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April 24, 2023 30 mins

The crew talks the late Big Pun's debut classic Capital Punishment as it turns 25. After making waves in the underground and on the Beatnuts "Off the Books" the previous year, the Bronx-bred Puerto Rican emcee lead off with this massive debut. Touting a ferocious multisyllabic rhyme still dressed with punchlines, humor and swagger, he sought to achieve a first: become the first Latino rapper with an album sporting a platinum plaque.

The album was produced by a capable committee producers including JuJu and V.I.C from the Beatnuts, Young Lord, Frank Nitty, Rocwilder, dead prez, RZA, Showbiz and others. The album had a healthy feature lineup including the likes of Black Thought, Prodigy, Inspectah Deck, R&B singers Miss Jones and Joe, Busta Rhymes, Noreaga and fellow Terror Squad members Fat Joe, Cuban Linx, Triple Seis and Armageddon.

Powered by the three singles, including the crossover smash hit "Still Not A Player" featuring Joe, the album was certified platinum. It is often credited as the best hip-hop album produced by a Latino rapper and also noted as one of the best lyrical performances by an emcee on an album of the 1990s.

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Show Notes

Albumism: Big Pun's Debut Album 'Capital Punishment Turns 20 | Anniversary Retrospective

https://albumism.com/features/big-pun-debut-album-capital-punishment-turns-20-anniversary-retrospective

TheBoomBox: How Big Pun's 'Capital Punishment' Established Him As A Cultural Icon

https://theboombox.com/big-pun-capital-punishment-established-cultural-icon/

RockTheBells-Classic Albums: Big Pun "Capital Punishment"

https://rockthebells.com/articles/classic-albums-capital-punishment-big-pun/

Define A Revolution: Retrospective: Big Pun's "Capital Punishment"

http://www.definearevolution.com/2016/04/retrospective-big-puns-capital.html




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