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I have been a massive hip hop fan for decades now and I have spent many hours debating its different elements with friends and foes. Whiles during those decades, there's one artist who's name is rarely ever mentioned, yet, has been at the pinnacle of the game during this whole time. A rapper that's been through more than his fair share of adversity, whiles reinvented himself, going from strength to strength reaming relevant through several generations of hip hop. With a list of achievements which include, being part of underground hip hop's most certified rap crews (D.I.T.C), to commercial success with club banger's like 'Lean Back' and 'What's luv' has a solo artist, to unearthing one the greatest talents hip hop's ever seen in Big Pun, his career is not only unique in terms of the path it took, but can only be rivaled by legends of a similar ilk.
Fat Joe, originally Joseph Antonio Cartagena, was born in the South Bronx, New York City on August 19, 1970. Joe used to steal, when he was young, to look after his family. His interest in hip hop music was born through his older brother who acquainted him with it.
Joe's music career began while he was a member of the popular American hip hop group Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C) which included notable artists like Big L, Diamond D, and others. There, under the Relativity Records label, Joe released his debut album, Represent, whose lead single, "Flow Joe", made it to the #1 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart. Two years later, Joe released his second album "Jealous One's Envy" featuring a cameo of KRS-One. The single "Envy" from this album reached #8 on the Hot Rap tracks chart. It was during the recording of this album that Joe discovered Big Pun. Joe recognized Pun's talent for rapping and asked him to appear on his song "Watch Out". Joe talks about Big Pun's influence on his life: "Latinos before us who had the opportunity to do it just didn't know how to do it. They came in trying to do this black music, waving flags. [But] we're trying to kick in the doors for other Latinos and represent our people, and it shows." Meanwhile, Joe also introduced his group, Terror Squad, which consisted of Big Pun, Cuban Link, Triple Seis, Prospect, Armageddon, and Remy Ma.
In 1998, Joe joined up with Atlantic Records and released his third album, Don Cartagena, which highlighted cameos by Nas, Diddy, Big Pun, Raekwon, Jadakiss, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. The RIAA certified platinum album landed at #7 on The Billboard 200 and #2 on Top R&B/Hip Hop albums. Joe's third album, Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.), came out in 2001. The album included artists such as Ashanti, Ludacris, and R. Kelly among many others. The song "What's Luv?" featuring Ja Rule and Ashanti became widely popular.
Joe released his first Terror Squad album "True Story" in 2004, whose track "Lean back", a coordinated effort with Remy Ma, was a super hit. The same year a feud started between Joe and 50 Cent. Initially, 50 Cent released a diss track, "Piggy Bank", against Fat Joe and Jadakiss for their collaboration with Ja Rule in his acclaimed hit song "New York" in which 50 Cent was dissed. A year later came out Joe's sixth album "All or Nothing" which featured his popular diss track "My Fofo" aimed at 50 Cent. In 2006, Joe's seventh album was released, with a hit single "Make It Rain" featuring Lil Wayne. Meanwhile, Joe's verbal battle with 50 Cent continued. Cent released another diss song "Southside Nigga (I'm Leaving)" beefing Joe. In 2008, Joe's eighth album "The Elephant in the Room" came out, standing #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. A year later, Joe's ninth album, Jealous Ones Still Envy 2 (J.O.S.E. 2), came out. The album featured brilliant artists including Ron Browz, Fabolous, Lil'Kim, T-Pain, Lil Wayne, and Akon. The album stood at #73 on The Billboard 200. In July 2010, Joe released The Darkside Vol.1 and entered The Billboard at #27. He also appeared on DJ Khaled's remix song "Welcome to My Hood" which featured Ludacris, T-Pain, Busta Rhymes, and others. Another sequel album to Darkside was released in 2011. Later on, collaborating with former Terror Squad artist, Remy Ma, an album titled Plata O Plomo was released. The single "All the Way Up" from this album got #27 on the Hot 100. In recent years, Joe has made singles with many prominent artists including "Pick It Up" with Dre, "Momma" with Big Sean, "Attention" with Chris Brown, and "Pullin" with Lil Wayne.
The feud between Joe and 50 Cent was finally settled in 2012 during a Chris Lighty tribute set to air on BET's Hip Hop Awards.
Joe has won many awards to his name including ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Awards and Billboard Latin Music Awards. He was nominated for Grammy Awards multiple times, as well as for iHeartRadio Music Awards, BET Awards, and MTV Video Music Awards.
Along with his music career, he has developed and taken part in several other creative interests. Joe has made his appearance in films which include famous names as Scary Movie 3 and Happy Feet. He, likewise, appeared in a Netflix series, "She's Gotta Have It." He also started hosting a podcast, Coca Vision, in 2018. Other non-musical career ventures that Fat Joe has tried his luck in include starting a clothing store called Fat Joe's Halftime. He also opened a barbershop and a fashion line, FJ560.
Joe has been very active in community work too. He made a donation of computers for the students to the school he attended in his childhood in the Bronx, New York. Joe was invited to speak at a "School is Cool" assembly in a New Jersey school. He has also taken part in Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative, an awareness program against childhood obesity. Joe himself has gone through weight loss efforts.
Fat Joe got his inspiration for music from many exceptional artists at the beginning of his career. Today, he is an inspiration to many dreamers out there. His life is a living example of the phrase, “Where there is a will, there is a way”.
Related link
https://www.onestophiphop.co.uk/blogs/pure-hip-hop/big-pun-hip-hop-giant
One of the greatest