New Big L Album of Unreleased Material Coming in November

11 years after Big L’s tragic murder, SMC Recordings has announced a November 23 release date for the rapper’s second posthumous album, Return Of The Devil’s Son.

Although there have been several mix CDs sold over the past decade, Big L’s family had previously only endorsed Rawkus’ gold-selling, 2000 Big L album Big Picture. Now on that project’s 10 year anniversary, the late Harlemite’s family and colleagues have come together for an ambitious album that collects 21 previously unreleased Big L songs.

“This album is supported 100% by the Big L family,” explained Big L’s brother Donald Phinazee. “I’ve been talking about this album for that last six years and it means everything to me. This is an original Big L album and I’m excited to put my brother out.”

Born Lamont Coleman, Big L began to make a name for himself in the early and mid 90s under Lord Finesse and as a member of the Diggin’ In the Crates Crew. He also founded a group in his native Harlem named Children of the Corn, which included young incarnations of Cam’Ron, Mase, McGruff, and the late Bloodshed.

In 1995, he released his debut album Lifestyles of the Poor and Dangerous to nominal commercial success. By 1999, he was on the verge of gaining national exposure through a potential signing with Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella imprint. But in February of that year, he was shot execution-style on a Harlem street corner in a still unsolved slaying.

In the years following his death, Big L’s stature has grown. Many cite him as the best example of the punchline-centered rhymes that are still popular in Hip-Hop cyphers, and a staple of most emcee’s repertoire.

Phinazee is immensely proud of the project. He not only marvels at his late brother’s talent, but also points to tracks like the Kool G. Rap and Royal Flush featuring “Right To The Top” as an example of what creative direction Big L planned on taking into the 21st century.

“This album will show where he should have been and where he was about to go,” Phinazee said. ” It’s going on 12 years since he’s been gone. He would have been that one; this project will show where he should have been at.”

The tracklist for Return Of The Devil’s Son can be viewed below.

1.) “Return Of The Devils Son” (produced by Showbiz)

2.) “Devil’s Son (produced by Showbiz)

3.) “Zone Of Danger” (produced by J-Love)

4.) “Sandman 118”

5.) “School Days”

6.) “Principle Of The New School” (produced by Showbiz)

7.) “Unexpected Flava” (produced by Lord Finesse)

8.) “Tony’s Touch”

9.) “Right To The Top” f/Royal Flush & Kool G Rap (produced by Domingo)

10.) “Once Again” (produced by J-Love)

11.) ” Harlem World Universal”

12.) “I Won’t”

13.) “Hard To Kill”

14.) “Power Moves”

15.) “If You Not Aware”

16.) “I Should Have Used A Rubber”

17.) “Doo Wop #5”

18.) “Yes You Can”

19.) “Audition”

20.) “MC’s What’s Going On” (produced by Showbiz)

21.) “Slaying The Mic”