Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
A man with a white tee shirt, a jacket, jeans, a white hat and brown shoes is standing during the night. Many people are standing behind him. The artist's name is written in the top right corner and the album name is written across the bottom.
Studio album by
Big L
ReleasedMarch 28, 1995 (1995-03-28)
Recorded1992–94
StudioPowerplay (Queens, New York)
Unique (New York City)
Chung King (New York City)
Genre
Length48:51
LabelColumbia
ProducerBuckwild, Lord Finesse, Showbiz, Craig Boogie
Big L chronology
Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
(1995)		 The Big Picture
(2000)
Singles from Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous
  1. "Put It On"
    Released: November 13, 1994
  2. "M.V.P."
    Released: January 1, 1995
  3. "No Endz, No Skinz"
    Released: March 4, 1995

Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous is the debut studio album by American rapper Big L, and the only to be released during his lifetime. It was released on March 28, 1995, by Columbia Records. Recording sessions took place primarily at Powerplay Studios in Queens, New York, in mid-to-late 1994. Production was handled by Buckwild, Lord Finesse, Showbiz and Craig Boogie. The album title is a play on the television series, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.

The album debuted at number 149 on the US Billboard 200 and number 22 on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, but did not chart internationally. Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous spawned three singles: "Put It On", "M.V.P.", and "No Endz, No Skinz", the first two both peaked within the top 25 on the US Hot Rap Tracks and Hot Dance Singles Sales. Upon its release, the album received positive reviews from music critics, earning praise for Big L's lyricism and wordplay, and is now considered by many fans as a classic album. As of August 2000, the album had sold 200,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

Background

Big L began writing rhymes in 1990 and his first professional appearance came on the B-side of "Party Over Here" by Lord Finesse in 1992. Around this time, L joined Lord Finesse's Bronx-based hip hop group Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.). The group consisted of Lord Finesse, Diamond D, O.C., Fat Joe, Buckwild, Showbiz and A.G. He founded Harlem centered rap group Children of the Corn with fellow aspiring MC's Killa Cam, Murda Mase, Bloodshed and Herb McGruff; when Bloodshed died in a car accident in 1997, the group later disbanded.

In 1993, Big L submitted a four track cassette tape to Columbia Records, who soon after signed him to their company.

Recording and production

Recording for Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous mainly took place at Powerplay Studios (Queens, New York);[1] the songs "Put It On" and "Danger Zone" were recorded at Unique Studios (New York City, New York)[1] and the songs "M.V.P." and "Street Struck" were recorded at Chung King Studios (New York City, New York).[1] James Niedermeyer worked with Big L on the album and heavily influenced the lyrics on songs such as "Danger Zone" and "All Black".

Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous was produced by mainly members of Big L's group, Diggin' in the Crates Crew: Buckwild, Lord Finesse (who produced most of the album), and Showbiz. Craig Boogie as well as Kid Capri (who was often referred to as an honorary member of D.I.T.C.[2]) also helped with the production of the album. The album also features guest appearances from a young Cam'ron (credited as Killa Cam on "8 Iz Enuff") and Jay-Z (on "Da Graveyard").

Composition

In a 2010 interview with HipHopDX to commemorate the album's 15th anniversary and its re-issue by Traffic Entertainment, Lord Finesse discussed the making of the album.[2]

Concerning "Put It On", he stated:

[Columbia Records] wanted something with a hook that would be kinda catchy, and something they could get radio play with. Like, everything [L] did was dark, and it was gangsta, and it was . . . what was the [popular style at the time]? Horror-core. So they needed something bright, something friendly. And "Put It On" just matched everything perfect."

Concerning "M.V.P.", he stated:

That song came about because L wanted a commercial, R&B loop that everybody could recognize. And me remembering that [DeBarge] record, and also remembering how Kid Capri used it way back when he did – I forgot which record he did, but he had that [song], and I’m like, "Damn, well maybe we could reinvent that right there." And L heard the loop and was like, "Yeah, that’s it!" But, [with] Diggin’, we had to have the right drums, the right everything [to go with a sample], and we dressed it up in a way where we tried to keep it Hip Hop.

Concerning "8 Iz Enuff", he said:

With that [song] L just thought he had to do a track with the rappers from his hood. And he definitely wanted to put on [those particular emcees]… We looking like, "How you gonna put eight niggas on one track?" [And he was like], "Don’t worry, I got this."

Speaking about "Danger Zone", he said:

At the time it was somebody by the name of David Kahne [working as L’s A&R at Columbia]. He was like the person who was responsible for getting L signed, and he loved all that devil’s son shit. [Says in nasally white-guy voice] "Oh wow, this is great!" It’s like, "Are you serious?" Because we had to make [L] change a line in "Devil’s Son" because it was [like], "You’re too out-of-order." What was the line . . . "I’m killin’ chumps for the cheapest price / I’m rollin’ with Satan," [and instead of then saying "not Jesus Christ"] it was "F Jesus Christ." But we made him change it to "Not Jesus Christ." [We were] like, "Yo, what the fuck are you doing?!"

Commenting on "Street Struck", he said:

That was Sony [that wanted him to make something more positive]. [They were like], "You so dark on this album, we need something positive we can push. This album is too dark: you got "All Black", you got "Danger Zone", you done came out with "Devil’s Son". We really don’t wanna push that as your image. You have to do something that’s gonna balance it." And that’s [when] we started doing more conceptual, conscious songs like "Fed Up Wit The Bullshit", "Street Struck", and "M.V.P." and "Put It On."

Release and promotion

Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous was released on March 28, 1995. Prior to the release, Big L, under Columbia, released a promotional cassette tape in 1994 consisting of four tracks that did not make it to the final album.

Singles

Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous released three singles, all of which peaked within the top 25 on Billboard's Hot Rap Tracks and Hot Dance Singles Sales. The first single to release was "Put It On." It peaked at number 12 on Hot Dance Singles Sales,[3] 23 on Hot Rap Tracks,[3] and 81 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[4] The second single to be released was "M.V.P.", which peaked at number 15 on Hot Rap Tracks,[3] 25 on Hot Dance Singles Sales, and 56 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[5] The third and final single from the album was "No Endz, No Skinz", however, the song did not chart. In addition to the three singles, "Street Struck" was released as a promotional single, but did not chart as well.

Reception

Commercial performance

Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous debuted at number 149 on the US Billboard 200[6] and number 22 on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[7] The album would not peak any higher. It has sold over 200,000 copies since August 2000.[8]

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
RapReviews9/10[10]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[11]
The Source4/5[12]

Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous received critical acclaim. The Source wrote that "[Big L] comes with ill animated lyrics, combined with metaphors that stun; a combo sure to have suckas on the run".[12]

M. F. DiBella of AllMusic complimented Big L as "a master of the lyrical stickup undressing his competition with kinetic metaphors and a brash comedic repertoire," while noting: "With better production and marketing, Big L might have found himself with a platinum album but instead he settled for platinum respect."[9]

Steve Juon of RapReviews called the album "jam packed with treats" and lamented that it "faded quietly into obscurity, now better known after his death than it was while he was still alive".[10]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Put It On" (featuring Kid Capri)Coleman, BestBuckwild3:39
2."M.V.P."Coleman, Hall, Jordan, M.D. DeBargeLord Finesse3:40
3."No Endz, No Skinz"Coleman, LemayShowbiz3:30
4."8 Iz Enuff" (featuring Terra, Herb McGruff, Buddah Bless, Big Twan, Killa Cam, Trooper J. & Mike Boogie)Best, Buddah Bless, Coleman, Kam, McGruff, Mik, Terra, Trooper J., TwanBuckwild4:59
5."All Black"Coleman, HallLord Finesse4:21
6."Danger Zone" (featuring Herb McGruff)Best, ColemanBuckwild3:38
7."Street Struck"Coleman, HallLord Finesse4:10
8."Da Graveyard" (featuring Lord Finesse, Microphone Nut, Jay-Z, Party Arty & Grand Daddy I.U.)Coleman, BestBuckwild5:24
9."Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous"Coleman, HallLord Finesse3:22
10."I Don't Understand It"Coleman, LemayShowbiz4:21
11."Fed Up wit the Bullshit"Coleman, HallLord Finesse3:53
12."Let 'Em Have It L"C.Rollins, ColemanCraig Boogie3:58

Early configurations

A promotional cassette circulated in 1994 with a different track listing,[13] including four songs that did not make the final retail album. A later promotional cassette also included an extra track that was removed from the final track listing.[14]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Put It On" (featuring Kid Capri)Best, ColemanBuckwild3:39
2."No Endz, No Skinz"Coleman, LemayShowbiz3:30
3."8 Iz Enuff" (featuring Terra, Herb McGruff, Buddah Bless, Big Twan, Killa Cam, Trooper J & Mike Boogie)Best, Buddah Bless, Coleman, Kam, McGruff, Mik, Terra, Trooper J., TwanBuckwild4:59
4."I Don't Understand It"Coleman, LemayShowbiz4:21
5."Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous"Coleman, HallLord Finesse3:22
6."Devil's Son"Coleman, LemayShowbiz4:03
7."I Shoulda Used A Rubba"Coleman, BestBuckwild4:39
8."School Dayz"Coleman, HallLord Finesse3:16
9."All Black"Coleman, HallLord Finesse4:21
10."Da Graveyard" (featuring Lord Finesse, Microphone Nut, Jay Z, Party Arty & Grand Daddy I.U.)Best, ColemanBuckwild5:24
11."Let 'Em Have It L"C.Rollins, ColemanCraig Boogie3:58
12."Fed Up Wit The Bullshit"Coleman, HallLord Finesse3:53
13."Timez Iz Hard"Coleman, Hall, BestBuckwild, Lord Finesse3:32

Personnel

Credits for Lifestylez of da Poor & Dangerous adapted from Allmusic.[15]

Charts

Chart (1995) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[16] 149
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[17] 22

Release history

Region Date Label Ref.
United States March 28, 1995 Columbia [18]
France March 28, 1995 Sony [19]
Canada June 18, 2001 Sony [20]
United Kingdom October 6, 2009 Sony [21]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Big L - Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs. Zinc Media. Retrieved April 29, 2011.
  2. 1 2 Arnold, Paul (July 30, 2010). "Lord Finesse Breaks Down Big L's "Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous"". Hip Hop DX. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 "Big L Charts & Awards: Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Billboard Chart Search: 'Put It On'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on April 22, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Billboard Chart Search: 'M.V.P.'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on April 22, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Billboard 200". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 15. Nielsen Business Media. April 15, 1995. p. 78. ISSN 0006-2510.
  7. ↑ "Billboard Top R&B Albums". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 15. Nielsen Business Media. April 15, 1995. p. 22. ISSN 0006-2510.
  8. ↑ 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 12, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  9. 1 2 DiBella, M. F. "Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous – Big L". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 4, 2011.
  10. 1 2 Juon, Steve "Flash" (February 18, 2003). "Big L :: Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous :: Columbia Records". RapReviews. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
  11. ↑ Matos, Michaelangelo (2004). "Big L". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp. 70–71. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  12. 1 2 "Big L: Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous". The Source. No. 66. New York: Source Publications. March 1995. p. 71. ISSN 1063-2085.
  13. ↑ "Big L - Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous". Discogs. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
  14. ↑ "Big L - Lifestylez Ov Da Poor And Dangerous". Discogs. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
  15. ↑ "Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous > Credits". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 8, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Big L Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Big L Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Lifestylez Ov da Poor & Dangerous". Amazon. 1995.
  19. ↑ "Lifestylez Ov Poor & Dangerous".
  20. ↑ "Lifestylez Ov da Poor and Dangerous". 2002.
  21. ↑ "Lifestylez Ov da Poor & Dangerous". Amazon UK.

Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous at AllMusic

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