Next up in Nas’ Legend Has It… series is a posthumous album from the legendary Big L, Harlem’s Finest: Return Of The King, which arrives on Halloween via Mass Appeal (pre-order). It’s the fourth posthumous Big L album, the first in 14 years, and Mass Appeal is saying it’ll be the final Big L album as well. It was executive produced by Big L’s estate and associate produced by Mike “Heron” Herard and Royce 5’9”, and it has guest appearances from Nas and Jay-Z.
Speaking to Rolling Stone about the project, Nas said, “Big L was always ahead of his time. There’s some quotes out there from me about Big L, like how terrifyingly good that he was that made me have to step up my game. We were both signed to Columbia Records and I think the world never got a chance to get Big L the way they wanted him. It’s a blessing to have this celebration of him, and it’s a reminder that there’s different variants of hip hop and they’re all dope, but when it comes to lyricists, Big L’s the standard. A lot of people are safe out there and rap because Big L’s not no longer around. There’s a lot of stuff floating around today that’s really not good. This album will remind you that it’s not about hype, it’s about art. And that’s what Big L’s doing with this album, reminding the world, reminding New York, that even though there’s different styles that you should do and play with, which are very dope, never forget what this shit comes from. The roots of this shit is serious talent.”
The song with Nas, “u aint gotta chance,” is out now. As Stereogum‘s Tom Breihan points out, the Nas verse and the production are both new, while Big L’s verse comes from a 1997 Tim Westwood freestyle. Check it out below.
