Rapper Christopher Lee Rios, better known to fans as Big Pun, passed away on February 7th, 2000 at the age of 28. Born in the Bronx, NY, as the son of Puerto Rican descent, Big Pun is widely credited as being the first Latin American rapper to achieve platinum status in the music industry. Big Pun gained a significant amount of notoriety for his rapid-fire flow and intricate wordplay as he surged to the top of the Billboard charts. Over the course of his career, he worked with multiple popular artists and released albums such as ‘Capital Punishment’ and ‘Yeeeah Baby’, both certified platinum. Shortly after his second record, he regaled fans with a collaboration project featuring the extremely successful group ‘Terror Squad’. Big Pun’s influence in the hip-hop community was undeniable, and fans across the world pay homage to his legacy. His far reaching impact in Latin American culture resonated heavily and centuries later, his influence remains strong.