By SHARON L CRENSON
Associated Press Writer
02/07/00
NEW YORK (AP) -- Christopher Rios, the platinum-selling
rapper known as Big Pun who was respected for his
imaginative lyrics and smooth delivery, died Monday. He was
28.
Rios was pronounced dead at 3:53 p.m., and the cause of
death was to be determined by the medical examiner, said a
spokeswoman at White Plains Hospital in suburban New
York. His publicist, David Granoff, said it appeared Rios died
of a heart attack.
"He was beloved, and admired, and accomplished, and rich,''
Granoff said.
He credited Rios, who was Puerto Rican, with working to
bring Latino entertainers into rap, a style traditionally
dominated by black artists.
The rap world started to take notice of Rios -- whose stage
name was short for Big Punisher -- after appearances with
fellow rapper Fat Joe and a feature on "The Mix Tape Vol. 1''
put together by Funkmaster Flex.
His street hit "You Ain't a Killer'' was featured on the "Soul in
the Hole'' soundtrack and his first album, "Capital
Punishment'' went double platinum and was nominated for a
Grammy last year.
Rios' second album, '' Yeah, Baby,'' was due out in April.
"Big Pun possessed a lyrical gift of incessant breath control
and a knockout punch with the rhymes,'' a reviewer wrote
about rapper for sonymusic.com.
Known earlier in his career as Big Moon Dog, the entertainer
was once an avid basketball player and boxer, but later said
he took to eating "until he couldn't tie his shoelaces.''
Jimmy Rodriguez, a longtime friend, said he would be missed.
"Anybody that knew or ever come in contact with Big Pun
would have walked away saying that they just walked away
from a gentle giant,'' Rodriguez said. "He was so special.''
Rios, who lived in the Bronx, was survived by his wife Liza,
and three young children: Christopher, Vanessa, and
Amanda. |
