Big Pun: The Legacy

Vlad Yudin's Big Pun differs from the typical rags-to-riches trajectory of most hip hop documentaries, instead presenting a cautionary tale about the dangers of morbid obesity. Christopher “Big Pun” Rios wasn't just big, he was huge, and that—not drugs or guns—led to his early demise. Photos and video clips tell the visual story, while friends and relatives provide the narrative. Neighbors remember the Bronx of the 1990s as a blighted place, where homeowners torched their property for the insurance money, and the heavily-armed Pun, son of an addict, sold crack cocaine. With the support of his future wife, Liza, Pun traded crack cocaine for rap music, settled down, and started a family. More significantly, he brought Latin flavor to the rap game. Rappers Ghostface Killah, Method Man, and Raekwon (all members of the Wu-Tang Clan) praise Pun's verbal dexterity, while actress Rosie Perez credits him for breaking into the mainstream with the double-platinum Capital Punishment, a first for a solo Latino rap act. But along the way, Pun ate heavily—possibly as a form of stress relief—and ultimately his doctor told him he had one year to live. The warning scared him, but not enough to make the necessary changes: Pun died of a heart attack in 2000 at the age of 28. Yudin makes a convincing case that among fans of hip hop, Latino culture, and the Boogie-Down Bronx, Pun may be gone, but he won't be forgotten. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)