Big Pun
Big Pun
[Big Pun]
After a few cameos with Fat Joe, whom Big Punisher affectionately calls his "twin," it became instantly clear, that Big Pun possessed a lyrical gift of incessant breath control and a knock-out punch with the rhymes. His verse on "Fire Water" (which also featured Wu Tang all-star Raekwon) had enough wind to blow out an inferno, yet it flowed like a waterfall. In no time, mix tape heads were loving him. Funkmaster Flex featured Punisher on The Mix Tape Vol. I, he did a song called "Wishful Thinking" (with B-Real of Cypress Hill, Fat Joe and Kool G Rap), and he even made an appearance on Flesh N Bone (a spin off from the group Bones Thugs 'N Harmony).
Aside from his lyrical prowess, Pun displays an uncanny ability to align his unique vocal style with the right tracks. His album, Capital Punishment, features some of today's most up-and-coming, and top-of-the-line beat-makers. Starting on the streets with "You Ain't A Killer" (featured on the Soul In The Hole soundtrack), Big Pun utilizes the production of Bad Boy's latest sensation on the boards, Young Lord (most recognized for his work with The Lox and the Notorious B.I.G.).
Big Punisher touches the slicker side of rap from a different angle with "I'm Not A Player (I Just F_ _ K A Lot") which features a classic chorus from the O'Jay's (who are featured in the video) and was produced by Minnesota of Money Boss Player's Fame. Escalating the stakes on the commercial side, is a song called "Punish Me" featuring Miss Jones, produced by Frank Nitty of the Trackmasters. Still grounded in raw hip-hop, Pun worked with L.E.S. (best known for his work with Nas and AZ) who produced "Glamour Life" which also features some upcoming MCs from Fat Joe's Terror Squad. Long-time-friends The Beatnuts, who worked with Joe on his last two albums and recently featured Big Pun on their latest single "Off The Books," produced "Beware" and "Boomerang." Also, showing love on the album is Busta Rhymes on "Parental Discretion," which was produced by Showbiz from the Diggin' In The Crates camp-closely connected with Terror Squad in the Bx.
A South Bronx native, Pun has been completely saturated in the hip-hop culture since its existence. From the writing, to boogie, to breaking, Pun enjoyed and participated in every minute of it. Seeing Crazy Legs and Rock Steady make break-dancing famous, was one of the first experiences that Pun remembers making him proud to be Puerto Rican. Also, heavily into basketball and boxing, Pun maintained an active lifestyle and a rock solid athletic build into his late teens.
A couple of years later, with his first child on the way, Big Moon Dog, as Punisher was formerly known, began to settle down. In the wake of America's most devastating urban epidemic, Pun took the paper route, chasing fast money in order to put food on the table. Not only was he able to feed his growing family (two more children were soon born), but he says he "ate until he couldn't tie his shoelaces." In just four short years, Punisher nearly doubled his weight.
Though he moved out of his mother's apartment at the age of 15 and dropped out of Stevenson High School after his first year, Pun fed his desire to learn and expanded his vocabulary on his own by reading encyclopedias. Always exposed to the Latin culture of Catholicism, he stayed well versed in the Bible as well.
His father used to tell him he had a morbid imagination. With lines like "I walk on water, spit fire and shit Hagan Daaz, idolize no man like Conan, stand beside the gods," who can argue with the man. Big Pun always wants to make sure he's understood. No more "youknowhatimsayin'-" now its "you heard what I said?" Most of all, Punisher's most memorable quality is his sense of humor. Not too many people have the gift of true comedic expression the way he does.
Mostly Punisher likes to spend time at home with his family and listen to R&B. When asked about some of his favorites, names like Lou Rawles and Richard Marx came to mind as did Surface and Ready For The World. But, at the same time, Rakim and Run DMC were fully committed to memory, of course. Ultimately, whatever he was doing and listening to for the past ten years has helped him become one of the most outstanding hip-hop talents in years.
