S. Samuel
Former Terror Squad members Cuban Link and Tony Sunshine have come forward to speak on the controversy surrounding Joell Ortiz's "Big Pun's Back" tribute record.
Acknowledging the track pays tribute to his fallen friend, Link said Ortiz should have received a proper blessing from Pun’s close friends.
“Only a few are chosen to touch certain things,” Cuban Link said in an interview. “And at the end of the day, I don’t feel that man was chosen to do it. He didn’t go through the right ways to touch that. That’s all. I mean, it’s no problems where there’s going to be extra sh*t. It’s just, it doesn’t sit right with me. But at the end of the day, it is what it is. It’s music. Pun was bigger than just our brother at the end of the day. So we just get a little tight when n*ggas do certain things but at the end of the day, I know they’re showing love. But I know the business too. I know n*ggas use that business sh*t sometimes to bring it back on themselves and put themselves on a higher level. I gotta talk to that brother because at the end of the day, I was a fan of his sh*t too — but it’s a little personal situation. We’ll leave it at that.” (Picture Perfect Dot Com)
Co-signing Cuban’s stance, Sunshine also felt Ortiz was obliged to talk with Pun’s associates.
“He was beyond one of the best ever to touch the mic,” Tony Sunshine added. “I don’t think nobody could touch the mic like he did. [Joell Ortiz] is super incredible, I think he’s talented and like Cuban said, I’m just glad to see somebody’s trying to keep his name alive and rep his name but there’s just certain things you don’t do. You have to come to the table, to the family, of that man before you do certain things.” (Picture Perfect Dot Com)
Last week, Pun’s widow Liza Rios publicly called out Ortiz.
“A lot of people are asking how I feel bout Joell Ortiz BIG PUN is Back. Well it was a good attempt on Joell Ortiz part BUT a BIG PUN he will Never be! Found it a bit disrespectful that he would say he the next Christopher Lee Rios to say the least.. With no regard to Me and My family especially My Son PUN’S Only Son which should Be the ONLY one to Claim that BIG PUN is Back..” (Ms Drama TV)
Ortiz later came forward and clarified his motivation for doing the record.
“First of all, I’m not sitting here without someone like Big Pun,” Ortiz acknowledged during the interview. “[Rick Ross and Meek Millz] did ‘Tupac Back,’ Maino did ‘Biggie Back,’ so I was like, ‘alright, here’s my due. I got this one. Let me do this one.’ When that stuff happened, I was surprised. I really didn’t get it. I don’t understand where it was coming from. From the beginning of my career, I’ve done tributes to him.” (Hot 97)
Check out Cuban Link & Tony Sunshine’s interview below:
