Let me tell you about the day that changed my life forever. It was the winter of 1998. I had already been living in The Bay for 5 years, and I took a trip back home to Brooklyn for the holidays. My crew RNS was really tight with Pun and Terror Squad and they invited me to studio in Manhattan to link with him. He was putting the last finishing touches on his album, “Capital Punishment”, doing skits (including the legendary Pakinamac, Part II). Matt Life was there with a writer from The Source, who would later give the album 5 Mics. We sat there for hours, cracking jokes and laughing until we were all crying. Pun made fun of my long neck over and over and over and wouldn’t give me a damn break. Diego was killing Pun so bad and I’ll never forget seeing one of my idols getting roasted so hard right in front of me. After all the studio work and interviews were done, a cypher broke out. Fat Joe and Triple Seis popped up outta nowhere and cats were spitting fire!!! As I was waiting for my turn, I was trying to search my mind for the right rhymes to spit. At that time in my career, all my verses were for Double Life and very revolutionary, talking about social injustice and some overthrow the government type shit. These cats were murdering emcees!!! Super lyrical, energetic, and filled with daggers…all doing nothing but taking rapper’s heads off. I was stuck!! I spit some quick bars and passed it to Seis. Didn’t even spit again. After that…A FIRE STARTED BREWING IN ME. I went home on the plane to Cali. I then proceeded to record 100+ songs in a year span. Every song was basically talking about how dope I was and how I kill wack emcees. lol. GenStar was born. My whole path in music shifted after that and I was no longer in this little box that I had put myself in. I was free. This new material was going over so well at live shows and on wax and was getting me booked everywhere. I found my place as an emcee. I never stopped fighting for justice, but my whole focus was different now. I had to show them how raw I was. “Killing It” was one of the songs I created. It was a dedication to the masterful flow and intricate triple syllable rhyme schemes of Christopher Lee Rios. Now, full circle, I had the amazing opportunity to make one of my biggest dreams come true, so I took it. @XienHow came up with the genius idea of honoring Pun in the physical, mind, body, and lyrical with a visual. I said, “say less” and hit up @biggsfc and booked a studio immediately even though it was 2AM at that point. Xien fought through a horrendous back injury and was still the first one on the set. He literally cancelled and then decided to thug it out. There was an external force pushing us. Pun wasn’t letting this one fall through the cracks. Xien could barely move and was sitting in a chair so @lilflowernasti, @donlolegendary and I were trying to pitch in and do as much as we could in terms of extra filming, lifting, and lighting. Mannnnnnnnnn. PUN WAS THERE. It was magic!!!!! I felt his energy. His blessing. And his bars?!!! Goodness gracious. Respect and love to Rios family and estate, and a special shout out to the amazing individuals that made this collaboration possible. I humbly thank you
