On Monday February 7, 2000 the music industry, family and friends mourned the passing of rap artist and Grammy nominee, Big Pun. On behalf of UF and the Khaimar family, I would like to send condolences to his family, friends, fans and of course all the DJs that found joy and success in playing his records at their functions.

Personally, from a 95 North "The Request" DJ perspective, I never found great joy in playing any of his records since rap is not what I love to play. However, I did find a "tactical" success whenever I played his records, in particular, "Still Not A Player," once up on a time.

Two years ago my good friend DJ Kool Aid and I shared a Wednesday night residency at a Bennigans' restaurant that is equipped with a dancefloor and a DJ booth in Morristown, NJ. The clientele was your typical "drink em up and party" college crowd. No matter where I play though, it is always my mission and pleasure to play at least a set or two of "true" house music. Many nights when my counterpart DJ Kool Aid and I were selfishly jamming in the booth with our blend of house music, we would loose a big part of the dancefloor since these kids are far from your average "househead."

OK, so they got tired of our house music, hmm, how do we go about getting them back on the floor? You got it. Hurry!! Quick!! Slap on that Big Pun yow!! .... Within 6 seconds flat the dancefloor would be packed again with the whole place jammin', grooving and singing along to; "don't wanna be a player no more, am not playa I jus @#&$ a lot... " Well you get the point. Tactically, I would use my Big Pun dime piece to get the place happy again.

I would do this night after night. As a matter of fact, if I was ever to take a poll of the most requested song during my stint at Bennigans Big Pun's "Still Not A Player" would win by a landslide.

Though my gig at Bennigans was not ideal to me, I still love having the opportunity to play, even if it was a give and take situation which entertainment generally is anyway. Suffice to say, I must give my thanks to the late Big Pun and his music which gave me a tactical weapon once upon a time. May God bless his soul.

Kenrick Divine
February 2000