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There’s a constant dilemma when it comes to posthumous albums. On one hand, dedicated fans want to hear unreleased music from their favourite artists who have gone too soon. Then, on the other hand, some estates abuse the opportunity by cashing in with lacklustre work and damaging a legacy. With the latest body of work from Big L, they’ve done things the right way.

The Harlem rapper was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in February 1999. He was hit nine times in his local neighbourhood, suffering injuries to his face and chest, and losing his life at 24. The only album he released during his lifetime, Lifestylez ov da Poor and Dangerous, came out in 1995, followed by three posthumous albums: 2000’s The Big Picture, 2010’s 139 and Lenox, and 2011’s The Danger Zone.

Now, the legendary MC is back with the help of Nas. On October 31st, his latest posthumous album, Harlem’s Finest: Return of the King, was released on Mass Appeal Records. The 16-track project is stacked with big-name features, including Jay-Z, Nas, Method Man, Mac Miller, Joe Budden, Joey Bada$$, and more.

Nas is one of the most skilled MCs of all time, and there are few rappers he fears when it comes to lyricism. However, he once admitted that Big L “scared him to death,” believing there was no way he could compete with him. So, to release an album of his on his own label would have been a dream come true for the Queensbridge legend.

Speaking on the new album, Nas told Rolling Stone, “It’s a blessing to have this celebration of him, and it’s a reminder that there’s different variants of hip-hop and they’re all dope, but when it comes to lyricists, Big L’s the standard. A lot of people are safe out there and rap because Big L’s not no longer around. There’s a lot of stuff floating around today that’s really not good.”

He continued, “This album will remind you that it’s not about hype, it’s about art. And that’s what Big L’s doing with this album, reminding the world, reminding New York, that even though there’s different styles that you should do and play with, which are very dope, never forget what this shit comes from. The roots of this shit is serious talent.”

Nas raps alongside Big L on the lead single, ‘U Ain’t Got a Chance’. The project opens with the gritty ‘Harlem Universal’, in which Big raps, “I be twisting bitches a lot/ Have ’em shit on this cock/ I wasn’t prepared for this/ I wrote my shit on the spot.” It’s the type of bold lyrics that put him on the map in the first place.

Other standout moments include his Hov collaboration, ‘7 Minute Freestyle’, which was recorded on Stretch and Bobbito in 1995. The recording has long been available on cassette but has now been cleaned up for an official release. Then, on ‘Forever’, the late Mac Miller, who once revealed he became a rapper because of Big L, provides a verse.

While the project feels expertly put together, much of it is made up of radio freestyles and mixtape verses that were already out in the world. Harlem’s Finest does a good job of restoring these gems, serving as more of a celebration than a complete set of new rhymes.