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

Biography of Dead Prez

The Florida-based political rap duo Dead Prez consists of Stic.man and M-1, a pair of rappers inspired by revolutionaries from Malcolm X to Public Enemy. They immersed themselves in political and social studies as they forged their own style of hip-hop. They went on to work with Big Punisher on his 1998 album Capital Punishment and released singles like 1998's "Police State with Chairman Omali" and 1999's "It's Bigger Than Hip-Hop." Their debut album, Lets Get Free, was released in early 2000. A two-volume mixtape project -- Turn off the Radio: The Mixtape, Vol. 1 and Turn off the Radio: The Mixtape, Vol. 2: Get Free or Die Tryin' -- followed in 2002 and 2003, boasting tracks and new productions, and their proper studio follow-up, RBG: Revolutionary But Gangsta, appeared in 2004. Two years later the group collaborated with the three remaining members of the Outlawz for Can't Sell Dope Forever, followed shortly after by Soldier 2 Soldier, a joint record between Stic.man and Young Noble. ~ John Bush

Biography of Prospect

No biography available