BIG PUN

Welcome to the South Bronx in the 1970's, where poverty stricken streets were filled with rubble and abandoned tenements. Where heroin and gangs vise gripped the borough’s residents and hope dreamed of hope. Here is where the birth of a new culture that would change the world forever would be formed and from that, an icon would be born, Christopher Lee Rios later to be known as Big Pun grew up and lived in those hardened streets.

At the age of 15, Pun left his turbulent home with barely nothing and the clothes on his back. Like many other young kids, Pun turned to hustling and the street life for survival. On those same Bronx streets is where Pun’s love for music grew. Always a fan of R&B, Pun became more and more intrigued with Hip -Hop. Big Pun didn’t want to just show a love for the Hip Hop culture, he hungered to be a part of it.

Pun began writing rap lyrics in his early 20’s and instantly knew this was his calling. Pun’s intentions from the beginning was to be the “nicest” rapper ever. He began to study the dictionary, encyclopedia, and newspapers; determined to build his vocabulary and worldly knowledge. Honing his craft, Pun began to freestyle and entered Hip Hop contests alongside his neighborhood friends. It is on those same Bronx streets where Big Pun was discovered.

Eventually, Pun signed to Loud Records and released his debut album, Capital Punishment. His second Grammy nominated single, “Still Not a Player”, featuring Joe, played a major role in the heightening of his fame. Not only did the album sell over 2 million copies , Big Pun also became the first solo Latino rap artist to go platinum. As Pun was proud of his Puerto Rican nationality, heavily expressing his pride within his songs, he manifested and opened a gateway for the rest of the Latin community to share their culture within the world of Hip Hop. After seeing his success, many Latinos wanted to take a chance on themselves and show the world their love for the music genre; gaining many opportunities in the industry where many artists introduced back then are still successful and widely appreciated today.

Pun was a mastermind lyricist. His music is notable for his delivery of his lyrics, outstanding breath control, technical competence, often use of alliteration, along with the utilization of multi-syllabic rhyming stratagems. In addition ,even after his death, many young artists in the present day not only idolized his music but even sampled and referred to his lyrics in their own songs. These artists include but are not limited to Ariana Grande and Mac Miller in their song, “The Way”, Bryson Tiller and The Game in the song “Stay Down” and , A Boogie wit da Hoodie in his song “Mood Swings”.

Big Pun is now survived by his wife and three children who continue to carry on his legacy. This will include future planned projects such as music, merchandise, naming a street in the Bronx, and a future biopic. Pun’s dream was to be remembered and that dream has been fulfilled.