Big Pun remains on the best rappers ever list to this day. Reasons for this weigh largely on his debut Capital Punishment which was released 25 years ago. His commanding voice and rapid fire delivery make it clear there will never be another Big Pun. Pun was New York. His confidence on the mic made him stand out among his contemporaries. Similarly, the production – by a cast of many – remains ever so New York loyal. The close cousins “Im Not a Player” and “Still Not a Player”, may have been the hits off this album but it is packed with so many more that show Pun’s true abilities. “Beware” and “Dream Shatterer” are great examples of Big Pun at his best, dark cinematic production with just enough room to let him breathe fire. On “Twinz (Deep Cover)” Big Pun is trading bars with his mentor Fat Joe over a remake of Dr. Dre’s classic beat. Here Pun delivers one of his most quoted verses that contains among others “Dead in the middle of Little Italy little did we know that we riddled some middlemen who didn’t do diddly.” There are numerous guest appearances, the best of which include aforementioned Fat Joe (on several tracks), Black Thought of The Roots on the MC showcase “Super Lyrical”, Prodigy and Inspectah Deck on “Tres Leches (Triboro Trilogy)”, and an extra-insane Busta Rhymes on “Parental Discretion”.
Pressed on Colored Double Vinyl with a dope Gatefold Cover with the 25th Anniversary OBI limited to 2000 Units.
Tracklist:
A1. Intro
A2. Beware
A3. Super Lyrical (feat. Black Thought)
A4. Taster’s Choice (Skit)
A5. Still Not A Player (feat. Fat Joe)
A6. Intermission
A7. The Dream Shatterer
B1. Punish Me
B2. Pakinamac Pt. I (Skit)
B3. You Ain’t A Killer
B4. Pakinamac Pt. II – Skit
B5. Caribbean Connection (feat. Wyclef Jean)
B6. Glamourlife (feat. Fat Joe, Triple Seis, Armageddon &Cuban Link)
C1. Capital Punishment (feat. Prospect)
C2. Uncensored (Skit) (feat. Funkmaster Flex)
C3. I’m Not A Player
C4. Twinz (Deep Cover 98) (feat. Fat Joe)
C5. The Rain & The Sun (feat. Dead Prez &Prospect)
C6. Boomerang
D1. You Came Up (feat. Noreaga)
D2. Tres Leches (Triboro Trilogy) (feat. Prodigy & Inspectah Deck)
D3. Charlie Rock Shout (Skit)
D4. Fast Money
D5. Parental Discretion (feat. Busta Rhymes)
