Going back through Big L's catalog, it's honestly crazy how many times he referenced dying young, getting killed, or becoming a victim of the streets. Not in a glorified way, but almost as if he knew how dangerous his environment was and how easily things could go wrong
In "Street Struck", he warns:
"Stay off the corners, that might be your best plan, before you catch a bullet that was meant for the next man."
In "How Will I Make It", he reflects on the limited paths he sees ahead:
"Either I'ma go back to jail or get murdered, but do I deserve it?"
And "Casualties of a Dice Game" is basically a cautionary tale about success, betrayal, jealousy, and what can happen when you're surrounded by the wrong people