The hugely influential Harlem rapper Big L was killed in a drive-by shooting in 1999. He was 24 when he lost his life, which means he’s been dead for longer than he was ever alive. Big L never found stardom in his lifetime, but he’s been a cult hero ever since his passing. His posthumous album The Big Picture came out in 2000 and went gold. Since then, we’ve gotten two more posthumous albums, and we’re about to get another one as part of Mass Appeal’s Legend Has It… series. The new LP Harlem’s Finest: Return OF The King comes out on Halloween, and it’ll feature a rare appearance from Big L’s friend Jay-Z.
