Big Pun

Christopher Lee Rios, aka Big Pun, is a rapper from The Bronx in New York City. He got his start and first appearance in Mentor Fat Joe’s song “Watch Out” on his album Jealous One’s Envy. 

Big Pun in his early age broke his leg which would make an early settlement which made large accounts for Pun’s family. In his early years he witnessed his father’s death and mother’s drug abuse.

In the mid 80’s, he started writing lyrics. He also formed a group called Full-A-Clips with Lyrical Assassin, Joker Jamz, and Toom. Rios made songs in the early 90’s that were never released. At that time Pun went by Big Moon Dawg and met Fat Joe in 1995.That same year he would feature on “Watch Out” by Fat Joe, as well as The Beatnut’s song “Off The Books” ,and soon became established as Big Pun.

Two years later, Pun released a single titled “I’m Not A Player”, and it became an underground hit. Slightly after that he began recording songs for his first album Capital Punishment. Producers Knobody and Sean C took advantage by making a remix titled ‘’Still Not A Player’’ featuring Fat Joe.

It was Pun’s first mainstream hit and soon introduced him as a major rapper. On April 29th, 1998, Capital Punishment was released and peaked at number 5 on the Billboard Charts. It was also nominated for a Grammy for best rap album, but lost to Vol 2… Hard Knock Life by Jay-Z. Pun in that album was recognized for his stable flow, multi-syllabic rhyming, and wordplay.

Big Pun became a member of Terror Squad and collaborated with them on the album Terror Squad.

However, at this time he would have problems with weight and would enroll in a weight loss program in North Carolina. He would soon go back to the Bronx, but still face eating problems. However, after a talk with Fat Joe, he started to eat less.

In 2000 he began the recording of his second album Yeeeah Baby. During the process he would have trouble with breathing and sudden abilities in his rap style

On February 7th 2000, Big Pun was staying in a hotel in White Plains, New York when, at 28 years old, he collapsed in front of his family, due to a heart attack and respiratory failure. He was pronounced dead when the paramedics could not resurrect him. His total weight at his death was 698 pounds. Yeeah Baby was released 2 months after his death . In 2002 an album named Endangered Species was made featuring his hits, unreleased songs and, best verses. In 2007 Big Pun was featured on Biggie’s posthumous album The Duets on the song “Get Ya Grind Up”. In that same year a biographical movie was made about him. Big Pun is survived by his wife and 3 children.