Harlem's Finest: Return of the King 2025 Album

Big L

I love Big L. He was an incredible rapper and there was and is no one like him. This starts in a promising way. 'u aint gotta chance' is great and the level of rapping from both Nas and L is not valued enough in modern debates. It reminds surface level rappers like Mac Miller what being a great rapper actually is. It's hard to explain, but he raps like he has just taken a breath and the air is still in his mouth. "It's Mac Miller, bitch." I've never been a fan. It's sparked a lot of debate too amongst hip hop heads who question why features and producers here aren't artists who were actually in-tight with Big L or at least around when he was rapping. '7 Minute Freestyle' is a highlight but L clearly outclasses Jay-Z. Towards the end of Jay's second verse in particular he loses control and it is obvious L walked in with a clear plan and Jay just tried to hang. The Miilkbone 'Keep It Real' instrumental underneath is still amazing. 'Fred Samuel Playground' has a high quality Method Man verse but the song gets interrupted by an interlude which hurts the flow. It fits the theme, but it should have been put at the start or the end. 'All Alone (Quiet Storm Mix)' is dope but unfortunately too short to really sink in. The high energy hook for the bonus track 'Put the Mic Down' is dope and helps the album end in an engaging manner. Overall this is a good project. Anything with Big L rapping is always going to be hard to mess up too much. I just wanted more material we haven't already heard, fewer features, and more actual structured songs instead of so many freestyles which dominate the second half. Despite the argument fans are having that I mentioned earlier, apart from maybe the Mac Miller feature, this feels fairly authentic and respectful which cannot always be said about posthumous releases. Beats: ★★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★★☆ Hooks: ★★★ Best Tracks: u aint gotta chance, RHN (Real Harlem Niggas), 7 Minute Freestyle, How Will I Make It (Park West High School Mix), Put the Mic Down