''Capital Punishment'' is the debut

studio album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

by American rapper

Big Pun Christopher Lee Rios (November 10, 1971 – February 7, 2000), better known by his stage name Big Pun (short for Big Punisher), was an American rapper. Emerging from the underground hip hop scene in the Bronx borough of New York City in the ea ...

, released by

RCA Records RCA Records is an American record label currently owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. It is one of Sony Music's four flagship labels, alongside RCA's former long-time rival Columbia Records; also A ...

Loud Records Loud Records, LLC. is a record label founded by Steve Rifkind and Rich Isaacson in 1991. Loud is a hip hop label that released material by acts such as Wu-Tang Clan, Big Pun, Mobb Deep, Krayzie Bone, The Beatnuts, M.O.P., Tha Alkaholiks, Pete ...

and

Fat Joe Joseph Antonio Cartagena (born August 19, 1970), better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper from New York City. He began his music career as a member of hip hop group Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.), then forged a sol ...

's Terror Squad Productions. Released on April 28, 1998, it is the only album released during his lifetime and was regarded as "super groundbreaking" upon release. The album peaked at number five on the ''Billboard'' 200 charts and number one on the

Top R&B Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a music chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales in the United States and is compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The chart debuted as Hot R&B LPs in the issue dated J ...

chart for two weeks. It was nominated for

Best Rap Album The Grammy Award for Best Rap Album is an award presented to recording artists for quality albums with rapping at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards. Honors in several categories ...

at the

1999 Grammy Awards The 41st Annual Grammy Awards were held on February 24, 1999, at Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1998. Lauryn Hill received the most nominations with 10, setting a record for the most no ...

, but lost to

Jay-Z Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), known professionally as Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and founder of Manhattan-based conglomerate talent and entertainment agency Roc Nation. He is regarded as one of ...

's '' Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life''. It was also the first solo Latin hip hop record to go

Platinum Platinum is a chemical element with the symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a dense, malleable, ductile, highly unreactive, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name originates from Spanish , a diminutive of "silver". Platinu ...

Reception

* ''

Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...

'' (7/17/98, p. 85) – "Everything about 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...

he album He or HE may refer to: Language * He (pronoun), an English pronoun * He (kana), the romanization of the Japanese kana へ * He (letter), the fifth letter of many Semitic alphabets * He (Cyrillic), a letter of the Cyrillic script called ''He'' ...

established Pun as a serious rival to Biggie Smalls and something of a ladykiller to boot....funk and fun aplenty....Outrageously good." * ''

The Source ''The Source'' is an American hip hop and entertainment website, and a magazine that publishes annually or . It is the world's longest-running rap periodical, being founded as a newsletter in 1988 by Jonathan Shecter. David Mays was the ma ...

'' (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 Punishments 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."

Legacy

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...

'' included ''Capital Punishment'' in their list of ''The 200 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time'' at 128. Big Pun "was a superhelix of rhymes inside rhymes inside rhymes, meticulously shaped into devastating tracks." The songs Beware & Twinz (Deep Cover) both appear in the 2005 video game '' Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories'' in the fictional hip-hop radio station ''

The Liberty Jam ''Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories'' is an action-adventure game developed in a collaboration between Rockstar Leeds and Rockstar North, and published by Rockstar Games. The ninth installment in the ''Grand Theft Auto'' series, it was ...

''.

Track listing

Sample credits *"Intro" samples an dialogue clip from the 1994 film ''

Fresh Fresh or FRESH may refer to: People *DJ Fresh (born 1977), UK-based drum and bass artist *DJ Fresh (producer), US-based R&B producer born Marqus Brown Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Fresh'' (1994 film), a crime film * ''Fresh'' (200 ...

''. *"Beware" samples "Theme for the Losers" by

Henry Mancini Henry Mancini ( ; born Enrico Nicola Mancini, ; April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994) was an American composer, conductor, arranger, pianist and flautist. Often cited as one of the greatest composers in the history of film, he won four Academy Award ...

, "Shook Ones Part I" by

Mobb Deep Mobb Deep was an American hip hop duo from New York City. The duo consisted of rappers Prodigy and Havoc. They are considered to be among the principal progenitors of hardcore East Coast hip hopEdwards, Paul, 2009, ''How to Rap: The Art & Scien ...

, and interpolates "Hot Potato" by Naughty by Nature. *"Super Lyrical" contains vocal samples from "One More Chance / Stay with Me (Remix)" by

The Notorious B.I.G. Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), better known by his stage names the Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls, or simply Biggie, was an American rapper. Rooted in East Coast hip hop and particularly gangsta ...

, "It's Logic" by

Canibus Germaine Williams (born December 9, 1974), better known by his stage name Canibus, is an American rapper and actor. He initially gained fame in the 1990s for his ability to freestyle, and eventually released his debut album Can-I-Bus in 1998. ...

, and dialogue clips from the 1985 film ''

Rocky IV ''Rocky IV'' is a 1985 American sports drama film written, directed by and starring Sylvester Stallone. It is the sequel to ''Rocky III'' (1982) and is the fourth installment in the ''Rocky'' franchise. It also stars Talia Shire, Burt Young, Ca ...

''. *"Still Not a Player" samples "A Little Bit of Love" by

Brenda Russell Brenda Russell (née Gordon; born April 8, 1949) is an American singer-songwriter, producer, and keyboardist. Russell has a diverse musical range which encompasses R&B, pop, soul, dance, and jazz. She has received five Grammy nominations. Li ...

and interpolates "Brazilian Rhyme (Bejio Interlude)" by

Earth, Wind & Fire Earth, Wind & Fire (EW&F or EWF) is an American band whose music spans the genres of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, disco, pop, big band, Latin, and Afro pop. They are among the best-selling bands of all time, with sales of over 90 million re ...

. *"The Dream Shatterer" samples "Funk & Wagner" by Don "Sugarcane" Harris. *"Punish Me" contains a vocal sample from "Not Gonna Be Able to Do It" by Double XX Posse. *"You Ain't a Killer" samples "With a Child's Heart" by

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over a ...

. *"Caribbean Connection" samples " Ready or Not" by

Johnny Osbourne Johnny Osbourne (born Errol Osbourne, 1948) is one of the most popular Jamaican reggae and dancehall singers of all time, who rose to success in the late 1970s and mid-1980s. His album '' Truths and Rights'' was a roots reggae success, and featu ...

, "Moshitup" by

Just-Ice Joseph Williams Jr. (born June 22, 1965), better known by the stage name Just-Ice, is an American rapper from New York City. A former bouncer at punk clubs, Williams was the first of the New York rappers to embrace gangsta rap, and when he bur ...

, and "

It's All About the Benjamins "It's All About the Benjamins" is a song by American rapper and producer Puff Daddy. It was released as the third single from his debut studio album '' No Way Out''. "Benjamins" is a slang word for money, referring to Benjamin Franklin's image ...

" by Puff Daddy. *"Glamour Life" samples "The World Is a Ghetto" by

George Benson George Washington Benson (born March 22, 1943) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist. A former child prodigy, Benson first came to prominence in the 1960s, pla ...

. *"I'm Not a Player" samples "Darlin' Darlin' Baby" by

The O'Jays The O'Jays are an American R&B group from Canton, Ohio, formed in 1958 and originally consisting of Eddie Levert, Walter Lee Williams, William Powell, Bobby Massey, and Bill Isles. The O'Jays made their first chart appearance with the minor hi ...

, "Singers" by

Eddie Murphy Edward Regan Murphy (born April 3, 1961) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and singer. He rose to fame on the sketch comedy show ''Saturday Night Live'', for which he was a regular cast member from 1980 to 1984. Murphy has als ...

, "Darlin', Darlin', Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)" by Steve Khan. *"Boomerang" samples "Le Bracelet" by Alain Goraguer. *"You Came Up" samples "Don't Ask Me" by Ramon Morris and interpolates "Hail Mary" by

2Pac Tupac Amaru Shakur ( ; born Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known as 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper. He is widely considered one of the most influential rappers of all time. Shakur is among the b ...

. *"Tres Leches (Triboro Trilogy)" samples "Las Vegas Tango" by

Gary Burton Gary Burton (born January 23, 1943) is an American jazz vibraphonist, composer, and educator. Burton developed a pianistic style of four-mallet technique as an alternative to the prevailing two-mallet technique. This approach caused him to be he ...

, "The Start of Your Ending (41st Side)" by

, "

Method Man Clifford Smith, Jr. (born March 2, 1971), better known by his stage name Method Man, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is known as a member of the East Coast hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He is also half of t ...

" by

Wu-Tang Clan Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop group formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its original members include RZA, GZA, Ol' Dirty Bastard, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, and Masta Killa. Close affili ...

, "

I Ain't No Joke "I Ain't No Joke" is a song by rap duo Eric B. & Rakim, released as the second single from their debut studio album ''Paid in Full (album), Paid in Full''. It peaked at number thirty-eight on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tr ...

" by Eric B. & Rakim, and "Guillotine (Swordz)" by

Raekwon Corey Woods (born January 12, 1970), better known by his stage name Raekwon The Chef, or simply Raekwon (), is an American rapper. He rose to prominence as a founding member of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, which achieved mainstream success ...

. *"Parental Disrection" samples "Le Bracelet" by Alain Goraguer.

Personnel

Credits for ''Capital Punishment'' adapted from the album liner notes. * Armageddon – featured artist * Denise Barbarita – assistant engineer * Carlos Bess – mixing * Big Pun – executive producer, primary artist * Black Thought – featured artist * Busta Rhymes – featured artist * Sean Cane – A&R * Chris Conway – mixing * Cuban Link – featured artist * Dr. Dre – producer * Dahoud – producer * Danny O – producer * dead prez – producer, featured artist * Domingo – producer * "E" – mixing * EQ – producer * Fat Joe – executive producer, featured artist * Funkmaster Flex – featured artist * Paul Gregory – assistant engineer * Che Harris – A&R coordination * Daniel "PhotoChop" Hastings * Troy Hightower – mixing * Tom Hughes – assistant engineer * Ken "Duro" Ifil – engineer * Wyclef Jean – featured artist * Inspectah Deck – featured artist * Joe – featured artist * Ju-Ju – producer * Jugrnaut – producer * Knobody – producer * Ola Kudu – creative direction * Adam Kudzin – engineer * L.E.S. – producer * Matt Life – executive producer * Laurie Marks – A&R coordination * Mike D. – A&R * Minnesota – producer * Miss Jones – featured artist * Nastee – engineer * Frank Nitty – producer * Nomad – producer * Prodigy – featured artist * Prospect – featured artist * Roc Raida – scratches * Rockwilder – producer * RZA – producer * Schott Free – A&R * Tony Smalios – engineer, mixing * Triple Seis – featured artist * Showbiz – producer * Soundboy – engineer, mixing * Kevin Stone – assistant engineer * Nikos Teneketzis – mixing assistant * Kieran Walsh – engineer * Gregory "Gold" Wilson – assistant engineer * Ted Wohlsen – mixing * Trauma – producer * Young Lord – producer * Leon Zervos – mastering * Mike Zulu – producer

Album chart positions

Singles

Certifications

References

{{Authority control 1998 debut albums Big Pun albums Loud Records albums RCA Records albums Albums produced by Dr. Dre Albums produced by the Infinite Arkatechz Albums produced by Domingo (producer) Albums produced by L.E.S. (record producer) Albums produced by Showbiz (producer) Albums produced by Rockwilder