This day in Hip-hop acknowledges the birth of two iconic figures, Warren G and Big Pun!
Gaining prominence as both a West Coast rapper and hip-hop producer, Warren G first began making a name for himself in the early 90's with his memorable debut album, Regulate... G Funk Era, released under Violator Records and distributed by Def Jam. Debuting at #2 off the US Billboard 200 and releasing hit-singles, such as “Regulate” and “This D.J.”, Warren G ushered in a more grit and steel sound that largely impacted the entirety of West Coast hip-hop.
With his debut record eventually attaining notoriety as a Hip-hop classic, as well as releasing a myriad of critically-acclaimed singles and albums, Warren G received two Grammy Award nominations for the latter singles, donning the titles Best Rap Performance in both a group setting and as a soloist.
Also celebrating his day of birth is Christopher Lee Rios, better known as Big Pun. This East Coast rapper entered the industry dishing out distinct hard-liners in the Bronx' underground Hip-hop scene, particularly for his appearance on Fat Joe's sophomore album, Jealous One's Envy.
Big Pun released his sole album in 1998, Capital Punishment, which reaped tremendous acclaim, peaking at #5 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the Top R&B Albums chart, holding that spot for a span of two weeks. Moreover, the album was nominated Best Rap Album at the Grammy Awards in 1999, and is also applauded among Hip-hop's greatest albums.
The record, Capital Punishment, attained its author notoriety as the first Latino rapper to attain RIAA Platinum on a solo effort. Big Pun was also ranked #25 on About.com's 50 Greatest MCs of All Time, #19 on The Source's chart, and widely upheld among Hip-hop's finest rappers.
By Jods Arboleda for RAPStation.com
