Lamont Coleman (May 30, 1974 – February 15, 1999), known professionally as Big L, was an American rapper and songwriter. Noted for his use of wordplay, multiple writers at AllMusic, HipHopDX and The Source have praised Big L for his lyrical ability, and he has also been described as "one of the most auspicious storytellers in hip-hop history." Regarding Big L’s legacy in an interview with Funkmaster Flex, Nas claimed "Big L scared me to death. When I heard his performance at the Apollo Theater 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.'" Emerging from Harlem in New York City in the early to mid-1990s, Big L became well known among underground hip-hop fans for his freestyling ability. He was eventually signed to Columbia Records, where, in 1995, he released his debut album, Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous. On February 15, 1999, Big L was shot nine times in his East Harlem neighborhood and later died from his injuries.