Big Pun

Last updated

Big Pun
Big Pun 1999.jpg
Big Pun in 1999
Background information
Birth nameChristopher Lee Rios
Also known as
  • Big Punisher
  • Big Dog The Punisher
  • Big Moon Dawg [1]
Born(1971-11-10)November 10, 1971
The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
DiedFebruary 7, 2000(2000-02-07) (aged 28)
White Plains, New York, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • songwriter
  • actor
  • record producer
Years activec. 1995-2000 [2]
Labels
Formerly of Terror Squad
Children3, including Chris Rivers
Website officialbigpun.com

Christopher Lee Rios (November 10, 1971 - February 7, 2000), [3] [4] better known by his stage name Big Pun (short for Big Punisher), was an American rapper. Emerging from the underground hip hop scene in the Bronx, he came to prominence upon discovery by fellow Bronx rapper Fat Joe, and thereafter guest appeared on his 1995 album Jealous One's Envy .

Contents

Big Pun signed with Fat Joe's label, Terror Squad Productions and Loud Records in 1997 to release his debut studio album, Capital Punishment (1998) the following year. Met with critical acclaim and commercial success, the album earned a nomination for Best Rap Album at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards, peaked at number five on the Billboard 200, and became the first hip hop recording by a Latino solo act to receive platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). His second album, Yeeeah Baby (2000) peaked at number three on the Billboard 200, although Pun died two months before its release. [5]

Early life

Rios was born in The South Bronx in New York City to parents of Puerto Rican descent. He grew up in the Soundview neighborhood and had at least two sisters and one brother. [6] [7] [2] He regularly played basketball and trained in boxing. [6]

He moved out of his mother's house at age 15 and was homeless for a period of time in the late 1980s. [8] Later, he received a large settlement from the city stemming from an incident in 1976, where Rios broke his leg while playing in a park. [9] Using his settlement money, Rios married his high school sweetheart, Liza, and the two moved into a home together.

Rios struggled with depression stemming from his turbulent childhood, and he coped with it by overeating. Between the ages of 18 and 21, Rios's weight rocketed from 180 lb (82 kg) to 300 lb (140 kg); he was subsequently unable to tie his own shoes. [8] [6]

Career

During the late 1980s, he began writing rap lyrics. He later formed the underground group Full-A-Clips with Lyrical Assassin, Joker Jamz, and Toom. Rios made a number of recordings with the group in the 1990s, which have not been released. At this point, Rios was operating under the alias Big Moon Dawg. [10] After changing his stage name to Big Punisher, Rios met fellow Puerto Rican and Bronx rapper Fat Joe in 1995 and made his commercial debut on Fat Joe's second album, Jealous One's Envy, in addition to appearing on the song, "Watch Out". He also appeared in The Beatnuts' song "Off the Books".

Capital Punishment (1997-1998)

In 1997, Big Pun began recording songs for his debut album Capital Punishment . In 1997, producer Knobody's production partner Sean C took advantage of his new role as A&R at Loud Records to play Knobody's tracks to Big Pun. [11] Suitably impressed, the rapper hired Knobody to remix "I'm not a Player". [11] The remixed song, featuring Joe and titled "Still not a Player", became Big Pun's first major mainstream hit and major breakthrough for Knobody. [11] The full-length debut Capital Punishment followed in 1998, and became the first album by a solo Hispanic rapper to go platinum, [5] peaking at No. 5 on the Billboard 200. Capital Punishment was also nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album.

The Terror Squad collaboration album (1999-2000)

Big Pun became a member of Terror Squad, a New York–based group of rappers founded by Fat Joe, with most of the roster supplied by the now-defunct Full-A-Clips who released their debut album The Album in 1999. The album did not fare well commercially but it was well received critically and the album was meant to start the foundation for all other Terror Squad members to release their solo projects.[ citation needed ]

Big Pun also contributed vocals to the song Piña Colada with rapper Sheek Louch from the compilation album Ryde or Die Vol.1 .

Health problems and death

Rios struggled with weight issues his entire adult life. He weighed 180 pounds (82 kg) at age 18, which increased to 300 pounds (140 kg) at 21. [12] His weight fluctuated in the early 1990s between obese and morbidly obese. [12] Rios enrolled in a weight-loss program at Duke University in 1999, and shed 80 pounds (36 kg), but he prematurely quit the program and eventually regained the weight. [12] His weight was a constant topic of argument among him and his friends, to the point that Rios would not eat around them. [2] [12]

On February 5, 2000, Rios withdrew from a planned Saturday Night Live performance with Fat Joe and Jennifer Lopez due to illness. Two days later while staying at the Crowne Plaza Hotel with his family in White Plains, New York, he suffered a heart attack and respiratory failure and was rushed to White Plains Hospital, where he died at the age of 28 after paramedics were unable to revive him. His weight had reached a peak of 698 pounds (317 kg) at the time of his death. [13] [14] Rios was survived by his wife, Liza, and their three children, [15] Star, Vanessa, and Christopher Jr. [16]

Rios is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery near Woodlawn Heights, Bronx. [17]

Posthumous works and legacy

Big Pun's second album, Yeeeah Baby , completed after his death, was released in April 2000. It peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard charts and earned gold record status within three months of its release. A posthumous compilation album, Endangered Species , was released in April 2001. Endangered Species collected some of Pun's greatest hits, previously unreleased material, numerous guest appearances, and remixed "greatest verses." As with his other albums, it also peaked in the top ten of the Billboard 200, reaching No. 7, but didn't sell as much as the previous Big Pun albums had. He collaborated with Fat Joe on Duets: The Final Chapter , an album of tracks featuring The Notorious B.I.G., also deceased. The track "Get Your Grind On" begins with a Big Pun radio interview in which he said he would perform a duet with Biggie at the gates of heaven. [18] Pun was also featured on a track from the revived Terror Squad's second album, True Story, on the track "Bring 'Em Back" with Big L, another deceased rapper.

On May 2, 2001, the New York City Council stalled plans to rename a small portion of Rogers Place as a tribute, due to distaste over Big Pun's lyrics that "include[d] profanity and references to violence and drug dealing". [19]

In 2002, a documentary about Big Pun, entitled Big Pun: Still not a Player was released, [20] which revealed that he was homeless as an adolescent and abused as a child. [21] The film includes footage of him pistol-whipping Liza Rios. [21]

A second posthumous album was planned for release by Sony Music Entertainment in 2006 but was shelved due to a dispute with producer John "Jellybean" Benitez, who owned the publishing rights to many of the intended album's tracks. [22] In June 2005, Liza Rios put her husband's $100,000 custom Terror Squad medallion up for auction on eBay, citing financial difficulties due to receiving no royalties from Pun's album sales. [23]

On March 22, 2021, the intersection of East Fordham Rd and Grand Concourse in his native Bronx was named "Big Pun Plaza" in Pun's honor. A ceremony including family, friends, and local politicians preceded the street naming. [24]

Discography

Studio albums
Posthumous compilation album

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1998 Moesha HimselfCredited as Big Punisher
1999 Thicker Than Water Punny
Urban Menace Crow
Whiteboyz Don Flip CrewUncredited
2000 Boricua's Bond HimselfCredited as Big Punisher
Posthumous release
2002Big Pun: Still Not a PlayerHimselfArchival footage
Posthumous release
Big Pun LiveHimself
2007Rap Sheet: Hip-Hop and the CopsHimself [25]
2008Big Pun: The LegacyHimself
2010Big Pun's Legacy: The Lost FilesHimself

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

YearNominated workAwardResult
1999 Capital Punishment Grammy Award for Best Rap Album Nominated [26]

Related Research Articles

<i>Capital Punishment</i> (Big Pun album) 1998 studio album by Big Pun

Capital Punishment is the debut studio album by American rapper Big Pun, released by Loud Records and Fat Joe's Terror Squad Productions. Released on April 28, 1998, it is the only album released during his lifetime and is regarded as a hip-hop classic, described by Black Thought of the Roots as "super groundbreaking" upon release. The album peaked at number five on the Billboard 200 charts and number one on the Top R&B Albums chart for two weeks. It was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 1999 Grammy Awards, but lost to Jay-Z's Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life. It was also the first solo Latin hip hop record to go Platinum.

Terror Squad was an American hip hop collective that was first established in 1998. Based in the Bronx in New York City, the members of Terror Squad collectively debuted on a song in member Fat Joe's albums Jealous One's Envy and Don Cartagena. Terror Squad released its debut album, Terror Squad: The Album, in 1999, with its first major hit "Whatcha Gon' Do", credited mostly to Big Pun, who died of a heart attack in 2000. After Big Pun's death, his longtime partners Cuban Link and Triple Seis left the group and were subsequently replaced by Remy Martin and Tony Sunshine. In 2004, their song "Lean Back" peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Antonio Cruz, known professionally as Tony Sunshine, is an American R&B singer of Puerto Rican descent. He is best known as a member of Fat Joe's hip hop group Terror Squad in the late 1990s, and notably guest featured on group cohort Big Pun's 2000 single, "100%". His guest appearance alongside Armageddon on Fat Joe's 2003 single, "All I Need" peaked at number 54 on the Billboard Hot 100, while his guest appearance on Lumidee's 2007 cover "She's Like the Wind" peaked at number 43 on the chart. He was led by Joe to sign with Jive Records to release his 2004 debut single "Oh My God", which failed to chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loud Records</span> Hip hop record label

Loud Records, LLC. is a record label founded by Steve Rifkind and Rich Isaacson in 1991. Rifkind served as the chief executive officer while Isaacson served as the president of the label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Remy Ma</span> American rapper (born 1980)

Reminisce Kioni Mackie, known professionally as Remy Ma, is an American rapper. Discovered by the late rapper Big Pun, she came to prominence for her work as a member of Fat Joe's group, Terror Squad. In 2006, she released her debut studio album There's Something About Remy: Based on a True Story, which became a modest success, peaking at number 33 on the Billboard 200 chart. Ma's most commercially successful songs include "Whuteva", "Ante Up (Remix)", "Lean Back", "Conceited", and "All the Way Up".

<i>Endangered Species</i> (Big Pun album) 2001 compilation album by Big Pun

Endangered Species is a posthumous compilation of unreleased tracks, guest appearances, and greatest hits by the late rapper Big Pun, released on April 3, 2001, by Loud Records, following his death in February 2000. The album reached a peak chart position of #7. The proceeds from the album were to be given to Pun's widow, Liza Rios, and their three children. Liza Rios claims to have only received a small royalty check from the sales of Endangered Species, and in response, auctioned off her husband's Terror Squad medallion in July 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuban Link</span> Cuban American rapper

Felix Delgado, better known by his stage name Cuban Link, is a Cuban American rapper and original member of Terror Squad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feelin' So Good</span> 2000 single by Jennifer Lopez

"Feelin' So Good" is a song recorded by American singer Jennifer Lopez for her debut studio album On the 6 (1999). The lyrics were written by Cory Rooney and Lopez, while the music was written by Steven Standard, George Logios and Sean "Puffy" Combs, who also produced the song. It was released on January 25, 2000, as the fourth single from On the 6.

<i>Terror Squad: The Album</i> 1999 studio album by Terror Squad

Terror Squad: The Album is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Terror Squad. It was released on September 21, 1999 through Atlantic Records. Production was handled by Armageddon, The Alchemist, Buckwild, Dirtman, DJ Noodles, Don "A.P." Sellers, JuJu, LA' Smouve, Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, The Infinite Arkatechz, V.I.C., Yogi "Sugar Bear" Graham and Younglord, with Craig Kallman, Fat Joe and Greg Angelides serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Buju Banton, Keith Nut and The Bleach Brothers, as well as contributions from Tony Sunshine, who will subsequently join the group's line-up.

<i>Theres Something About Remy: Based on a True Story</i> 2006 studio album by Remy Ma

There's Something About Remy: Based on a True Story is the only studio album by American rapper Remy Ma. It was released on February 7, 2006, by SRC Records, Universal Records and Terror Squad Entertainment. The album's release date served as the sixth anniversary of her mentor Big Pun's death. The title and cover art coincides with the 1998 film There's Something About Mary. The album sold over 35,000 copies in its first week and as of 2007, has sold over 160,000 copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fat Joe</span> American rapper from New York (born 1970)

Joseph Antonio Cartagena, better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper. He began recording as a member of hip hop group Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.) in 1992 until pursuing a solo career with the release of his debut studio album, Represent (1993) the following year. Cartegena formed the hip hop group Terror Squad and its namesake record label in the late 1990s, through which he has signed fellow New York artists including Big Pun, Remy Ma, Tony Sunshine, and Cuban Link, as well as then-unknown producers DJ Khaled and Cool & Dre.

<i>Yeeeah Baby</i> 2000 studio album by Big Pun

Yeeeah Baby is the second and final studio album by rapper Big Pun, released April 4, 2000 through Columbia Records, SRC Records, Loud Records and Fat Joe's Terror Squad Productions. It peaked at number 3 on the Billboard 200, selling 179,000 units during the first week. It was subsequently certified gold in July 2000, and received platinum certification on October 31, 2017. Fat Joe served as the executive producer of the album.

Anthony Best professionally known as Buckwild, is an American hip hop producer. Hailing from The Bronx borough of New York City, he is a member of Diggin' in the Crates Crew, along with Lord Finesse, Showbiz and A.G., Diamond D, Fat Joe, Big L, and O.C. He has produced a number of tracks for prominent rappers in the music industry, including The Notorious B.I.G.'s "I Got a Story to Tell" and Black Rob's "Whoa!". In 2013, he was described by HipHopDX as "one of Hip Hop's most prolific and acclaimed producers".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Still Not a Player</span> 1998 single by Big Pun featuring Joe

"Still Not a Player" is the second single from Big Pun's debut album Capital Punishment. The song was produced by Knobody and features R&B singer Joe.

Jerome Foster, better known as Knobody, is an American music producer and A&R. Knobody has produced records across different genres including soul, R&B, hip hop and rock for several multi-platinum artists including Jay-Z, Ne-Yo, Akon, The Game, Big Pun, Mýa and R.E.M. Knobody worked as an A&R at SRC Records/Universal. Due to the enormous success Akon experienced following the release of his debut album, Knobody was recognized as a World Top 10 A&R. He is not to be confused with Bay Area rapper/producer and Hieroglyphics crew affiliate who also goes by the name Knobody.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Came Up</span> 1998 single by Big Pun featuring Noreaga

"You Came Up" is a song by Puerto Rican rapper Big Pun, released as the third and final single from his album Capital Punishment. The song was produced by Rockwilder and features Noreaga. The song peaked at #49 and 43 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and Hot Rap Tracks, respectively. It samples "Don't Ask Me", as performed by Ramon Morris.

Terror Squad Productions is an American Hip hop and Rap record company founded by Fat Joe in 1997. The label has been distributed by Atlantic, Virgin Records, and Columbia Records. The label's flagship artist was Big Pun.

Deleno Matthews, known professionally as Sean C, is an American producer, DJ and "artists and repertoire" (A&R) specialist. Sean is a member of production duo Sean C & LV which is affiliated with Sean Combs' Hitmen producers. As a DJ, Sean C co-founded the New York DJ crew The X-Men Sean worked as an A&R for Steve Rifkind's Loud Records and SRC Records imprints. He is credited as A&R and executive producer for Mobb Deep, Dead Prez, Big Pun, Terror Squad, Remy Ma and The X-Ecutioners. Sean C has produced songs for Jay-Z, Big Pun, Diddy, Jadakiss and Fabolous among others. He was nominated for best rap album Grammy awards for Jay Z's American Gangster and for Big Pun's debut Capital Punishment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brim Fuentes</span> Graffiti artist

Brim Fuentes, is the founding member of graffiti crew TATS CRU, and was born in the South Bronx, New York City. Brim was fortunate enough to start writing graffiti in one of the most important periods of graffiti history. He began bombing and hitting New York City Subway trains, in the late 1970s, all the way through to the mid-1980s. After the trains were cleaned in 1989 he and the rest of TATS CRU took to the streets and began bombing and creating street art all over the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Rivers</span> American rapper

Christopher Lee Rios Jr., known professionally as Chris Rivers, is an American rapper. He is the son of the late rapper Big Pun.

References

  1. ↑ Fasman, Ben (April 9, 2007), RADIO DAYS: BOBBITO GARCIA: Highlights from Issue 30: Hip-Hop Nuggets. , retrieved December 26, 2022
  2. 1 2 3 Huey, Steve (2002). "Big Punisher > Biography" . Retrieved December 20, 2008.
  3. ↑ The Source: The Magazine of Hip-hop Music, Culture & Politics. Source Publications, Incorporated. 2000. p. 235. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Big Pun". Biography.com. August 9, 2017. Archived from the original on August 10, 2017. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Gold & Platinum – Big Pun". RIAA. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
  6. 1 2 3 "It's So Hard: Big Pun's Widow Liza Rios Speaks on His Life, Death, and Legacy – Mass Appeal". April 3, 2015. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  7. ↑ Valdes, Mimi (August 1998). "Pound for Pound". Vibe. 6 (8): 108–111. Archived from the original on December 31, 2013. Retrieved October 21, 2016.
  8. 1 2 "The Rise And Fall of Big Pun". April 13, 2015. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Big Pun". DeadPoetz.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  10. ↑ Stavan, Ilan (July 29, 2014). Latin Music: Musicians, Genres, and Themes. ABC-CLIO. p. 332. ISBN   9780313343964. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
  11. 1 2 3 "Interview With Knobody". HitQuarters. September 27, 2005. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Big Punisher Weighed 700 Pounds, Had Enlarged Heart". SonicNet. February 8, 2000. Archived from the original on March 2, 2000. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  13. ↑ "Rapper Christopher 'Big Pun' Rios, 28". Washington Post. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved November 16, 2023.
  14. ↑ Pareles, Jon (February 9, 2000). "Christopher Rios, 28, Rapper Recorded Under Name Big Punisher". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 14, 2009. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
  15. ↑ "Star Rios (Big Pun's Daughter) – The First Born (Documentary)". DoggieDiamondsTV. December 30, 2016. Archived from the original on August 1, 2019. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  16. ↑ Harling, Danielle (June 5, 2013). "Chris Rivers". Hiphopdx.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  17. ↑ "Here's How to Visit the Final Resting Places of These 20 Music Icons". Rolling Stone . June 29, 2021.
  18. ↑ Juon, Steve (December 20, 2005). "Notorious B.I.G: Duets: The Final Chapter". RapReviews.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2009. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
  19. ↑ Cardwell, Diane (May 2, 2001). "Bronx: No Street For Big Pun". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved December 20, 2008.
  20. ↑ Brown, Preezy (September 10, 2021). "Fat Joe And Big Pun's Wife Liza Rios Trade Shots On Instagram". VIBE. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  21. 1 2 "Big Pun Documentary Shows Other Side Of Late Rapper". MTV. Archived from the original on August 30, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  22. ↑ Petipas, Jolene (July 5, 2006). "Producer Delays Release of New Big Pun Album". SOHH.com. Archived from the original on July 17, 2006. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  23. ↑ Cherry, Carl (June 29, 2005). "Big Pun's Terror Squad Medallion on Sale at eBay for Diddely". SOHH.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2006. Retrieved May 5, 2018.
  24. ↑ Ismael Ruiz, Matthew (March 22, 2021). "Big Pun Honored With Bronx Street Corner". Pitchfork . Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  25. ↑ Don Sikorski (director) (2007). Rap Sheet: Hip-Hop and the Cops (documentary).
  26. ↑ "CNN – 41st annual Grammy nominees – January 5, 1999". CNN . Archived from the original on May 1, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
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