Puerto Rican rapper Big Punisher , known for his platinum-selling albums and his memorable appearance on Jennifer Lopez’s Feelin’ So Good , passed away on February 7, 2000, in White Plains, New York. He was 28 years old.
While the exact cause of death was not immediately clear, it is believed that the rapper suffered a massive heart attack at a local hotel. He was rushed to White Plains Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 3:53 p.m. EST.
Big Pun, whose real name was Christopher Rios, was renowned for his larger-than-life persona, which was marked by both his impressive lyrical abilities and his substantial size.
At the time of his passing, he weighed around 600 pounds, and this became a key part of his identity in the hip-hop world.
He made his mark in the late ’90s, achieving mainstream success with his debut album Capital Punishment (1998), which went platinum. His hit single Don’t Wanna Be A Player became a defining anthem of the era.
Branded as the first Latino rapper to achieve platinum status, Big Pun’s success was groundbreaking. His influence on the genre went beyond his chart-topping singles and his collaborations with artists like Fat Joe and Jennifer Lopez.
Big Pun (Credit: YouTube)
He is often celebrated for his intricate rhyme schemes, lyrical complexity, and ability to connect with audiences across cultural lines.
At the time of his death, Big Pun was in the midst of recording his second album, Yeah Baby . His unexpected death left a lasting impact on the hip-hop community, which mourned the loss of one of its most promising talents.
Big Pun is survived by his wife, Liza, and their three children: Amanda, 9; Vanessa, 7; and Christopher, 6. The hip-hop world continues to honor his memory, acknowledging both his groundbreaking contributions and the immense potential he had to offer.
Rohan Oza is a renowned American businessman, investor, and marketing expert with a net worth of $400 million. Oza’s career spans several successful marketing campaigns with major brands like Coca-Cola, Mars, and Glacéau, and his expertise in celebrity-backed deals has made him a leading figure in brand marketing.
He is often called “the brandfather” due to his knack for recognizing the potential of celebrity collaborations, which has helped boost the success of brands like Sprite, Powerade, Vitamin Water, and Bai.
One of his first major successes was during his time at Coca-Cola, where he revitalized Sprite and Powerade by signing influential celebrities like Kobe Bryant, Rihanna, and 50 Cent.
This established Oza’s reputation in the marketing world. In 2007, he helped secure a deal in which Coca-Cola purchased Glacéau, the company behind Vitamin Water, for $4.2 billion.
Oza continued to build on his marketing success by working with high-profile celebrities and boosting the profiles of beverages like Bai and Smartwater.
Oza’s wealth has also been bolstered by his investments in other companies, including Bulletproof Coffee and Health-Ade Kombucha. He became widely known when he joined “Shark Tank” in 2017 as a guest investor.
During his tenure, Oza made numerous impactful investments and further solidified his reputation as a sharp business mind.
Along with his business pursuits, Oza is also an advisor for the Impact Network, which focuses on providing quality education to rural Zambia.
