The Big Picture (Big L album)

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, it was posthumously released on August 1, 2000 on Rawkus Records. It was incomplete at the time of Big L's death, and was posthumously completed by his manager and partner in Flamboyant Entertainment, Rich King. Recording sessions for the album took place primarily at D&D Studios in New York City, New York throughout 1998 and early 1999. It was produced by DJ Premier, Ron Browz, Ron G, Lord Finesse, Pete Rock, Shomari, Mike Heron, Ysae, and Showbiz. The Big Picture features appearances from Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Guru, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane and 2Pac. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in October 2000.[1]

The Big Picture
Studio album by
Big L
ReleasedAugust 1, 2000 (2000-08-01)
Recorded1997–99
StudioD&D Studios
(New York City, New York)
GenreHardcore hip hop
Length55:36
Label
ProducerDJ Premier, Ron Browz, Ron G, Lord Finesse, Pete Rock, Shomari, Mike Heron, Ysae, Showbiz
Big L chronology
Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
(1995)		 The Big Picture
(2000)		 Big L: The Archives 1996–2000
(2006)
Singles from The Big Picture
  1. "Ebonics"
    Released: October 18, 1998
  2. "Holdin' it Down"
    Released: March 11, 2000
  3. "Flamboyant"
    Released: May 30, 2000

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

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]
RapReviews8/10[4]
Rolling Stone[5]
Vibe[6]

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

Content

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

Track listing

Writers by Allmusic.[8]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."The Big Picture" (Intro)Lamont Coleman, Christopher MartinDJ Premier2:59
2."Ebonics (Criminal Slang)"Coleman, Rondell TurnerRon Browz3:21
3."Size ’Em Up"Coleman, TurnerRon Browz3:55
4."Deadly Combination" (featuring 2Pac)Coleman, Ronald Bowser, Tupac ShakurRon G2:32
5."'98 Freestyle"ColemanLord Finesse2:09
6."Holdin' It Down" (featuring A.G., Miss Jones & Stan Spit)Andre Barnes, Coleman, Peter Phillips, Stan Draton, Tarsha JonesPete Rock4:39
7."The Heist"Coleman, TurnerRon Browz3:02
8."The Enemy" (featuring Fat Joe)Coleman, Joseph Cartagena, MartinDJ Premier2:48
9."Fall Back" (featuring Kool G Rap)Coleman, James Elite, Nathaniel Wilson, Shomari JacksonShomari2:49
10."Flamboyant"Bobby Ervin, Coleman, Gail Farrell, Mickael HeronMike Heron3:07
11."Casualties of a Dice Game"Coleman, TurnerRon Browz3:18
12."Platinum Plus" (featuring Big Daddy Kane)Antonio Hardy, Coleman, MartinDJ Premier3:37
13."Who You Slidin' Wit" (featuring Stan Spit)Coleman, Draton, PhillipsPete Rock4:13
14."Games" (featuring Guru & Sadat X)Coleman, Derek Murphy, Keith Elam, Leroy SouthwellYsae4:32
15."The Heist Revisited"Coleman, Robert HallLord Finesse3:01
16."The Triboro" (featuring Fat Joe, O.C. & Remy Ma)Coleman, Cartagena, Omar Credle, Reminisce Mackie, Rodney LemayShowbiz5:29

Personnel

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

  • Louis Alfred III — mixing
  • Big Daddy Kane — performer
  • Big L — executive producer, performer
  • 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

Weekly charts
Chart (2000) Peak
position
UK Albums (The Official Charts Company)[10] 122
US Billboard 200[11] 13
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[12] 2

Year-end chart
Chart (2000) Peak
position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[13] 89

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[14] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

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

References
  1. "American album certifications – Big L – The Big Picture". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 25, 2011. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
  2. Berry, Jahna (August 11, 2000). "Street Buzz, Duets Fuel Sales of Big L's The Big Picture". Vh1. MTV Networks. Archived from the original on October 12, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  3. DiBella, M.F. "Review: The Big Picture - Big L". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  4. Juon, Steve (August 7, 2000). "Feature for August 6th, 2000 - Big L's "The Big Picture"". RapReviews. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  5. "Big L: The Big Picture: Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. RealNetworks. August 22, 2000. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved August 27, 2011.
  6. "Big L: The Big Picture: Flamboyant/Rawkus". Vibe. October 2000.
  7. Park, April (September 13, 2000). "Big L: The Big Picture (Rawkus/Flamboyant)". Riverfront Times. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  8. "The Big Picture - Big L". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
  9. Credits: The Big Picture at AllMusic. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
  10. "Chart Log UK: Darren B – David Byrne". MusicWeek & UKChartPlus. Zobbel.de. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  11. "Big L Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  12. "Big L Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  13. "2000 Year-End Charts – Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  14. "American album certifications – Big L – The Big Picture". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH. 
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