Big Pun

He is most often praised for his complex rhyme scheme, unceasing rhythm, and incredibly relentless flow and breath control, despite his immense size. A born-again Christian, in recent years he has toured with other performers from the early rock and roll era in oldies revival shows. A posthumous album, Yeeeah Baby came out a few weeks after his death in 2000. In 1971, Brooks played the role of Christ in the rock opera "Truth of Truths". With a group of Latino rappers, Big Pun formed the Terror Squad before dying of a heart attack at 700 lb (320 kg). His follow-up, "Doll House" peaked at No.31 and although he continued to record through to the 1970s, he never again achieved the same level of success. His full length debut followed in 1998, Capital Punishment. Called "Lil' Sweetheart" it received a lukewarm reception but his 1960 single "Mission Bell" demonstrated a quality voice in an upbeat song that made it to No.7 on the Billboard chart.

After an advertising blitz, "I'm Not a Player" was an underground hit. He discovered a singing voice at a young age and recorded a few minor successes with several small record labels under the stage name, Johnny Jordan, Dick Bush, and Johnny Faire, the latter gaining some note for the Top 100 hit, "Bertha Lou." Encouraged by friends, Dorsey and Johnny Burnette, he persevered in the business and in 1959 made his first recording using the name Donny Brooks. He appeared on albums from Raekwon, the Beatnuts and Fat Joe and eventually signed to Loud Records. In his teens, Abohosh moved Ventura, California where he was adopted by his stepfather and took the name John Faircloth. Christopher Lee Rios (November 10, 1971 - February 7, 2000) also known as Big Pun and Big Punisher was a Puerto Rican rapper who emerged from the underground rap scene in the Bronx in the late 1990s. Donnie Brooks (born John Dee Abohosh on February 6, 1936 in Dallas, Texas) is an American pop music singer. Endangered Species, 2001.

Yeeeah Baby, 2000. Capital Punishment, 1998.