Biography of Big Punisher

Big Punisher was a Bronx-based hardcore rapper who earned a solid underground reputation in the late '90s by appearing on records by his mentor Fat Joe, Raekwon and the Beatnuts. Born Christopher Rios, he signed to Loud Records, a division of RCA, in 1997, and a massive publicity campaign was launched to promote him. Stickers, posters, advertisements and fliers boasting his "Big Pun" logo were circulated in large cities, getting his name out to the appropriate circles. Before his debut album was released, his "I'm Not a Player" single was an underground hit, and he hosted Rap City's Soul in the Hole television special. His debut, Capital Punishment, was finally released in the spring of 1998. It featured a number of guest rappers and big-name producers, including the TrackMasters, the Beatnuts, RZA, Show Biz, B-Real, Inspectah Deck, Wyclef Jean, Kool G Rap, Noreaga and Busta Rhymes. In the fall of 1999, Big Pun teamed with a number of fellow Latino rappers, including Fat Joe, to form the Terror Squad, issuing a self-titled LP on Atlantic. The 700-pound rapper died of a heart attack on February 7, 2000; he was just 28 years old. The posthumous Yeeeah Baby appeared a few weeks later. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine