Knight left No Limit in 2000, starting his own label, Special Forces Records.

His third and final album, Edward Lee Knight 1971-2001, was released posthumously in August 2001.

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.

He released his second album through this label, 2000's Special Forces, which featured contributions from his former No Limit labelmates.