Rapper Big Punisher [ tickets ] was pronounced dead on arrival this afternoon at a New York hospital. Though an official cause of death will be determined by a medical examiner, the severely overweight rapper, who was 28 and had a history of heart trouble, apparently suffered a fatal heart attack.

The colorful and humorous emcee's death came two months before the scheduled release of his second album, ''Yeehah Baby.'' His debut, ''Capital Punishment,'' sold more than a million copies and also garnered critical raves.

Born Christopher Rios in New York, the rapper first gained notice through his cameo appearances on various Fat Joe tracks. Mix tape engineer Funkmaster Flex featured him on ''The Mix Tape Vol. I,'' and he also appeared on tracks with B-Real of Cypress Hill, the Bone Thugs 'N Harmony spinoff group Flesh N Bones, the Beatnuts, Raekwon of the Wu Tang Clan, and Kool G Rap.

According to MTV News, Big Punisher, who was also known as Big Pun, was scheduled to join Jennifer Lopez and Fat Joe to perform Lopez' hit ''Feelin' So Good'' on ''Saturday Night Live'' this week, but he did not appear on the show.

He is survived by a wife and three children.