Terror Squad "Terror Squad" (Vibe, 1999)

"It's hard not to root for Fat Joe. The Bronx, New Yorker spent years as an underground rap underdog before discovering a fellow borinqueno heavy-weight. With verbal skills as massive as his body, Joe's find, Big Pun, debuted in 1998 with the platinum-selling Capital Punishment (Loud). Riding the wave of momentum supplied by his protege, Joe finally struck gold with his third try, Don Cartagena (Atlantic, 1998). Now as his crew, Terror Squad (Joe, Pun, Cuban Link, Prospect, Triple Seis, and Armageddon) release their self-titled full-length, the MC/entrepreneur is once again banking on his eye for talent to pay dividends. Big Pun, rapping and singing, shines over the tasty violins and face-pounding drums of "Whatcha Gonna Do?" Bolstered by a creepy, hollow-sounding piano, "Bring It On" features Fat Joe going for dolo in vintage form: "Come at us if you're ready for war / Whoever you are / Leave you dead in your hall / Leaking red on the floor." Unfortunately, such stellar moments are few. By mid-album, many of the tracks start sounding the same -- a betrayal of the lesser-known Terror Squadians' distinctive flows and charismatic Latin linguistics. Let's hope Joe and his compatriots change production teams before coming out with solo efforts. If not, we'll be calling them the Not-So-Scary Crew." - Vibe (November, 1999). Rest In Peace, Big Pun.

Do you agree or disagree with Elliott Wilson's review in Vibe?

Cuban Link "Chain Reaction" (Vibe Magazine, 2005)

Withstanding Big Pun's immense shadow and Fat Joe's verbal wrath, Cuban Link shines with introspection on his first solo release. Chain Reaction finds the former TS member cleverly moving from the streets ("Talk About It") to the sheets ("My Lady"). Whether spitting alongside Avant's crooning or Jadakiss's rough rhymes, Cuban adapts to each track, especially the grimier ones. "I've been gone for a minute / N!@@as thought I was finished," he raps on "Tonight's the Night," "But the scars that I caught just added more to the image." And that's how he stays a cut above. - Vibe Magazine (September, 2005). I've always enjoyed Cuban Link's music - from guest features to "Flowers For The Dead" and his latest tribute to Big Pun with "Letter To Pun," I still think there's plenty of room for Cuban Link in this industry. That said, having Fat Joe as an "enemy" has never been something I'd recommend, so I hope they eventually reconcile their differences. "In retrospect, I always respect the man that you were / A man of your word that always put his family first / With talent superb all you wanted was to be heard / And You got your chance all of your fans are proud of your work..." R.I.P., Big Pun. Listen to Cuban Link's '05 Chain Reaction below...

Vibe Magazine's album review of Cuban Link's Chain Reaction...

Cuban Link "Next" Feature In Vibe Magazine (September, 2000)

"Felix "Cuban Link" Delgado... determination has always been characteristic of the 25-year-old. When faced with a struggle, he doesn't back down. The most recent setback, of course, is the death of his fellow Terror Squad member and close friend of 11 years, Big Pun. Now with the Squad's biggest star gone, Cuban Link has the difficult task of carrying the weight of the crew with his long-awaited debut, 24-K. It won't be easy. Along with Pun, Cuban Link first caught the attention of the public with his appearance on the Beatnuts' 1997 hit "Off The Books." But instead of taking advantage of the track's huge buzz, Cuban was forced to wait for both Fat Joe's Don Cartagena and Terror Squad's self-titled debut to drop. While Joe struck gold, Terror Squad failed completely. "I feel like I missed my chance already," he says." Cont'd below with "Flowers For The Dead" ...

"But Cuba's not giving up on an album he knows is good and that Big Pun would be proud of. Fat Joe agrees, "His album is incredible," he says. "Ladies are gonna love him, but he keeps it real for the brothas, too." Following the CD's somber Pun tribute, "Flowers For The Dead," Cuban hopes to release the salsa-tinged party starter "Dame Un Beso," and win audiences over with 24-K's wide range of sentiments. "I tried to hit every emotion and mood," he says. "I'm talking about different aspects of life." He should know. Cuban has overcome bigger obstacles. Following the Refugee Act of 1980, Fidel Castro dumped Cuba's inmates onto boats and sent them to the States. One of those men was Cuban Link's father, who had been locked up for selling a pair of pants on the street. "It was hard times," Cuban says of their first few years in the South Bronx, N.Y. "Our whole family would go on field trips collecting cans." And although he faces an uncertain future in the tumultuous rap game, Cuban Link welcomes the challenge. "I'm like a clutch hitter," he says, confidently. "I like to be where the pressure's at." - Vibe, September 2000. (24-K never officially came out.) R.I.P. Big Pun.

Big Pun "Rest In Peace" (CMJ, February 2000)

"Rapper Big Punisher, born Christopher Rios, died on February 7 of an enlarged heart and attendant complications. According to MTV News, Big Pun, known for an aggressive rhyming style on the order of Biggie Smalls, was pronounced dead on arrival at the White Plains Hospital in New York at 4pm. He was 28... The Puerto Rican MC came to hip-hop prominence through guesting on records by Fat Joe, Raekwon and the Beatnuts. His debut record, 1997's Capital Punishment, which featured Beatnuts, RZA, Inspectah Deck, Wyclef Jean, Kool G Rap, Noreaga and Busta Rhymes, was certified double platinum, and earned him critical praise and a Grammy. During this time, Big Pun worked with Fat Joe and their collective the Terror Squad. It was 1998's "Still Not A Player," however, that brought him widespread fame. A former basketball player and boxer, Big Pun also hosted the Rap City channel b-ball documentary Soul In The Hole and contributed a song to the soundtrack." Cont'd below...

"Despite his athletic past, Big Pun's weight at the time of death was nearly 700 pounds. His size mad it difficult for him to perform or move about. (According to the Daily News, paramedics had to use a construction dolly to take the rapper to the ambulance.) Though fans and family voiced concern, Big Pun brushed it off. "When a big guy could do something that skinny people can do, it's even more impressive. It looks even better," he told MTV News in 1998. "When you got a fat guy... it'll stand out even more. It's like, 'Wow, I didn't expect him....' Like when (Fat) Joe will rhyme and I'll come out people will think I'm his bouncer and I'll be spittin' ... people are like 'Wow!' Big Pun was expected to release third album, Yeehah Baby, in April. His publicist told the Associated Press that the record would be released posthumously. He is survived by his wife, Liza, son, Christopher, and two daughters, Vanessa and Amanda." - CMJ New Music Monthly, February 21, 2000. R.I.P., Big Pun.

Big Pun "Next" Feature In Vibe Magazine (February, 1998)

"Big Punisher laughs a lot. The Puerto Rican, Bronx-bred behemoth behind last year's brilliant Loud singles "You Ain't A Killer" and "I'm Not A Player" can't stifle a chuckle even when resurrecting acerbic childhood memories of his disciplinarian Vietnam vet stepfather. "Your reflexes are sharp when you get your ass whupped all the time," Pun says while pounding the pavement of his old neighborhood. "My stepfather would walk every morning to the bathroom. I could hear the toilet bowl flushing. Whoooshhh. Then he'd walk past my bedroom door," Pun pauses. His black eyes are piercing; he's lost in a trance. "Next thing you know," the Punisher says, "he would kick in my door and (say) 'Early, soldier! smack me around, and make me do f#ckin' push-ups Ha-ha." Pun brought an end to that pain when, at 15, he became big enough to fight back. "I use that experience for my writing," he says. "You can hear the anger." Big Punisher's gusts of fiery breath were first on 1995's "Watch Out" from Fat Joe's Jealous One's Envy. Pun has since flexed his self-described sophisticated hardcore flow on solo Bone Thugger Flesh-N-Bone's 1996 "No Mercy" as well as the Beatnuts' recent-blazer "Off The Books." Throwback live video: Terror Squad runnin' through their joints...

"But the juiciest slab on Pun's menu is is own full-length debut, Capital Punishment (Loud). It's a relentless collection of bone-crushing bravado. Check for the banging, Buckwild-produced "Dream Shatterer" as well as the exacting "Twinz," a "Deep Cover"-esque duet with Pun's manager Joey Crack aka Fat Joe. "People got me blushin," says the nearly 400-pound 26-year old father of three. "They stop me and go, 'You Pun?' All my life I didn't feel special, so it feels good to finally be spoiled." Later that day, Pun treks down to his label's Manhattan offices. "I'm gonna try to write some ballads too, man," he says, stone serious. "I'll sing this one song for you..." The tumultuous conference room is ripe with crazed interns and Pun's lifelong, round-the-way amigos and fellow rhyme slayers Cuban Link and Tripe Seis. They simmer down. "You stupid," Pun says. "Like I'm gonna sing a song for you. Ha-ha-ha." Ouch. Big Punisher - hip-hop's newest heavyweight champion - has punchlines that will knock you out." - Vibe Magazine, February 1998. Rest In Peace, Big Pun.