Damn, this album is nice!

Not a new album but it's been in my collection for almost 2 years and i keep ignoring it.

Big L "The Big Picture"

I usually reach for "Lifestylez" when i want to hear Big L. I'd listened to "The Big Picture" 2-3 times before but never really got to really concentrate on it, i was usually occupied with something else when i listened. Gave it a good listen last night and again this morning and it's really dope material. Any thoughts on this album?

It's a nice album. Most people like Lifestylez more. KJ will come along and say he disagrees entirely cause he likes The Big Picture more. end of thread................

I love The Big Picture. Probably my favorite L album though it does sound more like a collection of tracks, it still has a nice flow to it and some amazing songs. Goes to show us how dope L woulda been had he not been taken away from us. Lifestylez is a dope album too, but some of it sounds dated and I think L refined his flow and lyrics with time as well.

I like Big Picture better, too.

I prefer Lifestylez by a large margin, but both albums are quite nice.

One of my favorites too, though I enjoy lifestylez more. Doesn't sound cohesive at times since in some songs L only has 1 verse, but there's definitely songs where he rippes it to shreds. The 1st time I heard '98 freestyle, I was blown away.. I still can't get over that Beavis & Butthead line

A very dope album right here! 4.5 stars is on point for this effort!

Yeah I like Big Picture a tad betta than Lifestylez mainly due to betta production. Big L with the right production would have been one of hip hop's top dogs.

I love the Big Picture, it's a personal classic and better than Lifestylez IMO. Like SRP stated earlier, the production on Lifestylez sounds a bit dated. My two favorite Big L tracks (Ebonics and Platinum Plus) are on this album. That '98 Freestyle was one of the best freestyles in history IMO. It's a shame that he was taken before his time, I honestly believe he would have become of the elite MC's in the game if he were still alive. Both albums are great, but I prefer the beats and storytelling on The Big Picture more which is why I give it the edge over his debut. Glad you like it Taylor.

And to Terry, I knew I wouldn't be the only one that felt that way

I like Big Picture but I like Lifestylez more. BP felt incomplete at parts but the production was definitely on point.

Lifestylez was straight dark and it worked. I can definitely see with BP L was trying to expand. The only thing I wish they had done different with Lifestylez was include Devil's Son and include Times is Hard. A while back someone found the unreleased material for it and I wished he had kept that too.

KJ Styles wrote:

I love the Big Picture, it's a personal classic and better than Lifestylez IMO. Like SRP stated earlier, the production on Lifestylez sounds a bit dated. My two favorite Big L tracks (Ebonics and Platinum Plus) are on this album. That '98 Freestyle was one of the best freestyles in history IMO. It's a shame that he was taken before his time, I honestly believe he would have become of the elite MC's in the game if he were still alive. Both albums are great, but I prefer the beats and storytelling on The Big Picture more which is why I give it the edge over his debut. Glad you like it Taylor.

And to Terry, I knew I wouldn't be the only one that felt that way

yeah, i'm a little surprised that more people like it more. I honestly think his rhymes were better on his debut, and it was more cohesive as a whole. both are great albums.

T. Myers wrote:

KJ Styles wrote:

I love the Big Picture, it's a personal classic and better than Lifestylez IMO. Like SRP stated earlier, the production on Lifestylez sounds a bit dated. My two favorite Big L tracks (Ebonics and Platinum Plus) are on this album. That '98 Freestyle was one of the best freestyles in history IMO. It's a shame that he was taken before his time, I honestly believe he would have become of the elite MC's in the game if he were still alive. Both albums are great, but I prefer the beats and storytelling on The Big Picture more which is why I give it the edge over his debut. Glad you like it Taylor.

And to Terry, I knew I wouldn't be the only one that felt that way

yeah, i'm a little surprised that more people like it more. I honestly think his rhymes were better on his debut, and it was more cohesive as a whole. both are great albums.

I think both albums are even lyrically. I think those that criticize The Big Picture do so because it was posthumous, but it's a great album. The production on the Big Picture is superior to Lifestylez which is the main reason I give it the edge.