The Dream Shatterer

About this song

Producer Domingo made the beat for the track, which had originally been on a tape he gave Big Pun around 1995 while he was working on Fat Joe's Jealous Ones Envy. Pun later asked for the beat back while recording Capital Punishment, and Domingo says it fit the vocals well once he put them over it. The track's first verse was previously performed on The Legendary Cypher, a roundtable with Canibus, Mic Geronimo, Mos Def, DMX, and John Forté.

What it's about

The song is a braggadocio rap in which Big Pun compares himself to Michael Jordan and Nat King Cole. The beat is driving, and the verse is counted among his best recorded work.

Fun facts

• Sampled in 10 other songs, like “Espectros by Nucleo Aka Tinta Sucia & T&K (Ft. Haze (ARG) & Ronpe 99)”.
• Written by Big Pun.
• Produced by Domingo.
• Recorded at Axis Studios (New York City).