Joell Ortiz Addresses "Big Pun's Back" Controversy

by Steven J. Horowitz
After Pun's widow Liza Rios, Tony Sunshine and Cuban Link disapproved of his tribute, the Slaughterhouse member sets the record straight.

Not only has Big Pun’s widow Liza Rios deemed Joell Ortiz’s “Big Pun’s Back” as “disrespectful,” but Pun affiliates Cuban Link and Tony Sunshine echoed her sentiments yesterday. Speaking with Funkmaster Flex, the Slaughterhouse rapper explained that he “don’t gotta check in with anybody about anything.”

He first addressed how he was puzzled as to why Rios, who previously told him Pun “would have been so proud of [you],” would take her stance, given the history they have together.

“To be honest with you, I was really confused because I’ve been bigging up her late husband since the beginning of my career. This is not the first time I’ve ever done a tribute,” he said. “To my knowledge, I thought everything was smooth between us. I thought we was peoples. And I kind of feel like we’re still peoples! I’m still confused. This is the same woman who asked me to perform for her husband on stage with his urn next to me. I didn’t understand the tweet and where it was coming from. Since I haven’t spoken to her, I’m still a little confused. I can’t even say I’m mad. I just don’t know what’s going on.”

The Brooklyn, New York rapper also felt the same way about Tony Sunshine and Cuban Link’s reaction to the song.

“Once again, I was confused. When I speak on them, I speak a little different, because Cuban knows me. I had met Tony Sunshine before. It was a tribute, and it was a freestyle and it was in memory of a great rapper,” he continued. “Flex, I’m from Brooklyn. I don’t have to check in with anyone about anything. I did it for Big Pun to keep his legacy alive. That’s it. to be honest with you, I’m in September in my mind already. ‘Big Pun’s Back’ was recorded late April, early May, knowing that the Puerto Rican Day parade was coming up and knowing that his tribute and his legacy needed to stay alive. Who else but me? That’s how I felt. But I don’t gotta check in with anybody. About anything.”