Rapper Xzibit opens up about chaotic tour bus shooting incident with Big Pun

Rapper Xzibit shares details of a chaotic night when Big Pun’s bus was shot at during a tour performance.

Rapper Xzibit recently shared a vivid and detailed account of a chaotic incident involving the late Big Pun, whose real name was Christopher Lee Rios, during an interview with Bootleg Kev on the REAL 92.3 podcast. 

The story, which reflects a wild night from their early careers, focuses on a shooting incident involving Xzibit, Big Pun, and the Terror Squad during their first promotional tour in 1996.

Xzibit recalled that, in 1996, he and Big Pun traveled the East Coast in two separate buses during the promotional tour for Xzibit's debut album 'At the Speed of Life'. What began as a regular night on the road took a violent turn when, after a performance, someone in the crowd fired a gun into the air. Later, both of their buses were targeted in a shooting. Xzibit described the experience as "crazy" and explained how the group had to swiftly organize an escape.

“We had to run this covert operation to get everybody on the bus and get out of there,” Xzibit explained. “They shot the buses up and everything. It was crazy. There was never a dull moment [laughs].” Although the group managed to leave the scene without further incident, things became even more tense when they returned to the hotel and discovered concertgoers were actively searching for them. This, according to Xzibit, led to the shooting incident.

Throughout the interview, Xzibit emphasized his strong bond with Big Pun, recalling moments from the early days of their collaboration. One notable story involved Big Pun’s bus breaking down while he was traveling with his family. As a result, Pun and his family joined Xzibit on his bus, setting the stage for more chaos. Xzibit admitted that he anticipated the night would be eventful, but he didn’t realize just how intense it would become.

Xzibit further explained that, feeling cramped on the bus, Pun’s family called for a car. When the car arrived, it was a limousine driven by an individual who had a confrontational attitude, which only heightened the tension. The situation escalated quickly, with the Terror Squad intervening after the limo driver became hostile.

Later that day, during a performance with Boobie the Boxer from the Terror Squad, a confrontation broke out when someone from the audience threw an object at the performers. This sparked a physical altercation, and amidst the chaos, a member of the team reportedly pulled out a gun and fired it into the air. Xzibit vividly recalled the moment: “Somebody from the team pulls out a gun and fires it right into the air. Bow! This n*gga pulled it out of a briefcase in the middle of the stage!”

As the situation intensified, Xzibit and his co-manager attempted to return to their buses but found the police already on the scene. The alleged shooter, in an attempt to dispose of the weapon, threw it into a dumpster. However, the lack of trash in the dumpster led to the sound of the gun clinking, alerting the police and resulting in everyone, including Xzibit, being handcuffed.

After being detained, Xzibit and his team were released and made their way back to the hotel. Upon their return, they realized that concertgoers were still searching for the Terror Squad, prompting the artists to attempt an escape in their tour buses. This, according to Xzibit, eventually led to the alleged shooting incident involving the buses.