Fat Joe
Biography
Joseph Antonio Cartagena, born on August 19, 1970, in the South Bronx, New York, is a rapper of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent known professionally as Fat Joe. Growing up in the Forest Houses public housing project, he was influenced by the vibrant hip-hop culture of his neighborhood and was introduced to the music by his older brother.
Career Beginnings
Fat Joe began his career in the early 1990s as a member of the hip-hop group Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.). In 1993, he launched his solo career with the album Represent, released under the alias Fat Joe da Gangsta. The album's lead single, "Flow Joe," topped the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart. He followed this with his second album, Jealous One's Envy, in 1995, which featured a guest appearance by KRS-One.
Terror Squad and Mainstream Success
In the late 1990s, Fat Joe formed his own record label, Terror Squad Entertainment, and the hip-hop group Terror Squad. The group's original members included Big Pun, Cuban Link, Triple Seis, Prospect, and Armageddon. Remy Ma and DJ Khaled later joined the collective. The group's first album, The Album, was released in 1999. Fat Joe's third solo album, Don Cartagena (1998), was certified gold. His 2001 album, Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.), achieved platinum status and featured the hit single "What's Luv?" with Ashanti and Ja Rule. In 2004, Terror Squad released their second album, True Story, which included the smash hit "Lean Back." The song, featuring Remy Ma, reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
Notable Collaborations and Later Career
Throughout his career, Fat Joe has collaborated with numerous artists. In 2016, he and Remy Ma released the hit single "All the Way Up," featuring French Montana, which earned two Grammy nominations. This was followed by their joint album Plata o Plomo in 2017. In 2019, he released Family Ties, a collaborative album with producer Dre. His discography includes several other solo albums such as Loyalty (2002), All or Nothing (2005), Me, Myself & I (2006), and The Elephant in the Room (2008).
Ventures Outside of Music
Beyond his music career, Fat Joe has appeared in films like "Scary Movie 3" and "Happy Feet". He is also known as an avid sneaker collector.