The Big Picture (Big L album)

The Big Picture
A man wearing a black shirt, a black hat, glasses, and a chain with a cross on it is pointing his finger like a gun
Studio album by Big L
Released August 1, 2000 (2000-08-01)
Recorded 1997–1998
D&D Studios
(New York City, New York)
Genre East Coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop, underground hip hop
Length 55:36
Label Rawkus / Flamboyant Entertainment
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 (Criminal Slang)"
    Released: October 18, 1999
  2. "Holdin' It Down"
    Released: March 11, 2000
  3. "Flamboyant"
    Released: May 30, 2000
  4. "Platinum Plus"
    Released: November 26, 2000

The Big Picture is the second and final studio (and first posthumous) album by American rapper Big L. The album was slated for a 1999 release, but due to L's murder, the album was posthumously released on August 1, 2000 on Rawkus Records. Recording sessions for the album took place primarily at D&D Studios in New York City, New York during 1997 to 1998. The album was produced by DJ Premier, Ron Browz, Ron G, Lord Finesse, Pete Rock, Shomari, Mike Heron, Ysae, and Showbiz. The album features the popular singles "Ebonics" and "Size 'Em Up" (the latter of which was the last single released while Big L was still alive), as well as the #1 Rap single "Flamboyant". The Big Picture features appearances from Fat Joe, Guru, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane and 2Pac. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in October 2000.[1]

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 generally favorable reviews from music critics. M.F. DiBella of Allmusic gave the album three out of five stars.[3] RapReviews' Steve Juon gave the album eight out of ten stars.[4] Rolling Stone gave the album 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 Enemy", featuring fellow New York rapper Fat Joe, talks about the NYPD in a bad 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)Cartagena, Coleman, Martin, Omar Credle, Rodney LemayShowbiz5:29

Personnel

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

  • Nas-Sampled
  • Louis Alfred III — mixing
  • Big Daddy Kane — performer
  • Big L — Executive Producer
  • 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 and certifications

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 Certification Certified units/Sales
United States (RIAA)[14] Gold 500,000^

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 30, 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. ↑ "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 for Big L. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Big L – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Big L. 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. Retrieved May 16, 2011. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
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