Profile Text
Birth Name: Christopher Lee Rios
Date of Birth: November 9/10, 1971
Place of Birth: The Bronx, New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Death: February 7, 2000
Place of Death: White Plains, Westchester, New York, U.S.
Ethnicity: Puerto Rican, Jamaican, Indian, possibly Russian and Italian
Big Pun was an American rapper. He was a member of hip-hop collective Terror Squad, which also included Fat Joe and DJ Khaled . He was also known as Big Punisher, Big Dog The Punisher, and Big Moon Dawg.
Big Pun was the son of Gail/Gayle Simpson, a model and actress, and David Rios. A picture of Big Pun with his mother can be seen here . He was raised in Southview, The Bronx. He was married to Liza, until his death, with whom he three children, including rapper Chris Rivers.
On the intro of his album “Yeeeah Baby,” he refers to himself as having, “the heart of an Indian, the strength of a Black man, and the pride of a Spaniard.” In her book, Punish Her Sister of a Legend: The Nicole Rodriguez Story , 2022, his sister described their mother as being of “Puerto Rican/Russian/Italian/Indian/Jamaican” descent.
Big Pun’s paternal grandmother likely was Gloria Nunez y Caraballo (the daughter of Ramon Nunez and Maria Caraballo y Mendez). Gloria was born in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Her parents are listed as “Blanco” on the 1930 Census and “De Color” on the 1940 Census.
Big Pun’s maternal grandfather was Donald Bruce Simpson (the son of Aston F. Simpson and Anna Alice Cridland). Donald was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to Jamaican parents. Donald and his family’s race has variously been listed as white/Spanish, Indian, and black on records. Aston was from Kingston. Anna was born in Negril, the daughter of Alvin Cridland and Mary Jane Neville.
Sources: https://archive.nytimes.com
Marriage record of Big Pun’s parents – https://www.familysearch.org
New York northern arrival manifest record of Big Pun’s maternal grandfather, Donald Bruce Simpson – https://www.familysearch.org
Big Pun’s maternal grandfather, Donald Bruce Simpson, on the 1950 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org
New York northern arrival manifest record of Big Pun’s maternal great-grandmother, Anna Alice (Cridland) Simpson – https://www.familysearch.org