Album Review: The Sopranos

Cougar Entertainment Services

Much-loved rapper Big Pun suffered a heart attack Monday afternoon and was pronounced dead shortly thereafter.

Pun, real name Christopher Rios, 28, released Capital Punishment in 1998 and spawned the club-favorite, No. 1 hit, "Still Not A Player," which took him from unknown to a star in the hip-hop world in a flash.

He is survived by a wife and three children.

Rios was wrapping up work on his upcoming release, Yeehah, Baby, set to hit the streets in April. He had also done a guest appearance on Jennifer Lopez's "Feelin' So Good," which is now in heavy rotation on MTV and BET.

Taken to the hospital early Monday, Rios was pronounced dead at 4 p.m. EST in a New York City hospital.

Puffy charged

Sean "Puffy" Combs was formally arraigned in a State Supreme Court in New York City on Monday on two weapons charges after an incident at a nightclub in December.

After a shooting occurred at Club NY in Manhattan, Combs and girlfriend Jennifer Lopez were rushed into a waiting Ford Expedition, driven by his bodyguard. After running several traffic lights, a New York City police officer pulled the truck over, and a search of the vehicle revealed a gun under Combs' seat.

Combs is charged with criminal possession of a weapon and pleaded not guilty Monday.

Police do not believe he was actually involved in the shooting.

Combs has a powerful legal team behind him that includes O.J. Simpson lawyer Johnnie Cochran. Combs was supposed to set off on his first European tour March 14 in Dublin, Ireland, but may have to stay in America until a verdict is handed down in his trial.

Broadway Morissette

Singer/actress Alanis Morissette will star in the off-Broadway play The Vagina Monologues in New York City's Westside Theater.

The multi-talented performer is set to star alongside Andrea Martin and Shirley Knight. The play, which focuses on women's issues, runs from March 21 to April 2.

After her two-week stint, Morissette is expected to head back into the studio to complete the follow-up to Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie.