Posthumous Big L Album Drops with Nas Collaboration

In a highly anticipated move, the first single from Big L's posthumous album "Harlem's Finest: Return Of The King" has been released. The track, titled "u ain't gotta chance," pairs Big L's bars from a 1997 freestyle with a fiery verse from Nas.

The album, co-executive produced by Big L's estate and Royce Da 5'9", is part of Mass Appeal's "Legend Has It..." series, which has previously featured releases from Slick Rick, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and Mobb Deep. The project is set to drop on Halloween and is comprised of "mostly the updated songs from [2010's] Return of The Devil's Son and a few freestyles the team built into new records."

Nas, who collaborated with Big L on the single, expressed his honor in working on the track, saying "even though Big L's not here with us now, to get on the song with him is still pressure. He left an outstanding amount of serious rhymes." The song's production involved a six-step process, with various producers and engineers contributing to the final product.

The release of "Harlem's Finest: Return Of The King" comes after Big L's estate, led by Mike Herard, took steps to properly account for and manage the late rapper's legacy. This includes addressing past licensing issues and ensuring Big L's work is properly recognized and compensated.