Big L “Unexpected Flava” (1992)

Album: Return of the Devil’s Son (released in 2010)

Label: SMC

Producer: Large Professor/Lord Finesse

Large Professor: “Lord Finesse brought Big L through to my rest. This was way before his first album was out. And Finesse [introduced us], and Big L was just standing there quiet—until the beat came on. And I always keep a hand held mic, [and he just got busy].

“I remember one day, they had a session, and it was the same day as the ‘Check The Rhime’ video, and it was the same day I was doing something with them. Maybe mixing something? I don’t exactly remember, but I was like, ‘I’m gonna go to this ‘Check The Rhime’ video.’

“But the ‘Unexpected Flava’ was a remix for a Lord Finesse song [‘Isn’t He Something’] from Return of the Funky Man. L rhymed on it. He just got in the booth, and did his thing. That dude was incredible. For real.

“Man, Lord Finesse has all kinds of things in the stash [which is why it probably never came out back in the day]. [Laughs.] He got mad gems, man. I think that just came out like two years ago, [and somebody told me it was on the Internet]. That’s how it goes. Yeah, Finesse got them jewels.

“We always respected each other on a skill level. We had big respect for all the D.I.T.C. dudes. I always had mad respect for Show and A.G., Finesse, and especially Diamond D.”