They
say good things come to those who wait. For over 10 years, Fat Joe has
patiently waited for his opportunity to be among the greats in his field
of music. Through years of hard work and dedication, Fat Joe has made
his mark on hip-hop music, film, clothing and the culture as a whole.
From his humble beginnings in the bullet-riddled streets of the Bronx to
orchestrating the rise of the late, great Big Pun to making a whole
nation "Lean Back" in 2004, Fat Joe has run the gamut of hard
work in the music business and will enjoy the fruits of his labor with
the release of his 6th album, All Or Nothing (Atlantic Records) on April
26th, 2005.
Born and raised a product of hip-hop's
birthplace, Fat Joe [Joseph Cartagena] lived and breathed the Bronx. The
tough-as-nails demeanor that comes with growing up in crime ridden
streets, amidst the raging crack epidemic of the 80's reflected on Joe
when he released his aptly titled debut album, Shit Iz Real on
Relativity Records in 1993. Praised for its strong production, the album
introduced the world to 200-plus pounds of raw aggressive rap. The album
held rap classics such as "Flow Joe" and the DJ
Premier-produced title track "Shit Iz Real". As the only
Latino on the East Coast rap scene, this tenacious Puerto Rican/Cuban
represented a demographic that had for so long yearned for a voice they
could call their own.
The
past few years have found Joe catapulting to the top of the hip-hop
elite. But with the release of 2003's Loyalty failing to obtain the
platinum status of his last two albums, the world once again cast doubt
on Joe's ability to be perceived as one of the top hip-hop artists. The
stage was set for Joe's climactic statement that would once and forever
earn him his spot among the greats. With hip-hop music obsessed with the
Crunk sounds of the South and the sample heavy sounds of the Mid-West,
Fat Joe, along with his Terror Squad in tow, brought the New York state
of rhyme back to the forefront with the infectious single, "Lean
Back". Produced by Scott Storch (Dr.Dre, Beyonce, Eminem, Cristina
Aguilera), the single took the music world by storm and became Joe's
first # 1 single atop the Billboard Top 100 charts and most recently
garnered a Grammy Nomination for Best Rap performance by Duo or Group.
For 2005, Joe is set to continue his
dominance of music with his 6th solo release, All Or Nothing coming out
on Atlantic Records on April 26th. This album features the
production talents of Timbaland, Swizz Beatz, Cool & Dre, Just
Blaze, Scott Storch and more. With the release of the Just Blaze
produced track "Safe 2 Say" Fat Joe is continuing his plot of
bringing NY hip-hop back while at the same time securing his spot as the
King of NY hip-hop. The album proves to be Joe's best work to date
as his rhymes continue to elevate. Over the years Joe has kept his
hunger alive studying and perfecting his flow and rhymes. From his
first single "So Much More" (produced by Miami heatmakers Cool
& Dre) to the Scott Storch produced "Get It Poppin'"
featuring Nelly, Fat Joe delivers a tight cohesive album that is sure to
please all his fans as well as rise to the top of the charts. Fat
Joe also recorded "Hold U Down" with Jennifer Lopez and just
filmed the video with her in the Bronx. Although it is Jennifer's
second single the song will also be featured on Joe's album. With
the release of All Or Nothing, the crown is sure to be set upon BX's
finest Fat Joe.
They
say good things come to those who wait. For over 10 years, Fat Joe has
patiently waited for his opportunity to be among the greats in his field
of music. Through years of hard work and dedication, Fat Joe has made
his mark on hip-hop music, film, clothing and the culture as a whole.
From his humble beginnings in the bullet-riddled streets of the Bronx to
orchestrating the rise of the late, great Big Pun to making a whole
nation "Lean Back" in 2004, Fat Joe has run the gamut of hard
work in the music business and will enjoy the fruits of his labor with
the release of his 6th album, All Or Nothing (Atlantic Records) on April
26th, 2005.
The
past few years have found Joe catapulting to the top of the hip-hop
elite. But with the release of 2003's Loyalty failing to obtain the
platinum status of his last two albums, the world once again cast doubt
on Joe's ability to be perceived as one of the top hip-hop artists. The
stage was set for Joe's climactic statement that would once and forever
earn him his spot among the greats. With hip-hop music obsessed with the
Crunk sounds of the South and the sample heavy sounds of the Mid-West,
Fat Joe, along with his Terror Squad in tow, brought the New York state
of rhyme back to the forefront with the infectious single, "Lean
Back". Produced by Scott Storch (Dr.Dre, Beyonce, Eminem, Cristina
Aguilera), the single took the music world by storm and became Joe's
first # 1 single atop the Billboard Top 100 charts and most recently
garnered a Grammy Nomination for Best Rap performance by Duo or Group.