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).
Top Of The World
Big Punisher Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Another Darkchild remix
Brandy, RJ, Big Pun, Fat Joe, Terror Squad
Come on
Hear the truth shorty
With my fruit punch and my forty
Sweeter than candy, Brandy's the only one for me
It's only the middle of the week
But when you called Joe and Pun
You kept it real with the streets
That's the true honor
Not the jewels or Garbana
Any fool can't accomplish just a few hundred dollars
That's paper thin, I got my mamma out the apron
I'm loyal to her from eight to ten
Make way for the twin
Who the twins that be making it hot
(Say what?)
Number one on you Billboard charts
Showing love to them thugs who be holding the blocks
And we be tearing up the club like the Three Six Mob
Joey Crack baby, ain't no time to react lazy
Brandy gave us a call and our track's gravy
Perhaps maybe we can ball with this
And all get rich, I ain't only talking ish!
Some people say that I am not the same girl
They think that I am in my own world
What makes them think that I have changed, yeah
A little dough can not erase my problems
Me, like you, I have to try and solve them
Yes everything is quite the same
Sitting on top the world
Sitting on top, no that's not so
Everybody changes, let it go
Sitting on top the world
I'm just one girl trying to live my life
But someone telling me what I like
Back in the days
when I was young
I'm not a kid anymore
But some days I sit and wish I was a kid again
I wonder why it's often said that my life's
A fairy tale and everything is so right
I wish that you could know the truth, yeah
My life is real so please don't get it twisted
Problems the same and got to be dealt with
These are the things I wish you knew, ooh yeah
Sitting on top the world
Sitting on top, no that's not so
Everybody changes, let it go
Sitting on top the world
I'm just one girl trying to live my life
But someone telling me what I like
Ever since you wanted to be down
I wanted to put you on
But you ain't come around
Had no time for the don
Sixteen on the block
The latest phenomenon
Number one with a bullett
And your own sitcom
Brandy hand me one of the platinum hits
People talk but they don't know the half of it
Well the fact this is, we're in the worst business
And anything you have you deserve it miss
Encima del mundo
Follow the squad we never segundo
Tell el mundo, telling vatos of every remover
Word chula we packing men like Lollapalooza
From here to Havana, Cuba then Puerto Rico en scooter
Getting mula
Sitting on top of the world like A Buddha
Who the first Latin to go platinum without the basura
Big Pun the caputera with cheddar
Never settle for second best cause I'm primera, which forever
Sitting on top the world
Sitting on top, no that's not so
Everybody changes, let it go
Sitting on top the world
I'm just one girl trying to live my life
But someone telling me what I like
Sitting on top the world
Sitting on top, no that's not so
Everybody changes, let it go
Sitting on top the world
I'm just one girl trying to live my life
But someone telling me what I like
The lyrics to Big Punisher's song Top of the World is a collaboration with Brandy, RJ, Fat Joe and Terror Squad. The opening lyrics suggest that this song is a remix of an original version created by Darkchild, an acclaimed music producer. The song primarily revolves around the insights of different artists who talk about their personal experiences with fame, money, and success. Brandy sings about how people assume that her life is perfect but don't know the struggles she faces. Fat Joe talks about his loyalty to a woman he cares for, and how earning money is only a small part of the satisfaction he derives from his work. Big Punisher sheds light on his Latino identity and how he became the first Latin artist to go platinum without compromising his cultural heritage. This song shows how people from different walks of life have to face common problems.
The chorus of the song, "Sitting on top of the world," is repeated throughout, which gives the song its title. It is an ironic statement, as the artists reveal the challenges they face in their lives. The song ends with a symbol of hope that no matter what trials they face, they will keep pushing through.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo I don't think they're ready for this one
I am convinced that people are not prepared for this song
Hear the truth shorty
Listen to the reality, girl
With my fruit punch and my forty
I have my drink and my beer with me
Sweeter than candy, Brandy's the only one for me
Brandy is the only woman who I crave, who is irresistible
You get it up
You understand what I am saying
It's only the middle of the week
The week is not yet over
But when you called Joe and Pun
You made a call to Joe and me
You kept it real with the streets
You were honest with the neighborhood
That's the true honor
That is the real dignity
Not the jewels or Garbana
Not the expensive accessories or brands
Any fool can't accomplish just a few hundred dollars
Anyone can make a little cash
That's paper thin, I got my mamma out the apron
That is not enough, I have managed to get my mother out of the kitchen
I'm loyal to her from eight to ten
I take care of her from morning till night
Make way for the twin
Clear the path for us twin brothers
Who the twins that be making it hot
Who are the twins responsible for the success
Number one on you Billboard charts
We are at the top of the charts
Showing love to them thugs who be holding the blocks
We appreciate the loyalty of the gangsters who control the neighborhoods
And we be tearing up the club like the Three Six Mob
We are making the club go wild, just like the Three Six Mafia
Joey Crack baby, ain't no time to react lazy
Joe is active and has no time to waste
Brandy gave us a call and our track's gravy
Brandy contacted us and things are going well
Perhaps maybe we can ball with this
Maybe we can make a lot of money with this song
And all get rich, I ain't only talking ish!
We can all become wealthy, and I am not just saying that
Some people say that I am not the same girl
There are those who say I have changed
They think that I am in my own world
They believe I am disconnected from reality
What makes them think that I have changed, yeah
I don't understand why people think I am different now
A little dough can not erase my problems
Money cannot make my troubles disappear
Me, like you, I have to try and solve them
I, just like you, have to find solutions
Yes everything is quite the same
Well, everything is still pretty much the same
Back in the days when I was young
In the past, when I was still a child
I'm not a kid anymore
But I am not a child anymore
But some days I sit and wish I was a kid again
But sometimes I feel nostalgic and miss my childhood
I wonder why it's often said that my life's
I wonder why people believe that my life is
A fairy tale and everything is so right
A perfect story and everything is easy
I wish that you could know the truth, yeah
I wish you knew the real story
My life is real so please don't get it twisted
My life is genuine, so don't misunderstand
Problems the same and got to be dealt with
My issues are still there and need to be resolved
These are the things I wish you knew, ooh yeah
These are the things I would like you to understand
Ever since you wanted to be down
Since the moment you wanted to be part of us
I wanted to put you on
I wanted to give you an opportunity
But you ain't come around
But you didn't show up
Had no time for the don
You weren't interested in me
Sixteen on the block
Young and inexperienced
The latest phenomenon
The most recent sensation
Number one with a bullett
The best, with lots of momentum
And your own sitcom
And even your own TV show
Brandy hand me one of the platinum hits
Brandy gave me one of her successful songs
People talk but they don't know the half of it
People gossip but they don't truly understand
Well the fact this is, we're in the worst business
Well, the truth is that we are in a challenging industry
And anything you have you deserve it miss
And if you have succeeded, you have earned it, miss
Encima del mundo
On top of the world
Follow the squad we never segundo
Follow our team, we are always first
Tell el mundo, telling vatos of every remover
Tell the world, inform everyone
Word chula we packing men like Lollapalooza
Chula (a woman) says we are heavily armed, like at Lollapalooza
From here to Havana, Cuba then Puerto Rico en scooter
From here to Havana, Cuba, then to Puerto Rico, all by scooter
Getting mula
Making money
Sitting on top of the world like A Buddha
We are sitting on top of the world like Buddha
Who the first Latin to go platinum without the basura
Who is the first Latino to go platinum without filth
Big Pun the caputera with cheddar
Big Pun the boss with the cash
Never settle for second best cause I'm primera, which forever
I never settle for second place because I am first, always and forever
Sitting on top the world
Being successful and at the pinnacle of one's career
I'm just one girl trying to live my life
I am just one woman trying to make it in this world
But someone telling me what I like
But someone is trying to tell me what to do or like
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JASON KEITH PERRY, SEAN BELLERS-SMITH, GAVIN BUTLER, JAMES RICHARD DAVIES, MATTHEW DAVIES, DAVID RHYS LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@KABOEEEEEM
R.I.P. PUN
@joefoxbody5914
I remember hearing this for the first time many many many years ago ... good times
@helenh.5119
thanks for uploading this version. I can play this at work :)