"After watching his mentor Fat Joe make the usual rookie mistakes, Big Punisher has had an easier time overcoming the exploitative rap music industry's many obstacles. Certainly Fat Joe defeated many stereotypes scarring the Boricua's place in hip-hop, and it's patently obvious that that fact benefited Big Pun on his debut album, Capital Punishment. This album unquestionably validates the Latino MC concept to a mass market. Even though Pun uses cliche'd, Biggie-fied skits ("Taster's Choice," "Pakinamac Pt.1") and features predictable guest MC's like B-Real, Fat Joe, Kool G Rap, Inspectah Deck and Prodigy, it's Pun's incredibly quick and fluid delivery that pleasantly recasts hip hop's played-out "reality." Check out Big Pun's "You Came Up," featuring Noreaga, cont'd below...
"Aside from the weak, R&B-hooked, Bill Clinton anthem "I Ain't a Playa (I Just Uff A lot)," the platinum playa/thug image is enhanced by vocal dexterity and skill. An example of this is the superb back-and-forth performance on "Super Lyrical," featuring the underground legend Black Thought of the Roots. Capital Punishment also covers a more diverse range of topics than many current albums. For example, Pun reflects upon genocide on the album's title track, and the controversy of one's realness through rhyme on "Parental Discretion." By merging social commentary and top-quality production, Big Pun makes an original and entertaining debut." - XXL, 1998. Full review below...
