The Big Picture is the second studio album by American rapper Big L. The album was slated for a 1999 release, but due to Big L's murder, it was posthumously released on August 1, 2000, on Rawkus Records and Big L's Flamboyant Entertainment. It was incomplete at the time of Big L's death, and was posthumously completed by his manager and partner in Flamboyant Entertainment, Rich King. Recording sessions for the album took place primarily at D&D Studios in New York City, New York throughout 1998 and early 1999. It was produced by DJ Premier (who also executive produced the album), Ron Browz, Ron G, Lord Finesse, Pete Rock, Shomari, Mike Heron, Ysae, and Showbiz. The Big Picture features appearances from Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Guru, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, 2Pac, Sadat X, and more.

Commercial performance

The album sold 72,549 copies in its first week, debuting and peaking at number 13 on the Billboard 200. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in October 2000. To date, it is Big L's best selling album.

Critical reception

The Big Picture has received critical acclaim. M.F. DiBella of Allmusic gave the album three out of five stars.

Track listing

Writers by Allmusic.

Personnel

Credits for The Big Picture adapted from Allmusic.

  • Louis Alfred III — mixing
  • Big Daddy Kane — performer
  • Big L — executive producer, performer
  • Bob Brown — engineer
  • Ron Browz — producer
  • Rob Dinero — composer, engineer
  • DJ Premier — executive producer, producer
  • Fat Joe — performer
  • 2Pac — performer, writer
  • Mike Heron — executive producer, producer
  • Kool G Rap — performer
  • Lord Finesse — executive producer, mixing, producer
  • Eric Lynch — engineer
  • Miss Jones — performer
  • Pete Rock — producer
  • Sadat X — performer
  • Shomari — producer
  • Duncan Stanbury — mastering
  • Max Vargas — engineer
  • Carlisle Young — mixing
  • YSAE — producer

Charts

Weekly charts

{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|-

!Chart (2000)

!Peak<br />position

|-

!scope="row"|UK Albums (The Official Charts Company)

| align="center" | 122

|-

|-

|}

Year-end chart

{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|-

!Chart (2000)

!Peak<br />position

|-

!scope="row"|US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums

| 89

|}

Certifications

Release history

{|class="wikitable"

! Region

! Date

! Label

! Format

! Catalog

|-

| rowspan="3" | United States

| rowspan="3" | August 1, 2000

| rowspan="3" | Rawkus

| CD

| rowspan="3" | 26136

|-

| Cassette tape

|-

| LP

|-

|}

References

  • The Big Picture at Allmusic
  • The Big Picture 1974–1999 at Discogs