Big Ed the Assassin | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Edward Lee Knight |
Also known as | Big Ed |
Born | 1971 Richmond, California, U.S. |
Died | July 8, 2001 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
(aged 29–30)
Genres | Hip hop, Gangster rap |
Occupation(s) | Rapper |
Years active | 1992–2001 |
Labels | Special Forces Records, No Limit Records, Priority Records |
Associated acts | Master P, Silkk the Shocker, Mia X, TRU, Snoop Dogg |
Edward Lee Knight (1971 – July 8, 2001), best known by his stage name Big Ed the Assassin (or briefly Lil Big Ed, Big Lil Ed, Lil Lil Ed, & Big Big Ed), was an American rapper who was signed to Master P's No Limit Records in 1992, although releasing his first and only solo album The Assassin on No Limit in 1998.
Knight was born in Richmond, California, and attended Eastern Washington University from 1992 to 1993 on a basketball scholarship, but dropped out to pursue a career in rap music in the Bay Area with Master P's West Coast Bad Boy Clique.
Big Ed was an original member of the rap group TRU (The Real Untouchables), appearing on the group's first three albums, Who's Da Killer?, Understanding the Criminal Mind and True. Throughout the 90s, Ed had guest spots on many of No Limit's other releases such as Master P's 99 Ways to Die, Silkk the Shocker's debut The Shocker and Mia X's Unlady Like.
His debut album, The Assassin, was released on September 1, 1998 and peaked at #15 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
In 2000, Big Ed left No Limit to start his own record label, Special Forces Records. He released his second album through this label, 2000's Special Forces, which featured contributions from his former No Limit labelmates.