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).
Parental Discretion
Big Punisher Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where you walked to at night, caught you then tried to extort you
New York niggas is trigger happy, got Pataki scared
This town ain't big enough for both of us and I ain't goin' nowhere
There it is, plain and simple like Jigga my game is mental
While slow niggas better know I blow their brains out they temples
I'm into black magical torture romantic dramatical author
Compatible with the average New Yorker
Out for the cash and the cho-cha
Smash the coca, bottle it up watch the fiends gobble it up
If I roll up, you do what? Swallow the stuff
I don't give a fuck anymore, I'm only twenty-four years old
And I've already broken every law
I'm horror core, this is for the heads
Runnin' up in your crib, knot if you still hot in under the bed
[Chorus]
Yo, parental discretion advised, please cover your eyes
Little kids, get out of here! This shits is homicide!
Drugs and money, this ain't no Bugs Bunny!
Little girls too; this ain't for you it's for the thugs honey!
Hey yo my shit's the truth, one fifty proof no question
Parental discretion advised, keep out the eyes of the youth
It's too explicit, bullshit! I challenge the statistics
Violence existed before our music was even suggested
Arrested on sight, it's like there's no rights
That's why I rhyme so aggressive and bring every message to life
I fight the power, spite the power the 90 percent
Keep 10 and feed Twin half for personal reasons
The seasons change things re-arrange, but I stay the same
Play the game, for the wealth, until I've made myself a name
So blame it all on the gangster rapper, thanks to Joey Crack
For the chance to do it my way like Frank Sinatra
I ain't a actor so it's all facts, strictly raw rap
Totally intended for yours dressed in all black
With the ski mask, or the pantyhose makin' cameos
In liquor store cameras with the twin Calico's
[Chorus: x2]
So forget the boom, one look, you shook, you know I'm stickin' you
Liftin' you off the ground, look down, that's where I'm puttin' you
Look in my eyes and remember me, how does it feel mentally
Havin' the enemy be the last thing you ever see?
The recipe is death and I'm the chef, fricaseein' your flesh
Be my guest, but I ain't cleanin' the mess
Me and TS we testin' niggas faith, just to see they face
Expression when destined to states, that death be in the case
I'm in the state of grace, in the hated race, by the pagan face
Couldn't fight us, made a virus, gave us AIDS
I paint the wake 'cause they ain't get me yet, wet me
Or reflect me yet, I know they comin' they just tryin to let me sweat
I wreck it like when I was just a boy, eatin Chips Ahoy!
Wasn't allowed to raise my voice, now I'm makin' noise
No more toys, strictly Mac's and missiles, shorties with forties
Packin pistols catchin bodies make sure we'll get you
So they say, I pray there's a better way
My kids don't do as I do, they do as I say, 'cause daddy don't play
[Chorus: x2]
Word is bond
One thing about MC's is that we don't conceal the truth
We present real pictures about the positive and the negative
So don't blame the hip-hop
When your seed is learnin' the real life from us
Do your duty at home and raise your child in the house parents
You don't do your job
We gonna put your children to bed at nine o'clock
Past your bedtime
You get your ass in bed
You ain't 'posed to be hearin' this shit word up
Punishment motherfuckers!
By the Punisher, and Busta Rhymes, hah
Terror Squad! Flipmode Squad niggas!
In the song Parental Discretion, Big Punisher uses his rap skills to present a raw and violent picture of the streets of New York. He begins by stating that he is not an easy person to talk to and that he has tried to extort people. He then talks about the trigger-happy New York City and how he is out for cash and women. He is not afraid to break the law, and he boasts about it. He also talks about black magic and torture in a romantic, dramatic way. He says that he is into horrorcore, and the song is only for the heads. He then tells the listeners that the song is too explicit and to cover their eyes - it's homicide.
He then talks about how violence existed long before music, and although he fights the power, he feeds his family with his raw rap. He also thanks Joey Crack for giving him a chance to do things his way, like Frank Sinatra. In the last verse, he talks about testing people's faith and how death is the recipe. He also says that people shouldn't blame hip-hop music for their child's learning about real life from them. He tells parents to do their job and raise their kids right, or he'll put their kids to bed at nine.
Line by Line Meaning
Aye yo I'm hard to talk to, if you live I probably thought you stalked you
I'm difficult to approach and communicate with, and if you still exist it's likely that I suspected you of following me
Where you walked to at night, caught you then tried to extort you
I tracked your movements at night, caught you, and attempted to blackmail you
New York niggas is trigger happy, got Pataki scared
People from New York are quick to use firearms and it has Governor Pataki feeling uneasy
This town ain't big enough for both of us and I ain't goin' nowhere
There isn't enough room for the both of us in this city, but I refuse to leave
There it is, plain and simple like Jigga my game is mental
That's the truth, just like Jay-Z said, my tactics are strategic and psychological
While slow niggas better know I blow their brains out they temples
Less intelligent individuals should be aware that I have no issue shooting them in the head
I'm into black magical torture romantic dramatical author
I have interests in dark magic, torture, romance, and dramatic writing
Compatible with the average New Yorker
My interests and/or personality traits are similar to those of the typical New Yorker
A fast talker, like Tony when gas whores I'm the masked enforcer
I speak rapidly, like Tony Montana from Scarface, and in addition to that, I am the one responsible for enforcing the law while remaining anonymous
Out for the cash and the cho-cha
I am solely focused on obtaining money and sexual encounters
Smash the coca, bottle it up watch the fiends gobble it up
I crush cocaine into smaller pieces, package it, sell it, and observe addicts eagerly purchasing and consuming it
If I roll up, you do what? Swallow the stuff
If I approach you, you will immediately consume any drugs you have on you to avoid getting caught
I don't give a fuck anymore, I'm only twenty-four years old
I have lost all interest in caring about anything, despite being just 24 years old
And I've already broken every law
I have committed numerous crimes
I'm horror core, this is for the heads
I am a horrorcore rapper, and this music is for the fans of that genre
Runnin' up in your crib, knot if you still hot in under the bed
I will break into your home and steal your possessions, even if you hide them under your bed
Yo, parental discretion advised, please cover your eyes
This music is not suitable for children, so it is recommended that they cover their eyes
Little kids, get out of here! This shits is homicide!
Young children should leave now because the content of this song is about violence and murder
Drugs and money, this ain't no Bugs Bunny!
This is not a cartoon, it is about the serious topics of drugs and money
Little girls too; this ain't for you it's for the thugs honey!
This is not appropriate for young girls, it is intended for gang members
Hey yo my shit's the truth, one fifty proof no question
My rhymes are honest and true, there's no denying it like the strength of 150 proof alcohol
Keep out the eyes of the youth
This music should not be consumed by children or young adults
It's too explicit, bullshit!
This music is too explicit for some people and they don't believe it should exist
I challenge the statistics
I am questioning the validity of the information/data that is being presented
Violence existed before our music was even suggested
Violence has existed for a long time, even before music that references it was created
Arrested on sight, it's like there's no rights
People are being arrested immediately without any consideration for their rights
That's why I rhyme so aggressive and bring every message to life
I rap with an intense style and deliver powerful messages to emphasize the severity of the issues at hand
I fight the power, spite the power the 90 percent
I oppose authority, despite it, and am on the side of the 90% of people who are not in power
Keep 10 and feed Twin half for personal reasons
I will keep 10% of my earnings for myself, but I will give half the remaining amount to my friend/associate named Twin for my own personal motives
The seasons change things re-arrange, but I stay the same
Many things in life shift and change with time, but I always remain who I am
Play the game, for the wealth, until I've made myself a name
I will do whatever it takes, even if it means compromising my morals and participating in corrupt activities to become rich and famous
So blame it all on the gangster rapper, thanks to Joey Crack
People are blaming gangster rappers for the problems in society, and thank you to Fat Joe for allowing me to express myself through music
For the chance to do it my way like Frank Sinatra
I appreciate the opportunity to create music in my own unique style, similar to Frank Sinatra
I ain't a actor so it's all facts, strictly raw rap
I am not portraying a character, everything I say is factual, and my style of rap is unfiltered and authentic
Totally intended for yours dressed in all black
This music is explicitly for people who dress in all black clothing
With the ski mask, or the pantyhose makin' cameos
I will appear in public with either a ski mask or pantyhose over my face as a disguise
In liquor store cameras with the twin Calico's
I will be caught on camera robbing a liquor store with two identical guns
Word is bond
What I'm saying is truthful
One thing about MC's is that we don't conceal the truth
MCs are known for speaking the truth and not hiding anything
We present real pictures about the positive and the negative
We show realistic depictions of both the good and bad aspects of life
So don't blame the hip-hop
Don't place blame on the genre of hip-hop
When your seed is learnin' the real life from us
When your child is learning about real life through our music
Do your duty at home and raise your child in the house parents
It's your responsibility as a parent to raise your child at home correctly and responsibly
You don't do your job
If you don't fulfill your duties as a parent
We gonna put your children to bed at nine o'clock
We will enforce bedtime for your kids at 9 PM
Past your bedtime
It is later than the appropriate time for children to still be awake
You get your ass in bed
You need to go to bed now
Punishment motherfuckers!
I'll punish you if you don't comply!
By the Punisher, and Busta Rhymes, hah
This message is from me, the Punisher, and Busta Rhymes
Terror Squad! Flipmode Squad niggas!
Shoutout to our respective musical groups, Terror Squad and Flipmode Squad
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTOPHER RIOS, RODNEY LEMAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind