Tuesday, February 9, 2010

R.I.P. Big Pun




Sunday February 7 marked the ten year anniversary of Big Punisher's death. Big Pun is one of my favorite rappers of all time, so I thought this would be a fitting tribute to a man who was taken from us way too early.

Few rappers could control the microphone like Pun, his wordplay and dynamic while rapping is unparalleled and has paved the way for many quick-tongued rappers, such as Eminem. Pun emerged from the Bronx, NY rap scene in 1993 when he opened up the Beatnuts classic "Off the Books" and laid lyrical slaughter on the song, and easily stole the show. Pun was soon signed to a solo deal with Loud Records and his mark would soon be left on the rap world.

Pun was raised in the South Bronx's Puerto Rican community, and to put it bluntly, was raised rough. Struggling with his mother's drug problem, a non existent biological father, and an abusive stepfather, Pun would become quite destructive and angry, however, all of this led to him dropping some of the realest verses hip hop has ever scene. Pun alluded to his fatherless childhood on the song "Punish Me", when he wrote,

I wanna raise my little man but you keep resistin
I'm insistin you chill for real before you come up missin
Listen, I don't wanna fight I'd rather do what's right
A boy needs a father that's the most important part of his life

There's no doubt Pun had it rough growing up, but it was these memories that fueled his fire and motivated him to becoming one of the rawest MCs to ever touch the mic.

In 1998 Pun dropped his classic "Capital Punishment" that featured hit after hit. The album reached platinum status and Pun became the first latin rapper to reach platinum status, undoubtedly opening the door for other Latin rappers to achieve success in the rap world.

Unfortunately, just like few rappers could flow like Pun, none had an appetite like the man. Pun's weight fluctuated constantly to levels of obesity, and on February 7, 2000 Big Punisher died of a massive heart attack at the young age of 28, leaving a gap in hip hop music that still hasn't been fulfilled. Pun released 2 albums posthumously, "Yeeeeeahhhhhhh Baby" and a best of album entitled "Endangered Species". Endangered Species was the first Pun album I heard and it truly blew me away. I had never heard a MC control the mic like him and was thoroughly impressed by his wide array of hits. Throughout the years I have gone through several Ipods and computers, but this album always finds its way back onto my hard drive. Rest in Peace Pun, you are truly missed by the hip-hop community.

Here's a few of my favorite tracks by this legend, enjoy:





(Same video, different song)









This list could go on and on, he had that many hits. REMEMBER PUN!

1 comment:

  1. Real spit I remember 10 years ago seeing Fat Joe at a Knicks game a couple weeks after Pun pass and telling him how sorry I was about his loss. Dude gave me a firm handshake and said thanks with a sad look in his eye. Pun was a rap God

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