Christopher Rios, p/k/a Big Punisher a/k/a Big Pun died exactly 10 years ago today. Not only was he one of my favorite rappers, but the impact that he made on the hip-hop community was instant, and reverberated throughout the country.

As someone who was an ultra hip-hop head during the years that Big Pun rose to prominence, his existence (although short) has a special meaning for me. Usually, when I get into the barbershop-esque arguments with colleagues and friends (and you know how heated those can get) over who the greatest MCs of all time were, I’ve always mentioned Big Punisher, and usually the response is “you’re saying that because you’re Puerto Rican!”.

Um, na.

In efforts to avoid a “Hip-Hop is just as much Latino as it is Black” argument, I’ll just say this: Big Pun’s achievements within the scope of two years were like the appearance of Haley’s Comet or a solar eclipse- these events don’t happen often, but when they do, it’s special.

And although he wasn’t a perfect man (no man is), his masterful, wizard-like alignment of words and phrases, matched with his razor-sharp wit, charisma, and sense of humor made him an artist so unique that it’s almost embarrassing that he isn’t as celebrated as some of the greats.

That being said, the next time you listen to “Capital Punishment”, remember that what you’re listening to might never happen again for another millennium, until a child is born that can perform at a level beyond
.

SUITS!

Daniel Hastings, myself, and Mickey Factz (along with the Table Manners crew) talking about individual memories of Big Pun, who passed away 10 years ago this week.

More Big Pun posts to come this week. Boricua!

We’re recording this tomorrow at A List. Looking legendary.

Audio & video will be available this week.

Times have a-changed. But the good thing is, they’re changing again.

This past Sunday’s rendition of “Table Manners” featured the quickly-becoming-iconic Sean C & LV, who have produced many of your favorite songs. I’ll leave it at that.

Download the episode here: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=OGI0BZE8

Peace to the entire Table Manners Show & crew- DJ Spin One, DJ Yonny, DJ Fatfingaz, Manny Fresco, and Jose “Yung Skywalker” S.

TABLE MANNERS every Sunday night at 7pm EST on A List Radio.

There’s no doubt that the words “legend”, “guru”, “influencer” are beginning to lose the strength in meaning in this day and age where there are a plethora of novices seemingly self-appointing themselves titles with every FB update, Tweet, and blog entry. (To be honest, when snake oil salesmen approach me and tell me what they do (and do for me/my clients), I simply say “let me look at the work”, which is usually followed by a blank stare…) There are times, however, where the reputation and résumé of an individual not only precede them, but also shine through.

Such is the case with Daniel Hastings.

He’s shot the covers for some of the most influential hip-hop albums of my time, including Return to the 36 Chambers, I Am…, Doe or Die, Capital Punishment, and Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… In addition, he’s responsible for immortalizing the legends of today in their infancy, including Jay-Z (for his first ever magazine cover, Stress, in 1996), Eminem, Tony Touch, GangStarr, EPMD, and more. There are very few people who’ve amassed such a vast wealth of work within such a short amount of time, and yet he remains a quiet assassin… the name of the game is show and prove folks, show and prove.

Last week, he held a small reception in Tribeca to preview the release of his 2010 calendar (which will be available soon), and some of the images took me back. Wayyyyy back.

More pics after the jump (taken on my iPhone).

SUITS!