Christopher Lee Rios (November 9, 1971 - February 7, 2000), better known as Big Pun or Big Punisher, was a Puerto Rican American rapper who emerged from the underground rap scene in The Bronx in the late 1990s. He first appeared on albums from The Beatnuts on the track "Off the Books" and on Fat Joe's second album in 1995, Jealous One's Envy, on the track "Watch Out", prior to signing to Loud Records as a solo artist. Big Pun's career was cut short in 2000 at age 28 by a fatal heart attack due to his obesity. He is survived by a wife, Liza Rios, and three children. Big Pun was the first solo Latino rapper to sell over one million LPs. His first stage name was Big Moon Dawg. His name comes from the Marvel comic book anti-hero The Punisher.
Born in the Bronx during the early years of hip-hop, Christopher Rios grew up in an athletic tradition, enjoying basketball, boxing, and other sports. At the age of five, he broke his leg in a Manhattan municipal park, which would later (after several minimum wage jobs in New York and Miami, where he briefly relocated) net him a settlement from the city, to the tune of $500,000. At the age of 15, Pun dropped out of Stevenson High School. Sometime during the '80s, Rios began to write rap lyrics, forming the Full A Clips Crew with Triple Seis, Cuban Link, and Prospect. After meeting fellow Puerto Rican and Bronx rapper Fat Joe, in 1995, Pun became increasingly associated with him, making his commercial debut on Fat Joe's second album, Jealous Ones Envy (J.O.E.).
After an advertising blitz, "I'm Not a Player" (featuring an O'Jays sample) was an underground hit. The song's remix, "Still Not a Player" (featuring Joe), became Big Pun's first major mainstream hit. His full-length debut, Capital Punishment, followed in 1998, and was the first album by a Latino rapper (and a Latino solo artist) to go platinum. Around this time, Big Pun became a member of The Terror Squad, a New-York-based group of Latino rappers founded by Fat Joe, with most of the roster supplied by the now-defunct Full A Clips Crew.
Big Pun was also a member of the Digging in the Crates Crew, alongside Fat Joe and various New York hip-hop legends such as Diamond D, Lord Finesse, Big L, and O.C.
Due to issues with his broken leg and drug abuse, Pun's health declined during these years. The once-athletic man struggled with overeating problems and weight issues for several years, his weight bounding between 450 and 700 pounds (200 and 300 kg). Though he checked into a North Carolina weight loss clinic and lost 80 pounds (35 kg), the final effort was not enough to save Pun's health. At the age of 28, on February 7, 2000, Big Pun died of a heart attack at 700 lbs. (300 kg).
Big Pun's second album, Yeeeah Baby, was already scheduled to be released at the time of his death, and was issued in March 2000. A second posthumous album, Endangered Species, was released in 2001, a collection of "greatest hits," new material, guest appearances, and remixed "greatest verses."
Pun's supporters generally praise him for his complex rhyme schemes, intricate wordplay, ability to stay on-beat, and relentless flow and breath control (despite his immense size, which would generally render his complex phrasing too difficult).
How We Roll
Big Punisher Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a zone, sittin' on chrome, stoned sippin' on cham-pagna
Rollin ganja up in bible papers, see how high the lye can take us
Through the eyes of Christ, John, Elijah, Jacob
I make the kind of green a hustler dream
Bustin' out the custard cream Viper
Custom piped up with the mustard seams
Clustered green Fort Knox and hard ? medallions
I got the +Squad+ over-qualified, pullin' over Karl Kani
Range Rover tilted, three-wheelted hydraulic slide
Sparkin' lye in the clouds and reppin' my housin'
Like the Wu do in Shaolin
[Chorus]
There's something I want to tell you (I want to tell you)
There's something I think your crew should know
Big Pun is the largest (so large) we straight out of the projects
That's how we roll (that's how we roll)
I keep my Desert Eagle cocked back in my tuxedo with my top hat
What you broke motherfuckers know about that?
Lookin' fat in Marc and Pelle leather like Fonzarelli
Sparkin Phillies with the Gods like Makaveli
On the celly blown Benz, chrome rims
Shinin like the stone gems on my gold rings
I got it sewn Twinz, I can't begin to tell you the story
That soared me from livin' poorly to a modern day Cinderfella
I've been a killer and a drug dealer, a bugged nigga
But now I'm like Puffy 'cause money's thicker than blood player
I'm still a threat but now I think before I flip
Call my connects together
And figure which cleaner's the best for the hit
I get the job done, Pun's handlin' business
Candlelight dinners, havin' a toast with the most glamorous bitches
My road to riches was no Christmas
Now we blessed with gold Lazarus's
So expensive my whole family's religious
[Chorus]
Aye yo I want it all you can call me greedy and superficial
Long as my crew's official and pulls they pistols soon as I whistle
I'm tryin' to triple a million and split it three ways
Joe the God, Full Eclipse, and myself, that'll be the day
I need a way to get it already got the ambition
Start the ignition, watch for the NARCs in the marked Expedition
I'm on a mission which requires a higher position
Desire and vision keeps the fire inside of me glistenin'
I'm infinite like math, so I'm gonna last
But you want to laugh all day, bullshit and sittin' on your ass
I'm all about cash and the power
A stash with the power that lasts like hittin' ass for an hour
Let's get it locked, I want a watch with baguetted rocks
So I can clock hoes with the glow that never stops
Forget the cops, we got Deserts and glocks too
Ready to rock whoever tryin to stop our cheddar from stockin' forever
[Chorus: x2]
Straight out the PJ's Twinz, Soundview!
Castle Hill, can't forget Bronx River
? Villes huh, Deforest Projects, Edam Hall
Bronx style, the Bronx baby straight out the PJ's
That's where we from
In "How We Roll '98," Big Punisher emphasizes his reputation as a notorious gangster. He compares himself to famous gangsters, saying he is as well-known as Al Capone and fully blown like Tony Montana. Punisher also brags about his wealth and extravagant lifestyle, sipping on champagne and smoking marijuana in bible papers. He boasts about his expensive cars, custom Vipers and Range Rovers with three-wheeled hydraulic slides that sparkle with gold rings and medallions. Despite his violent past as a killer and drug dealer, he now prioritizes making money and being a businessman, consulting with his connections and choosing the best cleaner for a job. He plans to split his wealth with his crew, but says he is driven by ambition and a desire for power.
Line by Line Meaning
You know I'm well known like Al Capone, fully blown like Ton' Montana
I am famous like Al Capone and violent like Ton' Montana
In a zone, sittin' on chrome, stoned sippin' on cham-pagna
I am in my own world, chilling on my shiny car, and high on champagne
Rollin ganja up in bible papers, see how high the lye can take us
Smoking marijuana in pages from the bible, experimenting to see how high it can take us
Through the eyes of Christ, John, Elijah, Jacob
Looking at the world through the perspectives of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jacob
I make the kind of green a hustler dream
I am making a lot of money that even other hustlers dream of
Bustin' out the custard cream Viper
I am driving a custom and expensive car, the Custard Cream Viper
Custom piped up with the mustard seams
My car has unique customized details with mustard seams
Clustered green Fort Knox and hard ? medallions
Wearing green diamonds and gold medallions that are worth a lot, like Fort Knox
Mockin' God even Italians see my battalion pull out the broad
My group, which even Italians recognize, is disrespecting God and showing off their strength
I got the +Squad+ over-qualified, pullin' over Karl Kani
My group, known as the Squad, is highly skilled, stopping and catching the attention of fashion designer Karl Kani
Range Rover tilted, three-wheelted hydraulic slide
My Range Rover is tilted and has a hydraulic system that makes it slide on three wheels
Sparkin' lye in the clouds and reppin' my housin'
Smoking marijuana and representing where I come from
Like the Wu do in Shaolin
I am representing my hometown and my crew, just like the Wu-Tang Clan does in Shaolin (NYC)
[Chorus]
Refrain of the song that emphasizes Big Pun's greatness and where he comes from
I keep my Desert Eagle cocked back in my tuxedo with my top hat
I always carry my big gun, Desert Eagle, in my fancy suit and hat
What you broke motherfuckers know about that?
I am questioning what poor people know about luxury and style
Lookin' fat in Marc and Pelle leather like Fonzarelli
Wearing expensive leather jackets from Marc and Pelle, and looking stylish like Fonzarelli from Happy Days
Sparkin Phillies with the Gods like Makaveli
Smoking cigars with god-like people, like Tupac Shakur (Makaveli) did
On the celly blown Benz, chrome rims
Riding on my phone while cruising on my car, Benz, with shiny chrome rims
Shinin like the stone gems on my gold rings
The gold rings on my hand are shiny just like precious stones
I got it sewn Twinz, I can’t begin to tell you the story
I have everything under control, but it's a long story to explain how I got here
That soared me from livin' poorly to a modern day Cinderfella
My story is like that of Cinderella but in a modern context, where I went from living in poverty to becoming very wealthy
I've been a killer and a drug dealer, a bugged nigga
I have a past of killing people and dealing drugs, and I was also mentally unstable
But now I'm like Puffy 'cause money's thicker than blood player
Nowadays, I am like Puffy, meaning that I prioritize money over personal relationships and loyalty
I'm still a threat but now I think before I flip
I am still a dangerous person, but I try to think more before reacting
Call my connects together
I gather my connections (associates) when I need to do something
And figure which cleaner's the best for the hit
I evaluate which cleaner (contract killer) is the best for the job (murder)
I get the job done, Pun's handlin' business
I am efficient and effective in getting things done, and handling my business
Candlelight dinners, havin' a toast with the most glamorous bitches
I am wining and dining with the most beautiful and glamorous women
My road to riches was no Christmas
I had to work hard and face many challenges to become wealthy
Now we blessed with gold Lazarus's
Now, we are fortunate to have lots of wealth and power
So expensive my whole family's religious
My family is so wealthy that they can afford to be very religious and make grand gestures of faith
[Chorus]
Refrain of the song that emphasizes Big Pun's greatness and where he comes from
Aye yo I want it all you can call me greedy and superficial
I want everything and don't care if that makes me seem selfish and obsessed with material possessions
Long as my crew's official and pulls they pistols soon as I whistle
As long as my crew is loyal and ready to use their guns when I ask them to
I'm tryin' to triple a million and split it three ways
I want to make three million dollars and divide it among Joe the God, Full Eclipse, and myself
Joe the God, Full Eclipse, and myself, that'll be the day
I hope that one day we can all be successful and rich together
I need a way to get it already got the ambition
I have the ambition to make money, but I need to figure out the best way to do it
Start the ignition, watch for the NARCs in the marked Expedition
Start my car and be careful for police officers (narcotics agents) who may be in unmarked police cars
I'm on a mission which requires a higher position
I am working towards a goal that requires a higher rank or status
Desire and vision keeps the fire inside of me glistenin'
My strong desire and clear vision keep me motivated and driven
I'm infinite like math, so I'm gonna last
I am infinite and will last forever, just like math
But you want to laugh all day, bullshit and sittin' on your ass
You waste your time on meaningless activities and laziness, while I work hard to achieve my goals
I'm all about cash and the power
I am focused on making money and gaining power
A stash with the power that lasts like hittin' ass for an hour
I want to have a stash of money that has the power and longevity like great sex
Let's get it locked, I want a watch with baguetted rocks
Let's make it happen, I want a luxurious watch with diamond baguettes
So I can clock hoes with the glow that never stops
So I can attract beautiful women with my shiny watch that never loses its luster
Forget the cops, we got Deserts and glocks too
We don't care about the presence of the police, as we also have powerful guns (Desert Eagle and Glock)
Ready to rock whoever tryin to stop our cheddar from stockin' forever
We are ready to confront anyone who tries to stop us from accumulating wealth endlessly
[Chorus: x2]
Refrain of the song that emphasizes Big Pun's greatness and where he comes from
Straight out the PJ's Twinz, Soundview!
I come from the projects, specifically Twinz and Soundview
Castle Hill, can't forget Bronx River
My neighborhood also includes Castle Hill and Bronx River
? Villes huh, Deforest Projects, Edam Hall
I am also from other parts of the Bronx, including Villas, Deforest Projects, and Edam Hall
Bronx style, the Bronx baby straight out the PJ's
Overall, I represent the Bronx, its style, and its people who come from the projects
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTOPHER RIOS, JAMES SAMUEL III HARRIS, JANET DAMITA JO JACKSON, MELANIE ANDREWS, TERRY LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ebonystar6915
ashanti killed this hook!!
@anthonybryant4944
She's more into the money when it comes to fame
@Joshua-vs6vd
Yes!
@robertbarlow3750
She killed this beat
@robertbarlow3750
No doubt
@jaamirbrittingham5272
Ebony Star, Yes she did!!!!!
@Alessandro1983
R.I.P BIG Punisher
Best Boricua rapper of all time!
@stevehuizar5377
One of the best rappers of all time period!!!!
@anthonysoza1645
Word shorty.
@Homeboy_Brando
Alessandro Catracho
I mean it can be debated that Beast 1333 is better than Pun or they’re about the same, but either way Pun definitely is one of the best of all time!