Big L's 'Put It on Bootleg' - The Unofficial Soundtrack to Underground Culture 'big l put it on bootleg'

In an era where music piracy is stigmatized, the term 'bootleg' still carries a certain cache within underground circles. For fans of hip-hop legends like Big L, who passed away far too soon in 1999 at just 24 years old, these illicitly sourced mixtapes serve as more than just contraband - they're living tributes to an artist whose untapped potential continues to captivate generations.

Big L's 'Put It on Bootleg' is such a tribute. Officially released posthumously in 2007 by Nature Sounds and reissued several times since, this double-disc collection of unreleased tracks, demos, and live performances from the Brooklyn MC's career before his untimely death has become an unofficial anthem for those who championed Big L during his lifetime.

The album itself is a testament to both L's lyrical prowess - evident in tracks like 'So Whatcha Sayin'' where he spits complex bars over classic samples and guest verses from fellow NYC legends such as Nas, AZ & The Wu-Tang Clan members Ghostface Killah & Raekwon the Chef.

However, beyond its musical value lies something more profound. 'Put It on Bootleg' represents an oral history of underground hip-hop in all its rawness - a sonic snapshot taken before major label machinery could homogenize or commercialize it further away from its authentic roots. This bootlegged sound was always meant for those who wouldn't have been able to experience Big L's genius otherwise; fans willing to seek out rare gems that never made official release, yet still managed to circulate through underground channels due largely in part thanks to the tireless efforts of dedicated heads like myself.

So here we are today - over two decades after its initial circulation on cassette tapes and CD-Rs passed hand-to-hand within hip-hop's underbelly. 'Put It on Bootleg' remains an enduring tribute not just to Big L himself, but also a reminder that true artistry transcends official channels; it lives forever through the power of bootlegs like this one.

Sources:

- Nature Sounds (2007) - Put It On Bootleg 'CD'

Big l put it on bootleg