Christopher Lee Rios also known as Big Pun (November 10, 1971 - February 7, Puerto Ricanrapper who emerged from the underground rap scene in the Bronx in the late 1990s. He appeared on albums from Raekwon, the Beatnuts and Fat Joe and eventually signed to Loud Records. After an advertising blitz, "I'm Not a Player" was an underground hit. His full length debut followed in 1998, Capital Punishment. With a group of Latino rappers, Big Pun formed the Terror Squad before dying of a heart attack at 700 lb (320 kg). A posthumous album, Yeeeah Baby came out a few weeks after his death in 2000. He is most often praised for his complex rhyme scheme, unceasing rhythm, and incredibly relentless flow and breath control, despite his immense size.
The first solo Latino rapper to go platinum, BigPunisher was also yet another member of the hip-hop community to fall victim to an early death -- though in his case, it was due to health problems, not violence.
In contrast to his large frame, Big Pun was a surprisingly graceful and nimble rapper, delivering his often clever, tongue-twisting rhymes at a torrential pace.
Big Pun's solo debut, Capital Punishment, was released in 1998 and debuted in the Top Five thanks to "Still Not a Player," a club-ready remix of "I'm Not a Player" that proved massively popular.
Big Pun's career was cut short in 2000 by a fatal heart attack due to his large size.
His full-length debut Capital Punishment followed in 1998, and was the first album by a solo Latino rapper to go platinum, peaking at #5 on the Billboard 200.
Big Pun's first stage name was Big Moon Dawg, and a reference to this name can be seen on the back cover of the Endangered Species compilation.
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