[Si] TV

On February 7, 2000, Liza Rios lost part of her soul when her husband, Christopher Lee Rios, died of heart failure. After enduring personal hardships and shady business transactions she's become a better woman. In an exclusive interview with Sí Entertainment Rios discusses Big Pun's past, present and future. 

Si Ent.: 2008 marks the 10th anniversary of Pun's debut album Capital Punishment. How will you celebrate?
Liza Rios: We're trying to create Pun '08, all day. Beginning with a tribute, [we're] also re-releasing the album [Capital Punishment] on the 10th anniversary [April 28, 2008] with some bonus tracks and features. And there's a documentary [The Definitive Series: Big Pun: 10th Anniversary of Capital Punishment] that's complete and I'm very proud of that. Then also the Big Pun Foundation.

Si Ent.: What's the Big Pun Foundation?
LR: The focus is [on] obesity [and] health. It's obviously a problem in the U.S. you know to eat healthy and organic [foods] costs [a lot of] money. In these supermarkets in the hood there's no organic food and if there is it's very expensive. It's obviously not for us. But I'm concerned with how to eat better and also helping those who are extremely overweight. But that's just one issue. Obviously, Pun had a weight issue that resulted from issues in his past. He was depressed about his childhood and there were certain things he couldn't let go. [He] didn't know how to deal with [some things] emotionally and he basically attached his emotions to food. That was his drug. Some people attach it to crack, or sex, or money and his was food. If he was upset, he'll eat; if he was happy, he'll eat; if he was sad, he'll eat. Then he gained so much weight, he didn't work out and it [became] a vicious cycle. Because he gained the weight and then he's depressed because he's not in the body that he wants to be in and he's trapped. And then he'll lash out from his anger. This is clearly a disease. I myself got back in the gym, and that's also for Pun.

Si Ent.: Things haven't been so well for you financially since Pun's death, is that correct?
LR: People really think that I have a couple of millions and a couple of furs and cars [but] that's not the truth. The truth is that after Pun hit platinum he started asking where his royalties were. He asked [Fat Joe] in my living room several times, "Where are my royalties?" He already went two times platinum and [was] working on Yeeeah Baby and asking about his checks. The answer was always that it was recouped. Pun let it slide by and just trusted that things would be good. I know he always trusted the fact that if he passed away, his family was going to be good. We even argued about that. He swore, "You're TS, I'm TS!" He punched his chest and said "I'm TS." And I was upset because I didn't trust that-meaning trusting another man to make sure that I'm good.

Si Ent.: So Pun believed his family would never be broke?
LR: I don't know. I know he thought he was always going to have money. I mean he had money and he would spend it quick! That's the thing, you give a ghetto n***a some money and it's going to be gone. We always had money. We got together when he was 18 and I was 17 and he won a lawsuit which brought him half of a million dollars; that had nothing to do with the music. And like I said, you give an 18-year-old $100,000, who never had any parental guidance or ever had anything, he's turning ghetto fabulous. Buy this, buy that, you know. Take care of this and that person and he was very generous. When he passed away I had $8,000 in the bank. He had spent all his money. I had to get paid off his cars. I lived off that for a little bit. A regular person would think that I would have millions from those record sales. But the truth is that I was supposed to get $100,000 from Endangered Species; $50,000 upfront and $50,000 afterwards. But instead I received $50,000 upfront and $25,000 afterwards. Why? Because they split the last $50,000 into two checks and one check was stolen. So I acquired $75K, then I received one royalty check for Endangered Species two years ago of $14K.

The deal Joe made with Pun is that, Joe would be the administrative of his estate. So all the money would go to Joe first and he'll break Pun off. Now that Pun's not here, he's supposed to be breaking me off, but he's not. He'll say it hasn't been recouped but if you figure over two million [records sold], c'mon, he's been recouped. I asked to transfer Capital Punishment's and Yeeeah Baby's rights to Pun's estate. The response I got [from the lawyers] was that only Joe could do that. So who's getting the checks then? And even still I've tried to reach Joe, but it never works out. I don't get an answer or anything. I don't hate him. With the times we shared I know we were genuine whether Joe was or not. And I know if it was Joe who passed, best believe that his two kids would've been in my house. I would've taken care of his kids, Pun would've looked after the family, his mom, all of that. Even if Joe doesn't like me, it's about Pun's kids more than anything else.

Si Ent.: Any last words?
LR: I just want to thank all of Pun's supporters, thank you for not forgetting him and keeping him alive. It really comes down to the hood remembering Pun as the greatest lyricist. And we're doing the All Black Affair today, the anniversary of his death. It's at a secret location and will include the live filming of Pun's Capital Punishment documentary. And this is leading to the major tribute in the end of April which marks the 10th anniversary. Some of your favorite celebs will be there to show love. And though now it's when this is finally happening, the industry might've forgotten him, but the streets never did. I've realized that Pun still has many die-hard fans and this is for them as much as it is for him. If you want to reach me, you can at myspace.com/mrspun.

Si's Divine0313 is the executive producer of the soon-to-be released The Definitive Series: Big Pun: 10th Anniversary of Capital Punishment.

Additional writing from Navani Otero.