This mix has had the Internet BUZZIN’ for the past couple of days so it was only right for me to get it up on the site.  An emcee that was taken way from us WAY too early, Big L, would have celebrated his 35th birthday this past May 30th.  It’s no secret that he was on the cusp of making big moves just days before his murder  (reportedly almost signing to Roc-a-Fella Records).  His murder remains unsolved to this very day.

Albeit bittersweet, he left a ton of material behind and you can be there right along with him as his skills progressed.   DJ Soul was cool enough to throw together a mix (with some assistance from Lord Finesse, DJ Premier, Rich King & Bobbito) to remind everyone how ill this Harlem legend truly was. 

The eeriest joint is easily “How Will I Make It,” the last track.  This is the song where L flips Treach’s last line from Naughty by Nature’s “Alright,” makes a whole song around that theme and pretty much predicts that his life will be cut short and he won’t be able to enjoy the fruits of his labor.  Incredible.  Download link after the tracklist.

01 Intro (Part 1) f/ Lord Finesse
02 Intro (Part 2) f/ Funkmaster Flex & Nas
03 Principal of The New School (freestyle) 
04 Yes You May (remix) f/ Lord Finesse
05 DJ Premier Interlude
06 MVP (Live from Amsterdam) 
07 Ebonics
08 Internationally Known f/ OC 
09 Hit It (unreleased) 
10 I Shoulda Worn A Rubba (aka The Clinic ) (unreleased)
11 American Dream f/ McGruff, Mase, Cam’ron & Bloodshed
12 Sandman 118th (freestyle) 
13 Games Females Play (unreleased) 
14 School Dayz (unreleased) 
15 The Devil’s Son (Live from Amsterdam) 
16 Times Is Hard On The Blvd (unreleased)
17 Day One f/ Diamond 
18 Interlude f/ Fat Joe 
19 The Enemy f/ Fat Joe 
20 Street Struck 
21 Interlude f/ Bobbito
22 ‘95 Freestyle f/ Jay-Z (Live on WKCR w/ Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito)
23 Uptown Connection (aka Danger Zone) f/ Mase & McGruff
24 Lord Finesse Interlude
25 How Will I Make It (unreleased)