Capital Punishment [ENHANCED] [EXPLICIT LYRICS]

Big Pun

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 24, 1999)
• Original Release Date: April 28, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced, Explicit Lyrics
• Label: Relativity
• ASIN: B00000K3HL
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #40,644 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #41 in	Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > Latin Hip-Hop
  #70 in	Music > Latin Music > Urban

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Some rappers die because they get shot. Some die of AIDS. But corpulent Latino rapper Big Punisher died of a massive coronary; at the time of his February 2000 death, he weighed over 600 pounds. While this made Punisher a suitable poster boy for the dangers of conspicuous consumption, on his platinum 1998 debut album, Capital Punishment, he's eager to poke fun at the creed of greed: "I'm not a player", he announces, "I just fuck a lot." But while Capital Punishment is perfectly adequate gangsta fare, Big Pun doesn't deserve the deification that dead rappers so frequently receive; here, he deviates little from the egomaniacal posturing that the Notorious B.I.G. branded his own. "If it doesn't make dollars, then it doesn't make sense," splutters compadre Fat Joe on "Glamour Life." Suitable, then, that Big Pun died in an industry where rigor mortis is the ultimate unit-shifter. --Louis Pattison

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Big Punisher- Capital Punishment, March 14, 2003

By	Constant (Vancouver, BC Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Big Punisher aka Christopher Rios (1971-2000) dropped his debut album "Capital Punishment" in 1998. Executive produced by Pun, Fat Joe, and Matt Life, with guest appearances coming from Black Thought of the Roots, R&B singer Joe, Miss Jones, Wyclef, Funkmaster Flex, Dead Prez, Noreaga, Prodigy, Inspectah Deck, and Busta Ryhmes. As well as appearances coming from Puns, Terror squad family (Fat Joe, Cuban Link, Prospect, Armageddon, Triple Seis). This is excellent album, and in my opinion the best latin hiphop album ever, and one of the nicest albums of the last decade, every track is entertaining, Puns flow and lyrical ability is amazing, and production is tight all throughout. "Beware" and "Super Lyrical" feat. Black Thought start the album off real strong. Next comes "Still Not a Player" feat. Joe, lead single to album, and the song that blew up on the radio, positive upbeat song that became a memorable hiphop anthem. On the next track "Dream Shatterer" Pun comes out hard, and flows well. "Punish Me" feat. Miss Jones is a relaxed track, where Pun talks about the strains of relationships, and his dedication to being a father no matter what. Next comes the banging track "You Aint a Killer". "Glamour Life" features all of Terror Squad and each one of them drops memorable verses to sick background beats. Dead Prez drop in for the short interlude "The Rain and the Sun" which has Puns best friend and half brother Cuban Link showing love.Some more nice tracks follow and then Noreaga drops in for the hook on "You Came Up", my favourite track on this album which uses horn loops and a sick bassline. Track has Pun talking about coming up in the game, and paying tribute to his Terror Squad family as well as Tupac, while celebrating making it in the game. Prodigy of Mobb Deep and Inspectah Deck of Wu-Tang drop in for "Tres Leches" (Triboro Trilogy) and album ends with "Parental Discretion" feat. Busta Rhymes. Big Punishers "Capital Punishment" is a hiphop classic, best latin hiphop album of all time, essential for every hiphop collection. R.I.P. Christopher Rios.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most Slept on Classic CD, June 22, 2006

By	C. Cullinan "Bored in a Cubicle" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This cd is SOOOO underrated. In my opinion, Pun is one of the greatest of all time, and this cd is his best work. In addition to being "super lyrical", dude could also flow like water.

When this cd first dropped I was a little bit skeptical to cop it. I liked "still not a player" when I first heard it, but the song got played out on the radio and MTV real quick. I was expecting the rest of the cd to sound similar. I was so wrong. This cd is classic hip hop.

The entire cd is good, but there are some standout tracks. "Super Lyrical" featuring Black Thought is the initial banger. Pun and Thought trade verses to a dope beat and there are some great vocal samples of Adrian from "Rocky IV" inserted into the song. "You ain't a killer" is actually a more insightful track, accompanied by a dope piano loop. "The Glamour Life" features some hot verses from Pun and Cuban Link. Pun's flow on "Deep Cover" is absolutely insane. The cd ends strongly with "Boomerang", "You came up", and "Tres Leches" which are all anthems as well. Bottom line--if you're a fan of lyrical hip hop, then this is a must have cd.

Pun is not often mentioned as one of best emcees ever, but he definitely should be. Dude is a legend in my mind.

R.I.P. Pun--You were ill.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable...the album behind the legend, December 17, 2006

By	ctrx ('bout to show you how the EAST COAST rocks...) - See all my reviews

During Big Pun's unfortunately short lifetime, he released only one album, 1998's "Capital Punishment," and with this one release he amassed the reputation of one of New York's greatest MCs ever. Listening to this album, it's not hard to see why. Pun shows simply amazing technique, lyricism, and versatility on the album that made him the first Latino rapper to go platinum. Pun flawlessly tells stories of crime and dangers in the streets of the Bronx, but he also makes some deeper tracks about life and philosophy. He is simply an awesome lyricist. Also, the group of guest rappers is among the best ever assembled for an album. In addition to his group of Terror Squad peers such as Fat Joe, Cuban Link, and Noreaga, other appearances come from rap legends like Prodigy, Busta Rhymes, Inspectah Deck, Black Thought, Dead Prez, , and singers such as Joe, Wyclef Jean, and Miss Jones. The production is outstanding throughout the album, coming from such accomplished beatmakers as the RZA, L.E.S., Rockwilder, and Dr. Dre. Overall this album is a complete classic that deserves to be a part of any hip hop collection.

After the intro, the album begins with "Beware," starting the album with a hard lyrical track with great production. "Super Lyrical" is just that, a collaboration with Roots rapper Black Thought. "Still Not a Player" was Pun's most successful single, the song that made him famous and a legendary classic. Over an awesome, Latin-inspired beat, Pun drops hilarious, well delivered verses in between great singing from Joe, who also sings the classic outro. "The Dream Shatterer" is very well produced and is a hard, street-level song. Miss Jones collaborates on "Punish Me," one of my favorite songs on the album. With a subdued, thoughtful beat, Big Pun talks about a relationship gone sour. "You Ain't a Killer" is another New York classic. The hard piano laced beat fits great with Pun's threatening lyrics and great punchlines. "Glamour Life" features the Terror Squad, where they talk about the reaps of a life of crime over a great beat. The title track follows in the trend of hard, well-produced tough songs. On "I'm Not a Player," Pun speaks again of his character and interactions with women, the song utilizes a great soul sample. "Twinz (Deep Cover 98)" is a cover of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg's classic song from 1992, where Pun and Fat Joe collaborate for one of the best songs from either one of their catalogs. I really like the interlude "The Rain and the Sun" with Dead Prez, it's relaxing. "You Came Up" may actually be my favorite song on the disc, though. With Noreaga, Pun discusses his rise to the top of hip hop, and the saxophone loop is perfect, Terror Squad always shines on this type of song. RZA produces "Triboro Trilogy," a standard New York anthem featuring legends Inspectah Deck and Prodigy. "Fast Money" tells an awesome story, and the album finishes with the Busta Rhymes-assisted "Parental Discretion," where the rappers warn parents of the dangers of raising children in the ghetto and exposing them to the dangers.

"Capital Punishment" is so amazing because it is a perfect combination of a truly special MC, great guest appearances, awesome production, and perfect execution. This album is so complete and well rounded, easily one of the best albums from the late 90s. I recommend this album to all kinds of hip hop fans, it has something everyone can enjoy, because it's such a classic.