L Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Its time to make power moves and get the chedda.
And buy the real nice things that makes life betta.
No foolish acts, moves must be clever.
Im down for whatever, I gotta blow son, is now or never.
(Verse 1:)
I walk through the ruggedest blocks with jewels flooded wit rocks.
I was sworn for harlem, true roach don.
Word bond, we leave mics torn.
Yall brothers slept too long, now its on.
L Corleone will neva fly.
Records are forever hot.
Front on me you better not.
I keep the barreta cocked.
This goes out to my people's up town.
Downtown, mid town, across town, and outta town.
You see me flossin often, at all the club sites.
At the bars buyin crystalls like they bud lights.
My style is hard like strong lumber.
Dime pieces get the digits chicken heads get the wrong number.
(Chrous)
(Verse 2:)
Yo I announce spacks.
When I get busy over bounce tracks.
Droppin lethal raps so wack so I can count stacks.
I keep a heavy knot, got a spot on every block.
Hunnies thats very hot.
And sent to the mary yacht.
95 was a beautiful year for L.
Now I'm back and all the ladies still cheer for L.
Whatever I write is gonna be tight.
Cuz if makin hits is wrong I dont wanna be right.
Never the less, the east is were my crew rest.
We bust caps that go through vests.
We only do what we do best.
And thats triple than you riddle men.
Since you wanna play rough, then say hello to my little friend.
(Chorus x2)
(Verse 3:)
I like drop tops when its hot.
I like lambs when its snowy.
Bank account is fat like Joey.
Im not very religious you wouldn't call me holy.
Sometimes my hairs grow long, sometimes its froly.
Spark up the you know what.
Pop the moey.
L stay flossin, presidential doughly.
Yall brothers know me, I step in parties with mints and fly links.
Shorties hittin me with eyewinks as I buy drinks.
And every girl I got looks like a model.
If you ever see me with a chicken then she must of a hit the lotto.
Uptown is my home, and where I roam.
I stand alone, Big L Cornleone got a song.
Sellin weight in and outta state to generate cake.
The one jakes hate.
Got homicide runnin out of yellow tape.
I pack toast with infra red scopes, I turn crews to dead folks.
If yall fellas is playas, Im the head coach.
(Chorus x2)
The song Now or Never by Big L is about seizing opportunities presented to you and using them to make a better life for yourself. The chorus encourages listeners to make power moves and make money to buy the finer things in life. The first verse describes Big L's experience as a hustler on the streets of Harlem, where he learned to be clever and avoid getting caught by the police. He also boasts about his prowess as an MC and warns those who would try to cross him. The second verse continues with Big L's boasts of his wealth, women, and lyrical skill, and his disregard for religious and societal conventions. He also describes his crew and their dedication to their craft, which includes violence towards their enemies. The third verse continues with Big L's description of his lavish lifestyle and his ability to make money through selling drugs. He also warns his enemies that he is armed and dangerous and compares himself to a head coach.
Now or Never was released in 1995 on Big L's debut album Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous. It features a sample from the song Laura by Billy Larkin and The Delegates. The song did not chart on the Billboard Hot 100 but received critical acclaim and helped establish Big L as a rising star in the underground rap scene. Big L was tragically murdered in 1999, cutting short his promising career.
Line by Line Meaning
It's time to make power moves and get the chedda.
It's time to make moves to gain wealth.
And buy the real nice things that makes life betta.
And use that wealth to buy things that make life better.
No foolish acts, moves must be clever.
Don't make unnecessary or reckless decisions, only make strategic moves.
I'm down for whatever, I gotta blow son, it's now or never.
I'm committed to doing whatever it takes to be successful, there's no time to waste.
I walk through the ruggedest blocks with jewels flooded wit rocks.
I walk through dangerous neighborhoods with expensive jewelry on my person.
Hustlin on hot corners that be smuggled wit cops.
I'm selling drugs on street corners where police are cracking down.
I was sworn for harlem, true roch don.
I am a true Harlem resident, committed to representing my neighborhood.
Word bond, we leave mics torn.
We are skilled at rapping and impressively perform.
Yall brothers slept too long, now it's on.
You other rappers have been complacent for too long, now I'm here to take the game over.
L Corleone will neva fly.
Like the character from The Godfather, I will never be weak or vulnerable.
Records are forever hot.
My music will always be popular.
Front on me you better not.
Don't mess with me or you'll face consequences.
I keep the barreta cocked.
I am always prepared and armed for danger.
This goes out to my people's up town.
I am dedicating this to my fellow Harlem residents.
Downtown, mid town, across town, and outta town.
I am respected and known in various areas and communities.
You see me flossin often, at all the club sites.
You often see me showing off my wealth in clubs.
At the bars buyin crystalls like they bud lights.
I don't hesitate to spend a lot of money on expensive drinks.
My style is hard like strong lumber.
My rap style is tough like sturdy wood.
Dime pieces get the digits chicken heads get the wrong number.
Attractive women get my phone number, less desirable women do not.
Yo I announce spacks.
I declare my ability to rap with confidence.
When I get busy over bounce tracks.
I am particularly skilled at rapping over upbeat tracks.
Droppin lethal raps so wack so I can count stacks.
I am releasing music that will earn me money.
I keep a heavy knot, got a spot on every block.
I have a lot of cash on me and connections in different neighborhoods.
Hunnies that's very hot.
I am surrounded by beautiful women.
And sent to the mary yacht.
We enjoy luxury outings on a yacht.
95 was a beautiful year for L.
The year 1995 was a successful time for my career.
Now I'm back and all the ladies still cheer for L.
I am still popular and adored by women despite taking a break from music.
Whatever I write is gonna be tight.
Whatever lyrics I produce will be of high quality.
Cuz if makin hits is wrong I don't wanna be right.
I am focused on creating popular music and don't care about potential negative consequences.
Never the less, the east is were my crew rest.
Regardless, my crew and I reside in the East.
We bust caps that go through vests.
We use firearms that can penetrate bulletproof vests.
We only do what we do best.
We only focus on our strengths.
And that's triple than you riddle men.
Our skills and abilities are three times better than our competitors.
Since you wanna play rough, then say hello to my little friend.
If you want to act tough, be prepared to face the consequences.
I like drop tops when it's hot.
I enjoy driving convertible cars when the weather is warm.
I like lambs when it's snowy.
I prefer luxury cars like Lamborghinis when there is snow on the ground.
Bank account is fat like Joey.
I have a lot of money in my bank account like Joey Fatone, a member of *NSYNC.
I'm not very religious you wouldn't call me holy.
I am not very religious and can't be categorized as a holy person.
Sometimes my hairs grow long, sometimes its froly.
My hair can grow long or be curly at different times.
Spark up the you know what.
Let's light up some marijuana.
Pop the moey.
Let's drink champagne.
L stay flossin, presidential doughly.
I stay showing off my wealth, like a president.
Yall brothers know me, I step in parties with mints and fly links.
You all are familiar with me, I enter parties with breath mints and stylish jewelry.
Shorties hittin me with eyewinks as I buy drinks.
Attractive women are flirting with me while I purchase drinks.
And every girl I got looks like a model.
All of the women I date are as beautiful as models.
If you ever see me with a chicken then she must of a hit the lotto.
If you ever see me with a less attractive woman, it must be because she got lucky.
Uptown is my home, and where I roam.
Harlem is where I live and spend most of my time.
I stand alone, Big L Cornleone got a song.
I am independent and on my own, L Corleone has a song.
Sellin weight in and outta state to generate cake.
I am selling drugs in and out of state to make money.
The one jakes hate.
Police officers dislike me.
Got homicide runnin out of yellow tape.
I am responsible for murders that police are investigating.
I pack toast with infra red scopes, I turn crews to dead folks.
I carry firearms with great accuracy and have the ability to take out entire groups of people.
If yall fellas is playas, Im the head coach.
If you are good with women, I am the one in charge and more successful.
Contributed by Declan T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Wemo577
Crazy he never got to see all this. YouTube and stuff, millions of mfs bumping his music. rip Big L
@LUImusic856
Chief Keef he knew he was special though. Im sure he expected this. It soes suck he couldn’t see it tho
@kaiisla9433
don't think anything would have changed. but then again
@LUImusic856
Kai Isla yeah you right.
@MexicanWalrus69
Legends never die G no cap
@LUImusic856
Moses Garcia if you say no cap, you a cornball lol
@massivegat5087
Out of all the rappers who were killed I think L def got it the worst. Especially since he didn't deserve it. He always rapped about staying off the streets for the better even though it was hard. It's so fucked up how he got shot in the face 9 times when the dude was actually trying to kill his older brother. And when L's brother got out of jail he got shot while going after his little brothers killer. The world is so unfair. RIP Big L. We miss you G.
@BadaBigga
i thought the same thing but den i heard it was alot deeper den te public knows
@anthonynewton9159
That's real right there.
@Moody909
we never get to fully appreciate the prophets while they're here...and they are never here for long either....especially hood prophets.