Entertainment Weekly (7/17/98, p.85) - "Everything abou this Bronx-bred Puerto Rican rapper is generous, his 400-pound girth, his multiple rhyming within each line, and his talent for spewing out verses without stopping for breath..." - Rating: B+ Entertainment Weekly (7/17/98, p.85) - "Everything abou this Bronx-bred Puerto Rican rapper is generous, his 400-pound girth, his multiple rhyming within each line, and his talent for spewing out verses without stopping for breath..." - Rating: B+ Q (6/00, p.123) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Displaying huge lyrical prowess and the requisite 'sensitive' side...[the album] established Pun as a serious rival to Biggie Smalls and something of a ladykiller to boot....funk and fun aplenty....Outrageously good." Q (6/00, p.123) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Displaying huge lyrical prowess and the requisite 'sensitive' side...[the album] established Pun as a serious rival to Biggie Smalls and something of a ladykiller to boot....funk and fun aplenty....Outrageously good." The Source (6/98, p.159) - 4 Mics (out of 5) - "...He'll rhyme every possible word in a line because he wants to be twice as nice....CAPITAL PUNISHMENT's all about execution..." The Source (6/98, p.159) - 4 Mics (out of 5) - "...He'll rhyme every possible word in a line because he wants to be twice as nice....CAPITAL PUNISHMENT's all about execution..." Rap Pages (9/98, p.120) - 4 (out of 5) - "...Big Pun is at his best with all barrels firing bullets lacing the air like embroidery on grandmama's quilt..." Rap Pages (9/98, p.120) - 4 (out of 5) - "...Big Pun is at his best with all barrels firing bullets lacing the air like embroidery on grandmama's quilt..."

Rovi

Big Punisher's debut album, Capital Punishment, established him as one of the stronger New York natives working hardcore territory toward the end of the '90s. He's a terrific lyricist with microphone technique to spare, and actually rhymes faster than his clear influence, the Notorious B.I.G.. He's also quite versatile, aiming for the dance clubs, the ladies, the hip-hop purists, and the mean streets at varying points on the album, and connecting with all of them pretty well. Similarly, the production -- by a cast of many -- is tough and funky, paced by deep street beats, but remains accessible to audiences outside the hardcore faithful. The close cousins "I'm Not a Player" and "Still Not a Player," the latter Big Pun's breakthrough hit, manage to be cocky and self-deprecating at the same time, and the other widely exposed track, "You Ain't a Killer," is Big Pun at his grittiest. There are numerous guest appearances, the best of which include mentor Fat Joe (on several tracks), the Roots' Black Thought on the MC showcase "Super Lyrical," Prodigy and Inspectah Deck on "Tres Leches (Triboro Trilogy)," and an extra-insane Busta Rhymes on "Parental Discretion." Capital Punishment isn't quite a classic -- for one thing, it's too long, and for another, it doesn't really break much new ground stylistically. But it's very well-executed, and demonstrates just how much talent and potential Big Punisher had. ~ Steve Huey

Rovi