Excuse the hypocrisy..but what's so good about Big L?

Question

i say excuse the hypocrisy because im not a fan of people asking "what's so good about _____" thinkin anything anybody says is gonna change their opinion..well im not asking you to make me think one or another, im just wondering what you see in Big L that could make him; top 5-10, 15, etc.? As a punchline rapper, i think he's good..but since when did punchline rappers chart out top __ lists? ppl knock Cassidy for being just a punchline rapper, and in my opinion, Big L is no more complete of an artist than him.

there's been "what's so good abouts' " Lil Wayne, Nas, and more posted by some of you..so there shouldnt be any dispute as to why this gets asked

and on another note..i recently listened to The Roots "Rising Down".what some of you hear in that to call it the best release of the year is beyond me

Answer 1

Big L was a mentor to alot of rappers that are big time today. He was part of the DITC crew, he also mentored Cam'ron and Mase, schooled Jay-Z and DMX.

He just never really got a chance to shine, because the music business was so different back then

Answer 2

This my friend is a good Q. I purchased his albums when they came out, and I personally don't think he's great.

A Q for you. Don't you think Big L was Dudley from Diff'rent Strokes?

Answer 3

Nothing really just his freestyles

Answer 4

There's only one reason he's so often considered one of the greatest: He died young.

He probably wouldn't make my top 30 list, to be honest.

Answer 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYfKMIdoJ...

Answer 6

He was a great lyricist, could tell stories, great punchlines.. I'm sure if he released more albums he would be in most peoples top 10s.. He's in mine for now, but I've never really thought hard about my top 10..

Answer 7

he wrote narrations and turned them into rap songs...and always talking about the infamous Harlem didn't hurt. personally i like his intensity especially from a time where most rappers could sit down and spit it, while Big L looked like he was shadow boxing an entire city when he was rapping

Answer 8

Big L is overrated plain and simple. He's a good rapper, has great flow and punchlines, but you need more than that to be considered one of the best. I think he was better at freestyles than studio work.

Answer 9

Just wondering where this is spawning from.

Answer 10

well.. to be honest-- not taking anything form him, but BIG L isnt in my top list...

i guess Im kind of with you on this one..

I think , we have a tendency to exaggerate the greatness of some artists when they pass as away to , sort of, pay homage to them and add to their legacy.

Not to say tho, had he not died, he wouldnt be considered top now.. but that, is something, we will never know

Answer 11

I guess HIP HOP is dead if you dont now whats good about BIG L,its ok though you probably was not listen to the real hip hop back in the day,before chains,cars,ho's ect

Answer 12

you can tell by my avatar that i like Big l but i think the reason people put him in their top rappers because he is dead.He is not top 15 lyrically for me.

freestyle wise,cassidy is better than big l,because big l pre-wrote his freestyles although cassidy sometimes does too.And we've seen cassidy in a actual rap battle freestyling but not big l.Big l didn't make any weak track like cassidy.

Answer 13

He's not in my top 5, but he has a much better flow than Cassidy, c'mon now.

Answer 14

^hahahahaha ya

uh i like punchline rappers alot but i dont they should top out either nice Q

Answer 15

I was gonna post a similar thread like this.. Not asking like "what's so big about him" & all but somethin' else.. You know I post it sometime later...

But he had amazing storytelling skills too... Great lyricist... Um... I don't think he's top 15 4 me... Maybe...

IMO he's not the greatetst punchline artist 2 me.. I think we know whose mine is..lol

Answer 16

well hes probably the best story teller ever great punchline artist you gotta listen to the songs

casulties of a dice game

Ebonics

and then basically any of his freestyles