The Big Picture (Big L album)

Last updated
The Big Picture
Big L The Big Picture.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 1, 2000 (2000-08-01)
Recorded1997–1999
Studio D&D Studios
(New York City, New York)
Genre Hardcore hip hop
Length55:36
Label
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)
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

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 Big 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 (who also executive produced the album), 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, 2Pac, Sadat X, and more. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in October 2000. [1]

Contents

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

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
RapReviews8/10 [4]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Source Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Vibe Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [7]

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[ who? ] 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 . [8]

Track listing

Writers by Allmusic. [9]

No.TitleWriter(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, TurnerRon Browz3:55
4."Deadly Combination" (featuring 2Pac)Coleman, Ronald Bowser, Tupac Shakur Ron G2:32
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, 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 Hall Lord Finesse3:01
16."The Triboro" (featuring Fat Joe, O.C. & Remy Ma)Coleman, Cartagena, Omar Credle, Reminisce Mackie, Rodney Lemay Showbiz 5:29

Personnel

Credits for The Big Picture adapted from Allmusic. [10]

Charts

Weekly charts

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

Year-end chart

Chart (2000)Peak
position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums [14] 89

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [15] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateLabelFormatCatalog
United StatesAugust 1, 2000 Rawkus CD 26136
Cassette tape
LP

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References

  1. "American album certifications – Big L – The Big Picture". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved April 25, 2011.
  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. 1 2 DiBella, M.F. "Review: The Big Picture - Big L". Allmusic . Rovi Corporation . Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  4. 1 2 Juon, Steve (August 7, 2000). "Feature for August 6th, 2000 - Big L's "The Big Picture"". RapReviews. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  5. 1 2 "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. Gotti (October 2000). "Record Report: Big L – The Big Picture". The Source . No. 133. New York. p. 241.
  7. Callahan-Bever, Noah (October 2000). "Big L: The Big Picture: Flamboyant/Rawkus". Vibe .[ dead link ]
  8. Park, April (September 13, 2000). "Big L: The Big Picture (Rawkus/Flamboyant)". Riverfront Times . Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  9. "The Big Picture - Big L". Allmusic . Rovi Corporation . Retrieved April 25, 2011.
  10. Credits: The Big Picture at AllMusic . Retrieved April 25, 2011.
  11. "Chart Log UK: Darren B – David Byrne". MusicWeek & UKChartPlus . Zobbel.de. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  12. "Big L Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  13. "Big L Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  14. "2000 Year-End Charts – Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard . Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  15. "American album certifications – Big L – The Big Picture". Recording Industry Association of America.