After the album, Lamont returned to his Harlem roots, teaming with Cam’ron, Cam’s cousin Bloodshed, McGruff and Murda Mase to form Children Of The Corn. Although the crew were close to signing a deal, Bloodshed was killed in a car accident in Harlem, while Cam and Mase would leave to pursue basketball careers, eventually signing solo deals.

Big L founded his own label, Flamboyant Entertainment, and released the classic street singles Ebonics, Size ‘Em Up and Flamboyant. The enormous buzz garnered from the songs attracted the attention of Roc-A-Fella Records’ Dame Dash and Jay-Z, and were in talks to sign Flamboyant Entertainment to the Def Jam giant. Unfortunately, Lamont was killed February 15th, 1999, just days away from signing the deal to make it official. Those songs would make it on to his posthumous sophomore release, the gold-selling Rawkus Records release, The Big Picture.

Like most tragic hip-hop cases, Big L was yet another in the long line of artists who unfortunately pass on the verge of success. Considered by most to be the most underrated lyricist, Big L was an unheralded New York legend in a long list of Harlem rhyme slingers, and his impact continues to affect the rap game today.