Big Punisher Cause Of Death Expected Next Week

02/10/2000 7:00 AM, Yahoo! Music
Craig Rosen

(2/10/00, 7 a.m. ET) - The cause of Grammy-nominated rapper Big Punisher's death on Monday (LAUNCH, 2/7) should be determined next week, after tests for drugs, alcohol, and other toxins have been completed, according to Dr. Louis Roh, a Westchester County medical examiner.

Roh also said that Big Punisher, born Christopher Rios, had not suffered a fatal heart attack, as had been reported. Big Punisher was 28.

In a statement released by Big Punisher's record company, friend and fellow rapper Fat Joe mourned his loss. "Pun was many things," Joe said. "To me, he was my brother; to the hip-hop community, he was a living legend; to Latinos everywhere, he broke down barriers in the entertainment industry. But most importantly, he was a man, a husband, and a father. He will be missed but never forgotten."

Big Punisher's second album, Yeeah Baby, is scheduled for an April release. The Bronx, N.Y., rapper was nominated for a Grammy in the best rap album category in 1999 for his debut album, Capital Punishment. He was the first solo Latino rapper album to have a platinum album.

Big Pun, as he was also known, was also a member of rap group Terror Squad.

-- Soren Baker, Los Angeles

Got news tips, comments, or questions? Send them to newstips@launch.com.