In 2001 is released this compilation album of Big Pun. The production is realized by Irv Gotti, The Hitmen (Younglord, Rashad Smith, EZ Elpee, Sean Cane), Trackmasters, Dr. Dre, Tru Stylze, Knobody, The Beatnuts, Swizz Beatz, Buckwild, The Alchemist, Ski Beatz, V.I.C, Mike Heron, Showbiz, K-Cut, DJ Clue? and Duro. The guests are Ashanti, Joe, Cuban Link, Beatnuts, Noreaga, Cam'Ron, Jadakiss, Styles P, Nature, Tony Sunshine, Nas, Raekwon, Sheek Louch, Brandy, Ricky Martin, Armageddon, B-Real and Kool G Rap.
After a brief intro, the disk is opened by Punisher banger "You Ain't a Killer", in which the Bronx rap champion flies with his gangster stanzas over an amazing rhythm created by The Hitmen's beatmaker Younglord. The next tune is another classic, "Twinz (Deep Cover 98)": over the g-funk rhythm invented by Dr. Dre for "Deep Cover" with Snoop, Rios goes back and forth along with Don Cartagena, killing this gangsta/mob track. "Watcha Gonna Do?" is the pick number four. The track is taken from Terror Squad debut album and despite crediting the group, is a solo by Pun over a beat realized by JuJu of the Beatnuts. Irv Gotti and Tru Stylze realize the rhythm for "How We Roll": over this pop production, Big Pun spits bars, while Ashanti sings the chorus, in this unreleased tune. It's chosen as a single, charting #16 among rap songs.
The sixth choice is "Still Not a Player", the main rapper realizes a banger with the rnb singer Joe over the production of Knobody. The Beatnuts signs the single "Off the Books", Full-A-Clips rap group members Big Pun and Cuban Link show they can reach the charts with this minor hit from the Beatnuts LP: while Cuban Link obtains eight bars at his debut as recording rapper, also quoting the Terror Squad favorite restaurant Jimmy's Cafe, Big Punisher kills the record with a first verse that is hailed as one of the finest in hip-hop history.
After a skit, Swizz Beatz appears as beatmaker of Noreaga's "Banned from TV" featuring Cam'ron, The LOX, Nature and Big Pun. Despite the half-weak rhythm provided by Swizz, the track is killed by the performers: Nature of the hip-hop supergroup The Firm, Cam'ron of the Harlem hip-hop supergroup Children of the Corn (w/ Big L, among others), and The LOX. Punisher accidentally bumps into Noreaga in the studio while he's recording the track, and the Bronx boy decides to write his own verse: the CNN rapper is against putting it on the track, but how can you pass up Big Pun? Rios pulls out one unbelievable line after another and kills his spot. The Punisher showcases a flow that's impracticable for the others, Cam'ron picks up the mic still warm and delivers a solid verse, then Styles and Jada launch the joint towards the legend with a smoothness combined delivery in "Heaven & Hell" style (Rae ft. Ghostface), amazing, giving value to this cut — could be one of the best hip-hop collaborations ever, shame about the low-level rhythm. Closes Nature, but the best is over, which is why the former Firm member remains in the background despite a good energetic delivery.
The tune is followed by "Mamma", where the author asks his mother for forgiveness — the rapper arrives from a track in which he just raps "I never listened to nothing my mother said", among other things — and regrets his past, accompanied by Tony Sunshine of the Terror Squad, who sings the hook over a beat by The Alchemist, memorable sample from Hugo Montenegro's "Classical Gas", powerful bass line, crunchy drum, funky guitar, salsa vibes, Big Pun pulls out another tight track, to mention Tony Sunshine that in the soulful chorus pays homage to Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody". Skit, then there's one of the highlights of the whole Terror Squad group career. "Brave in the Heart" is among the finest track here. Splendid boom bap with salsa provided by The Mighty V.I.C. & Mike Heron, sample from "Makin' Believe That It's You" by Love Unlimited Orchestra, Triple Seis starts with his best flow, hardcore, polished, smoothness, confident and rips the track, tight performance, good forerunner. Big Pun at the stanza number two, no one can stops him anymore, he steals the show with an untouchable flow, dope rapping. Scratched hook, then Prospect drops lines with a easy-going style on the hird verse, Fat Joe to close this gem of Terror Squad, originally a cut of Triple Seis and Big Pun only. Iconic.
The next one is the original version of "Dream Shatterer", produced by Buckwild and inserted in his EP of 1998 "Still Diggin' Composition". The DITC beatsmith pulls out a sample from "Under the Influence of Love" by Love Unlimited, popularized in the same period by the hit "Ghetto Supastar" by Pras (of Fugees) with Mýa & Ol' Dirty Bastard. He crushes the beat with some of the best lyrics he's ever spewed and flies over heavenly production by Buckwild, magnificent sample, dusty, dry, perfect drums, spectacular track. The song didn't make it onto Pun's debut album due to sample issues, so producer Domingo finds another sample and the track was remixed under the title "The Dream Shatterer". Pick number fifteen is "John Blaze", Nas, Raekwon and Jadakiss along with Big Punisher in a track which, if I read the credits, should be by Fat Joe on a Fat Joe album, that Rios wrote it entirely. On a boom bap realized by DJ Ski, Punisher devastates everything and everyone in a memorable sixteen that remains in history and should be studied in schools. "My World" is an original track produced by EZ Elpee: sample from Joan Manuel Serrat's "Pueblo Blanco", Punisher spits a couple of verses in battle rap with lyrics a little below his usual level, and a delivery style that is not entirely confident and convincing as usual, in a song that seems not complete.
The whole comp risks to be ruined by Swizz Beatz with "Piña Colada": Sheek Louch of LOX and Christopher Rios exchange a couple of stanzas over a wack liquid solution by Swizz, in a track destined for a Ruff Ryders album, hook courtesy of a sample by Lil' Kim. The lyrics of Pun are the same of "How We Roll". Rodney Jerkins signs the beat of "Top of the World, Pt. II" by Brandy, in which Pun is guest along with Joey Crakk. The song is mid. The next choice is the remix of "Livin' La Vida Loca" by Ricky Martin: Trackmasters behind the keys with Cory Rooney, Big Pun spits eight bars, Cuban Link and Fat Joe get four lines each. The song adds absolutely nothing to the LP.
In "Firewater", Chef Raekwon, Armageddon and Big Pun are guests of Fat Joe over a boom bap realized by Born Lords, Show & E-Blaze. "Classic Verses" unites a contribute from "Drop It Heavy" (Show & A.G.'s "Full Scale EP") and one from "Fantastic 4" (DJ Clue's "The Professional"). Pick number twenty-two is a freestyle with Rios and Remy Ma, over a rhythm realized by Dame Grease, P Killer Trackz & Sean C. As a b-side of the Big Pun single "I'm Not a Player", there's "Wishful Thinking", joint not entered in the final tracklist of "Capital Punishment". Sample from Uri Geller's "Velvet Space", obsessive loop, dusty and hard drum, thick bass line, trembling strings, B-Real starts, then Flow Joe sweeps away with energy, G Rap tears the cut with a dusty flow, Punisher closes the track in style. The last track is a remix of "How We Roll" with a sample from Janet Jackson's "Let's Wait Awhile", solo by Pun over this rhythm realized by Rashad Smith & K-Cut, the production is better that the original but still not that good.
Released by Loud Records, Steven Rifkind Company, Terror Squad Production and Epic Records, distributed by Sony, the album is built by Fat Joe (and Sean C) to also have a commercial appeal and he's right, because the record gets a very positive response both from critics, who praise the product, and from the public, who pushes the tape at the spot number #2 of rnb chart, #7 on the Billboard 200. More money for Fat Joe['s Terror Squad label], less money for the wife of Big Pun. Despite its obvious flaws and numerous more or less glaring shortcomings, the album succeeds in its intent, celebrating Big Pun's legacy, even if in the end it fails to be the essential listen that a greatest hits collection from one of hip-hop's all-time greats should be.
Rating: 7.5/10.
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