Hot 97 morning radio host Peter Rosenberg, sat down for a candid interview with deceased rapper Big Pun’s son, Chris Rivers yesterday [June 4th] to discuss Rivers rap career pursuit, his fondest memories of his dad up until his death at the tender age of six years old, along with the growing rumors of Big Pun’s physical abuse towards his mother, and his current relationship with rapper, Fat Joe [who was the manger and lead front man of Terror Squad rap crew.] Take a peak at a few excerpts below and listen to the full interview – its an interesting read.
On His Father’s [Rapper Big Pun] Death:
We were staying in a hotel at the time. That day we didn’t get to say goodbye to him because he was knocked out [sleeping] so my mom says “No Don’t Wake Up your Father” so we went to school and get picked up early from my Uncle…. My uncle too us [ my siblings and I] to my grandfather’s house and my mom told us that my dad had passed.
They started crying and I started laughing because my dad pulled pranks before but they [my mom, uncle, family] continued to cry and I was like ok – this must be real. And I cried. That’s the one time I cried because he [my dad] never wanted me to cry.
On His Dad’s Funeral:
That was CRAZY. It was so packed. It was held at the Ortiz fneral home in the Castle Hill area of the bronx. What was crazy was that there was people that never knew but was balling tears. One dude came over to his casket and took off his shirt and dropped to his knees. didn’t know him personally but they love him through his music.
On His Father’s Musical Influence:
No its funny. I had a weird relationship with my pops. I love him to death but… I didn’t really listen to him growing up. I used to listen to Eminem. I started listening to my dad since the age of 12 lightly because prior to that, I was like what is he saying because I didn’t get his metaphors so I was listening to rock and all that stuff.
On His Father’s Abuse:
“In retrospect I was there through it so hearing it wasn’t a SHOCKER! My sisters probably know more because they were older but I remember alot of stuff as well. You know my sisters have a hard time forgiving him but I didn’t fully understand why he did it. And that’s why I’m so biased with the whole “Baby Pun” name because I had the name when I was younger and as I started becoming my own artist I wanted my own identity.”
“And its different because I get proud when people tell me that I have alot of ways like my dad but honestly I don’t want be like my dad. I want to be better than my dad. You know we all have demons [and I do too] but I don’t handle them the way he did…. so I want take the good qualities of my father and amplify it even more.”
On His Relationship With Fat Joe:
“I don’t have a relationship with him and never had for obvious reasons [referring to Joe’s personal beef with Big Pun’s wife and former terror squad member Cuban Links] . However, I don’t have any ill feeling towards him… I’m all about progression!”
Chris Rivers also touched on his father’s battle with excessive eating and siffering from mental problems. As you may know Big Pun died and weighed six hundred and ninety-eight [698] pounds.
Bonus: Chris Rivers Freestyles – and its good
To learn more about Chris Rivers -follow him on all social media outlets @theonlychrisrivers also check out his latest mixtape “wonderland of Misery on datpiff
. It’s free.