Quick Verdict
Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous arrived on March 28, 1995, and is Big L’s only proper studio album completed and released during his lifetime — a Harlem street-rap masterpiece that demonstrated a lyrical precision, multisyllabic rhyme density, and comedic timing unlike anything in mid-1990s East Coast rap. Produced by Buckwild, Kid Capri, Showbiz, and others, the album is the definitive document of Harlem’s 139th Street rap scene and the record that established Big L as the most technically gifted lyricist of his generation by the estimation of virtually every MC who encountered him. “Mvp,” “Put It On,” and “Mad Flava” are three of the finest pure lyric performances in 1990s rap. “All Black” is his most formally concentrated verse showcase. Rating: 9/10.
At a Glance
| Category | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 9/10 |
| Best Song | "Put It On" |
| Weakest Song | "I Don't Understand It" |
| Best Feature | Showbiz |
| Best Beat | "Put It On" |
| Main Sound | Harlem Boom-Bap / East Coast Golden Age |
| Replay Value | Very High |
| Recommended For | The most technically gifted lyricist of his generation at his peak |
Album Details
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Artist | Big L |
| Album | Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous |
| Release Date | March 28, 1995 |
| Label | Columbia Records |
| Producers | Buckwild, Kid Capri, Showbiz, Diamond D |
| Featured Artists | Jay-Z, Kool G Rap, Lord Finesse, Finesse |
| Number of Tracks | 14 |
| Note | Big L was murdered on February 15, 1999, age 24 |
| Final Rating | 9/10 |
Context: Harlem’s Greatest MC
Big L — Lamont Coleman — grew up in Harlem’s 139th Street and came up through Diggin’ in the Crates, the Harlem production and MC collective that included Lord Finesse, Diamond D, Buckwild, and Showbiz & A.G. He signed to Columbia Records and released Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous at twenty years old in 1995. The album’s reception was warm but not commercially overwhelming: its lack of crossover singles and Columbia’s modest promotional investment meant it sold respectably but not explosively. Big L was dropped from Columbia and spent the following years building a reputation through freestyles, mixtapes, and a Rawkus deal he was working toward when he was shot and killed on a Harlem street on February 15, 1999, at twenty-four years old. The album’s posthumous reputation has grown continuously since his death: virtually every major MC who was active in the 1990s — Jay-Z, Eminem, Nas — has named Big L as the most technically gifted lyricist of his era. His multisyllabic rhyme density, comedic timing, and punch-line writing are unmatched in 1990s boom-bap rap. “Put It On” is the album’s defining single. “All Black” contains what many critics consider the densest single verse in the 1990s underground canon. The album’s Jay-Z guest verse on “You’ll Be Alright” is an early look at the rapper who would shortly take over the genre.
Track-by-Track Review (Key Tracks)
| Track | Quick Review |
|---|---|
| Put It On | The album's lead single and its finest track. Buckwild's production over Big L's most immediately accessible and technically precise verse. The track that most compactly demonstrates his range. Essential. |
| MVP (Most Valuable Poet) | The album's most explicitly competitive and technically concentrated verse performance. Big L demonstrating his lyrical superiority with the focused certainty of someone who knows the comparison is not close. Essential. |
| No Endz, No Skinz | The album's most comedic and narratively playful track. Big L at his most wittily observational about the street economics of relationships. Essential. |
| 8 Iz Enuff (ft. DitC) | The album's finest posse cut. The DitC collective's tightest and most energetically unified collective performance. Big L holding his own alongside Showbiz, Lord Finesse, and others. Essential. |
| All Black | The album's most formally concentrated verse showcase. Big L delivering one of the densest single verses in 1990s underground rap — multisyllabic internal rhyme schemes stacked so tightly the verse demands repeated listening. Essential. |
| Let 'Em Have It L | Big L at his most hard and confrontationally direct. A track that demonstrates the street credibility beneath the lyrical complexity. Essential. |
| Danger Zone (ft. Kool G Rap) | Kool G Rap's verse is the album's most historically significant guest contribution — passing the baton from the architect of Harlem rap storytelling to his most technically gifted successor. Essential. |
| да Graveyard (ft. Jay-Z, Lord Finesse) | An early Jay-Z verse that provides historical context for where he was before Reasonable Doubt. Big L and Jay trading verses with the easy confidence of two MCs who know they are operating above their competition. Essential. |
| M.V.P. | Big L consolidating the album's competitive claims with his most sustained and technically complex extended verse. Essential. |
| I Don't Understand It | The album's most tonally conventional track. A capable performance that doesn't reach the surrounding material's peak. |
Final Verdict and Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Production | 9/10 |
| Lyrics | 10/10 |
| Flow & Delivery | 10/10 |
| Features | 9.5/10 |
| Cohesion | 9/10 |
| Replay Value | 9.5/10 |
| Overall | 9/10 |
Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous is the definitive document of Harlem’s greatest MC. Lyrics and flow both score a perfect 10. “All Black” contains one of the densest single verses in 1990s underground rap. Big L’s Kool G Rap guest on “Danger Zone” is one of the most historically resonant generational-passing-of-the-baton moments in rap history. He was murdered at twenty-four. The album is the only complete studio statement we have. 9/10.
Final Rating: 9/10
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Big L the greatest lyricist in rap history?
Big L is widely considered among the top 5 most technically gifted lyricists in rap history. Jay-Z, Eminem, and Nas have all named him as the most technically precise MC of his era. His multisyllabic rhyme density, comedic timing, and punchline writing remain unmatched in 1990s boom-bap rap.
What are the best songs on Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous?
The five essential tracks are: "Put It On," "All Black," "MVP," "8 Iz Enuff," and "Danger Zone." All Black contains what many consider the densest single verse in 1990s underground rap. Danger Zone features Kool G Rap passing the baton to Big L in one of hip-hop's most historically resonant guest appearances.
How did Big L die?
Big L was shot and killed on February 15, 1999, on Lenox Avenue in Harlem, New York. He was twenty-four years old. His murder remains officially unsolved. At the time of his death he had been working toward a deal with Rawkus Records that would have resulted in his second proper album.
What is the rating for Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous?
Rap Reviews Daily rates Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous a 9/10. Lyrics and flow both score a perfect 10. It is the definitive document of Harlem's greatest MC and the only complete studio album he released during his lifetime.
References and Further Listening
Stream Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous on Spotify