Hit-Boy, Alchemist, Nas, Megan Thee Stallion & the enduring Legacy of Big L in Modern Hip-Hop Production
Los Angeles, CA – November 8, โข2023 – A recent collaborativeโ livestreamโข session featuring producers Hit-Boy and Alchemistโ ignited a conversation about sampling and influence inโ hip-hop, specifically highlighting the lasting impact of โthe late โBigโฃ L โคon their respective styles andโ the broader landscape of โbeatmaking. The discussion,which included reflections on working with Nas and observations on contemporary artists like Megan Thee Stallion,underscores a โcritical link โฃbetween hip-hop’s golden era and its current sonic innovations.
The exchange, broadcast November 7th, centered on the producers’ โshared admiration for Big L’s lyrical dexterity and the unique textures ofโข his production, notably the work of DJโฃ Premier.Both Hit-Boy and Alchemistโค detailed โhow they actively study and incorporate elements of classic hip-hopโ into their beats, demonstrating a conscious โขeffort to honor the genre’s โfoundations while pushing creative boundaries. This reverence for theโค pastโข is particularly evident in their collaborations with Nas, whose โown career was profoundly โshaped by Big L, and in their assessment of artists who sample and reinterpret โขolder sounds.
“Big L was just different,” alchemist stated during the livestream, referencing theโ late rapper’s distinctive flow and storytelling. “The way he approached a verse, the cadenceโฆโ it’s timeless. You can hear his influence in so much of โขwhat’s happening โคtoday.” Hit-Boy echoed this sentiment,โค adding that Premier’s production on Big โขL’s โฃtracks provided a blueprint for creating impactful, sample-based beats.
The โconversation extended to contemporary artists, with both producers acknowledging Megan Thee Stallion’s skillful use of samples and her ability to blend classic sounds with modern trap aesthetics. They highlighted her recent work as โan example ofโ how artists are continuing to build upon the legacy of pioneers like Big L, demonstrating a cyclical โnature of influence within hip-hop.
Nas, a longtime friend and โcollaborator of Big L, has consistently paid homage to the fallenโฃ rapper throughout his career.Both Hit-Boy and Alchemistโข have contributed considerably to Nas’s post-2000 discography, crafting beats that frequently enough incorporate elements reminiscent of the golden era sound that Big L helped define. This ongoing creative dialogue serves as a testament to theโฃ enduring power of Big L’s artistry and its continued relevance in shaping โtheโข sound of modern hip-hop.