Endangered Species [PA]

Performer: Big Pun/HAWK (Houston Rapper)/Fatal Charm/Big Punisher
Artist: Ruff Ryders; Nas; Fat Joe; Terror Squad; Raekwon; The Beatnuts; Brandy; DJ Clue; Kool G. Rap; Joe; Ashanti; Cuban Link; Jadakiss; Nature; Noreaga; Styles; Cam'Ron; Tony Sunshine; Sheik; Ricky Martin; Armageddon; Remy Martin; B Real
Distributor: RED Distribution

Notes: Personnel includes: Big Pun, Raekwon, Armageddon, Cam'Ron, Nature, Styles, Judakiss, Noreaga, Cuban Link, Beatnuts, Terror Squad, Sheik, Tony Sunshine (rap vocals); Joe, Brandy, Ashanti (vocals); G (guitar); Martha Mooke (viola); Dahoud (keyboards, bass); Ed Golson (bass); DJ Spin Bad, DJ Clue (vinyl scratches). Producers: Young Lord, JuJu Gigante, Irv Gotti, Show, Tone. Engneers: Tony Smalios, Ken "Duro" Hill, Sound Boy. Includes liner notes by Fat Joe. Personnel includes: Big Punisher, Terror Squad, The Beatnuts, Fat Joe, Ruff Ryders; Kool G Rap, B Rael, DJ Clue, Cam'Ron, Canibus, Armageddon, Raekwon, Jadakiss, Ashanti, Cuban Link, Styles, Tony Sunshine, Sheik, Remy Martin (rap vocals); Brandy, Ricky Martin (vocals); G (guitar); Dahoud (keyboards, bass); Ed Gordon (bass); DJ Spinbad (vinyl scratches); Amanda Rios, Chris Rios, Vanessa Rios, Veronica (background vocals). Producers include: Young Lord, Big Pun, Fat Joe, Irv Gotti, Alchemist. Engineers include: Tony Smalios, Ken "Duro" Hill, Christian Delatour. Includes line notes by Fat Joe. One of the most unjustly overlooked albums of mid-'80s Britain, Endangered Species prefaces Paul Arnell and Sarah Simmonds' future in techno sensation State of Grace with ten slices of nagging melody, insistent hook, lush symphonics, and wide-screen radio benders that remain as seductive today as they ever were in their prime. All three of the band's Carrere label singles to date were included -- that's the tortured guitars and breakneck percussives of "You Know (You'll Never Believe)," the hauntingly gorgeous "Summer Spies," and a remixed version of the horn-laden "King of Comedy." There, and across the best of the rest, Fatal Charm revel amid a musical intent that rides high on dramatic flourishes and ecstatic accents, mapping out poles that slide effortlessly into that lush line of descent that reaches from the Beach Boys to Saint Etienne. Simmonds' vocal is nothing short of a warm caress -- "Flashes in the Night" and the closing "Bye Bye" are nothing short of torch song lullabies -- while Arnell's guitar and keyboards have an orchestral edge that adds the Psychedelic Furs to the list of Fatal Charm's most-plausible influences. But it is a short list -- rather, Fatal Charm would appear to fall into that select company of groups about whom one can safely say, "not many people heard them -- but everyone who did went and formed their own band." ~ Dave Thompson At the age of 28, Big Pun joined a long list of deceased rappers who left fans too early. Endangered Species is a compilation of much of Pun's best work. All of Pun's hits are included here, including "It's So Hard" and the infectious dancefloor filler "Still Not a Player." Also included are several of Pun's most memorable guest appearances, such as his cameo on the Beatnuts classic "Off the Books," as well as some of his work with Terror Squad. Most of Big Pun's fans will buy the album for unreleased material such as "Mama" and "Wishful Thinking," a collaboration with Kool G. Rap and Cypress Hill's B Real. While the unreleased material may not be Big Pun's best work, it will also not disappoint his fans. The album includes some of Pun's remixes of pop hits like Ricky Martin's "Livin' la Vida Loca" and Brandy's "Sittin' on Top of the World." Taken as a whole, the album is an impressive document of an artist that truly was a force to be reckoned with. ~ Jon Azpiri A posthumous release for the oversize Puerto Rican rapper, ENDANGERED SPECIES is a collection of classics, unreleased material, and rarities that includes his breakthrough hit, "You Ain't a Killer" as well as other cuts from his first two albums. Pun's rapping talents are never overshadowed, even with guest artists the likes of Ricky Martin, the Beatnuts, Cuban Link, and Brandy. His rapid-fire delivery and breath control still inspire awe, and combined with his unquestionable rhyming skills make his early death all the more poignant. He's almost endearing on "I'm Not a Player" ("I'm not a player I just crush a lot") featuring the smooth vocals of Joe, and elsewhere his duet with Ricky Martin points to the respect in which he was held by his peers. This 24-track overview of Big Punisher's career will more than satisfy longtime fans and newcomers alike. A posthumous release for the oversize Puerto Rican rapper, ENDANGERED SPECIES is a collection of classics, unreleased material, and rarities that includes his breakthrough hit, "You Ain't a Killer" as well as other cuts from his first two albums. Pun's rapping talents are never overshadowed, even with guest artists the likes of Ricky Martin, the Beatnuts, Cuban Link, and Brandy. His rapid-fire delivery and breath control still inspire awe, and combined with his unquestionable rhyming skills make his early death all the more poignant. He's almost endearing on "I'm Not a Player" ("I'm not a player I just crush a lot") featuring the smooth vocals of Joe, and elsewhere his duet with Ricky Martin points to the respect in which he was held by his peers. This 24-track overview of Big Punisher's career will more than satisfy longtime fans and newcomers alike.

Rolling Stone (5/10/01, p.84) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...A mix tape for die-hards, collecting the best of Pun's uniformly thrilling guest appearances..." Rolling Stone (5/10/01, p.84) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...A mix tape for die-hards, collecting the best of Pun's uniformly thrilling guest appearances..." Entertainment Weekly (4/13/01, p.76) - "...The year's first hip-hop essential....paying proper respect to the fallen hip-hop heavyweight..." - Rating: A- Entertainment Weekly (4/13/01, p.76) - "...The year's first hip-hop essential....paying proper respect to the fallen hip-hop heavyweight..." - Rating: A- CMJ (4/23/01, p.26) - "...Further reinforces the belief that Pun was struck down before his time..." CMJ (4/23/01, p.26) - "...Further reinforces the belief that Pun was struck down before his time..." Vibe (5/01, p.162) - 4 discs out of 5 - "...A kind of 'best of', with a pinch of unreleased stuff laced while recording CAPITAL PUNSISHMENT and YEEEAH BABY....ENDANGERED shows how significant Pun was in this hip hop climate..." Vibe (5/01, p.162) - 4 discs out of 5 - "...A kind of 'best of', with a pinch of unreleased stuff laced while recording CAPITAL PUNSISHMENT and YEEEAH BABY....ENDANGERED shows how significant Pun was in this hip hop climate..."

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