Fat Joe is a veteran. Entering his 19th year in the music industry and with his 38th birthday right around the corner, Joe’s resume already boasts some weighty accomplishments – for instance, he’s a member of the legendary Diggin’ In The Crates (DITC) crew, he’s solely responsible for both of the only Latin MCs to ever reach a million in sales, he’s spent weeks at the top of the charts on more than one occasion, released 8 solo albums, headed a label and launched a moderately successful clothing line, among other things – but he’s still not satisfied. He’s been both acclaimed and disrespected by a wide range of characters from über-rich rappers to backpackers and local pastors, but he still can’t get enough. He’s one of the few MCs able to enjoy commercial success without it affecting their street credibility, but claims it isn’t something he even has to work at.
We recently caught up with the Bronx O.G. and talked respect, motivation and why the industry so often seems to draw a collective blank when it comes to a guy named Christopher Rios.
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Streets MOS: After nearly two decades in the game, how do you manage to stay relevant in an industry dominated by cats who’ve barely been alive that long?
Fat Joe: I just try to make good music, man. A lot of the young guys may not be real familiar with the older stuff, but I’m blessed that certain artists consider me a legend and are willing to work with me so I can make new hits they can rock with.
How do you balance street credibility and the commercial success?
I don’t know, man. The street cred kinda speaks for itself considering all the turbulence and other things I’ve been through in the streets. But when it comes to making music, I come from the underground so I’ve always loved makin’ hardcore records, but I also love makin’ hits so I’m kinda caught in the middle.
I don’t know, man. The street cred kinda speaks for itself considering all the turbulence and other things I’ve been through in the streets. But when it comes to making music, I come from the underground so I’ve always loved makin’ hardcore records, but I also love makin’ hits so I’m kinda caught in the middle.
You show a lot of love to a lot of people, but you’ve been disrespected quite often. How do you deal with that, particularly when it comes from people who were once down with you?
It’s sad when you look out for people and they turn around and wanna disrespect you and not take credit for their failures, you know? Unfortunately I was dealt a bunch of sore losers, man. Their work ethics weren’t like mine. And the thing they love to put out there is that “Joe is all for self and don’t want nobody to come out.” Wrong. I helped all these people. Like Remy Ma – I’ve never done nothin’ wrong to that girl, ever in my life. All I did was take her out the projects and got her a house in Jersey, a car, money and fame, man, so I don’t even know how [our disagreement] even happened or how that went.
It’s sad when you look out for people and they turn around and wanna disrespect you and not take credit for their failures, you know? Unfortunately I was dealt a bunch of sore losers, man. Their work ethics weren’t like mine. And the thing they love to put out there is that “Joe is all for self and don’t want nobody to come out.” Wrong. I helped all these people. Like Remy Ma – I’ve never done nothin’ wrong to that girl, ever in my life. All I did was take her out the projects and got her a house in Jersey, a car, money and fame, man, so I don’t even know how [our disagreement] even happened or how that went.
When I wanted to get on, nobody was there to put me on. So when I come back and try to help someone from the projects that ain’t doin’ good and make them rich and famous and then they shit on me? That’s very disrespectful and it really hurts me. So I just try to keep it movin’, make good music and represent for my family and for Hip-Hop.
Do you still have relationships with these people? Remy and whomever else you’ve disagreed with from Terror Squad?
Nah, there’s something wrong with Fat Joe. He’s stubborn, so once you diss him and break the trust and honor he had in you, he’ll never fuck with you again. And that’s the rule with everything I do.
Nah, there’s something wrong with Fat Joe. He’s stubborn, so once you diss him and break the trust and honor he had in you, he’ll never fuck with you again. And that’s the rule with everything I do.
OK, let’s switch gears a bit. You mentioned having nobody there to put you on in the beginning, so how did you finally get into the industry?
I ended up getting down with DITC. Most of them were from my projects [Forest Houses on Trinity Ave. in the Bronx] — Showbiz, Finesse and Diamond D were all from my projects. Everybody was just rappin’, goin’ to jams and all that when Finesse was just like, “Yo, I’ma be a rapper. I’ma get this deal and do my thing.” Once he actually went out and did it, it made me believe that I could do it, too.
I ended up getting down with DITC. Most of them were from my projects [Forest Houses on Trinity Ave. in the Bronx] — Showbiz, Finesse and Diamond D were all from my projects. Everybody was just rappin’, goin’ to jams and all that when Finesse was just like, “Yo, I’ma be a rapper. I’ma get this deal and do my thing.” Once he actually went out and did it, it made me believe that I could do it, too.
I went to the Apollo Theatre four weeks in a row and did Amateur Night. I walked up 31 flights of stairs and snuck in buildings just so I could play my demo tape for record company people, you know what I’m sayin’? I put in all this work, and it eventually paid off. A lotta cats put out a hot 16 and think they the shit when they don’t really know what it is to walk through the fire.
You were also the game’s first widely respected Latino MC. Do you ever worry who’ll be the torch-bearer after you’re done?
Absolutely. I mean, I been tryin’ to hold it down forever so I’m wonderin’ who’s the next guy comin’, ‘cause I know somebody’s comin’. Hip-Hop has been Black and Latino from day one. You look at the first pictures from a Hip-Hop party, half the crowd is Latino and the other half is Black. It’s only a matter of time before another Latino brother comes out and just cracks open the game and does what he does, I’m just surprised it hasn’t happened sooner. We got a buncha Latinos in the NBA doin’ they thing, so I don’t really understand why [more Latins] haven’t picked up the mic and did what they have to do.
Absolutely. I mean, I been tryin’ to hold it down forever so I’m wonderin’ who’s the next guy comin’, ‘cause I know somebody’s comin’. Hip-Hop has been Black and Latino from day one. You look at the first pictures from a Hip-Hop party, half the crowd is Latino and the other half is Black. It’s only a matter of time before another Latino brother comes out and just cracks open the game and does what he does, I’m just surprised it hasn’t happened sooner. We got a buncha Latinos in the NBA doin’ they thing, so I don’t really understand why [more Latins] haven’t picked up the mic and did what they have to do.
Would you like to be responsible for the next big thing when he or she is found?
Nah, I already brought Big Pun in the game, know what I’m sayin? Millions sold, one of the most lyrical cats in the universe. If I could find a Latino guy, so be it, I’d definitely wanna do that; but at the end of the day it’s all about music to me. It ain’t about Latino, Black or whatever – it’s about makin’ great music and representin’ everybody.
Nah, I already brought Big Pun in the game, know what I’m sayin? Millions sold, one of the most lyrical cats in the universe. If I could find a Latino guy, so be it, I’d definitely wanna do that; but at the end of the day it’s all about music to me. It ain’t about Latino, Black or whatever – it’s about makin’ great music and representin’ everybody.
Speaking of Pun, do you feel like he’s underappreciated?
Oh, no question. If Pun ain’t the best lyrical nigga ever, he’s definitely top 3 to me. I’m talkin’ straight lyrics, not all that other stuff. If you put it on paper, Pun is killin’ niggas. I don’t know why mufuckas is catchin’ amnesia and actin’ like they don’t know what he did and the body of work he produced in the short period of time he was here. That’s a question people gotta ask themselves ‘cause when he was alive you had rappers comin’ up to him all the time like, “Pun, you’re the greatest! You’re the best in the world!” But you turn around and see people asking the same guys about who’s the best or in their top 5 and they never seem to mention Pun. It’s amazing to me.
Oh, no question. If Pun ain’t the best lyrical nigga ever, he’s definitely top 3 to me. I’m talkin’ straight lyrics, not all that other stuff. If you put it on paper, Pun is killin’ niggas. I don’t know why mufuckas is catchin’ amnesia and actin’ like they don’t know what he did and the body of work he produced in the short period of time he was here. That’s a question people gotta ask themselves ‘cause when he was alive you had rappers comin’ up to him all the time like, “Pun, you’re the greatest! You’re the best in the world!” But you turn around and see people asking the same guys about who’s the best or in their top 5 and they never seem to mention Pun. It’s amazing to me.
Your next album is a sequel to 2002’s platinum-certified J.O.S.E. (Jealous Ones Still Envy). Do you feel any pressure to have J.O.S.E. 2 match the success of its predecessor?
Nah, ‘cause it was just a natural thing. I never planned on making another J.O.S.E. album, I was just makin’ music and the album just started soundin’ so big that the only thing I could compare it to was the biggest album I ever did. But there’s no competition at all with the first one.
Nah, ‘cause it was just a natural thing. I never planned on making another J.O.S.E. album, I was just makin’ music and the album just started soundin’ so big that the only thing I could compare it to was the biggest album I ever did. But there’s no competition at all with the first one.
How does the new one sound?
Real big. I got Lil’ Wayne on there, T-Pain, Raekwon, Lil’ Kim, Fabolous, Akon, and Rico Love [formerly of Us Records]; got beats from Jim Jonsin, Pete Rock, got Premier on there – I’m very excited about this one, man.
Real big. I got Lil’ Wayne on there, T-Pain, Raekwon, Lil’ Kim, Fabolous, Akon, and Rico Love [formerly of Us Records]; got beats from Jim Jonsin, Pete Rock, got Premier on there – I’m very excited about this one, man.
This’ll be your ninth solo album. What keeps you going after all these years, all these albums and all you’ve accomplished?
The desire to be hot. I’ve never had another job besides rap so this is all I know. As long as I feel like my game is up to par, I’m better than ever and still bringing something to the game, I see no reason to stop.
The desire to be hot. I’ve never had another job besides rap so this is all I know. As long as I feel like my game is up to par, I’m better than ever and still bringing something to the game, I see no reason to stop.
