Fat Joe Bio
Joseph Antonio Cartagena, better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor and record executive born on August 19, 1970 in the Bronx, New York City. He first gained recognition in 1992 as a member of the influential hip hop collective Diggin’ in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.) and released his solo debut album, Represent, the following year. Over a career spanning more than three decades, Fat Joe has built a catalog of platinum-selling records, founded the Terror Squad crew and label, and emerged as a prominent voice in East Coast hip hop.
Beyond music, Fat Joe has expanded into television hosting, podcasting, business ventures and community activism. He is also known for public weight loss efforts and for collaborations that helped launch the careers of artists such as Big Pun, Remy Ma, DJ Khaled and Cool & Dre. He is married to Lorena Cartagena and is a father of three.
Early Life and Background
Joseph Antonio Cartagena was born on August 19, 1970 in the Bronx, New York City, where he was raised by parents of Puerto Rican and Cuban descent. He grew up in the Forest Houses, a public housing project in the Morrisania neighborhood, and began stealing at a young age to help support his family. He has also acknowledged that he was a bully during his childhood.
His older brother, Angel, who later died in 2024, introduced him to hip hop music and became a formative influence on his artistic path. Cartagena was eventually kicked out of the family home following a fight with his father, an experience that pushed him toward the streets and ultimately toward pursuing music as an outlet and career. Living in the Bronx during the golden era of New York hip hop exposed him to local acts, block parties and the culture that would define his later work.
The combination of family hardship, neighborhood influences and an early love for rap shaped his determination to break into the music industry. He adopted stage aliases such as Fat Joe da Gangsta and Joey Crack as he developed his persona, eventually choosing Fat Joe as his primary professional name.
Path to Music
Fat Joe began performing under the alias Fat Joe da Gangsta and joined the rap collective D.I.T.C., which was formed by producer Diamond D. In 1991, he performed at the Apollo Theater’s Amateur Night, an experience that helped him gain early visibility in the New York hip hop scene. He was soon represented by music executive Chris Lighty of Violator and signed to Relativity Records, where he began recording material for his debut studio album.
His debut album, Represent, was released on July 27, 1993, with production from The Beatnuts, Diamond D, Lord Finesse and others. The lead single, “Flow Joe,” peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart, establishing him as a rising voice in East Coast hip hop. He followed it with his second album, Jealous One’s Envy, in 1995, which included a guest verse on the remix of LL Cool J’s “I Shot Ya,” a track he considers one of the highlights of his career.
During the recording of Jealous One’s Envy, Cartagena discovered fellow Latino rapper Big Pun, an encounter that led to a long-term partnership and, eventually, the formation of the Terror Squad crew. This period cemented his transition from a neighborhood rapper to a label executive and group leader.
Fat Joe Career
Early Career (1993-1999)
After his early solo releases, Cartagena signed with Atlantic Records in 1997, where he was given the opportunity to launch his own label imprint, Terror Squad Entertainment. In 1998, he released his third studio album, Don Cartagena, which debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA a month after release. The album featured guest appearances by Nas, Puff Daddy, Big Pun, Raekwon, Jadakiss and members of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.
That same year, he executive produced and appeared on Big Pun’s debut album, Capital Punishment, helping to establish one of the most celebrated Latino rappers of his era. In 1999, he and Big Pun appeared on Jennifer Lopez’s single “Feelin’ So Good” from her album On the 6. That year also saw the release of Terror Squad: The Album, a compilation showcasing the roster of his growing crew.
Breakthrough (2001-2005)
Following the death of Big Pun in 2000 and personal losses including his sister and grandfather, Fat Joe entered a period of depression. With the support of his wife, Lorena, he sought therapy and returned to the studio, releasing Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.) in December 2001. The album was eventually certified platinum by the RIAA and produced the smash single “What’s Luv?” featuring Ja Rule and Ashanti, which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.
In 2004, he reunited with Terror Squad to record “Lean Back,” produced by Scott Storch and featuring Remy Ma. The song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and was certified gold by the RIAA. It remains his most commercially successful single and is widely regarded as one of the defining club anthems of the 2000s.
The 2005 album All or Nothing included the single “My Fofo,” a diss track aimed at rival 50 Cent, and the hit “Get It Poppin’” featuring Nelly. Despite mixed commercial results, the period cemented his reputation as both a hitmaker and a central figure in East Coast hip hop rivalries.
Notable Works and Milestones
Fat Joe’s signature works include the albums Represent (1993), Jealous Ones Still Envy (2001) and the collaborative Plata O Plomo (2017) with Remy Ma. His biggest singles, “What’s Luv?” and “Lean Back,” both reached the upper regions of the Billboard Hot 100, with “Lean Back” earning a number one peak. His 2016 single “All the Way Up” with Remy Ma was later certified double platinum by the RIAA, marking another major commercial milestone later in his career.
Fat Joe Award Nominations
Fat Joe has received recognition from major music institutions throughout his career. In 2008, his single “Make It Rain” featuring Lil Wayne was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. Beyond Grammy recognition, his work with Terror Squad and as a solo artist has been acknowledged across hip hop awards ceremonies for both chart performance and cultural impact.
Fat Joe Awards Won
Fat Joe’s commercial achievements include gold certification from the RIAA for Don Cartagena (1998) and “Lean Back” (2004), as well as platinum certification for Jealous Ones Still Envy (2001) and the single “Make It Rain” (2006). His 2016 single “All the Way Up” with Remy Ma was certified double platinum by the RIAA in 2021. He was awarded the key to the city of New York on August 8, 2024, in recognition of his contributions to the city’s hip hop culture and community work.
Fat Joe Family
Fat Joe has been married to his wife, Lorena Cartagena, since 1995. The couple met in 1993 at a Miami nightclub where he was performing after being introduced by former Relativity executive Steve Lobel. Together they welcomed a daughter named Azariah on May 12, 2006. Fat Joe also has two sons from previous relationships: Joey, who was born when Cartagena was 19 and has autism and Down syndrome, and Ryan, born in the mid-1990s.
He has spoken publicly about raising his son Joey as a young single father and about the impact that experience had on his personal growth. His older brother, Angel, died in November 2024, and Fat Joe dedicated his eleventh studio album, The World Changed on Me, to his memory.
Personal Life
Fat Joe and his wife Lorena have been together since the mid-1990s and are parents to daughter Azariah. He is also the father of two sons, Joey and Ryan, from previous relationships. The family has lived in Miami, where in June 2022 he sold his mansion for $3.25 million.
Throughout his career, Fat Joe has been open about his weight loss journey, documenting efforts that have seen him lose significant weight since the mid-1990s, and in 2024 he revealed that he uses the GLP-1 agonist drug Ozempic to maintain a healthy weight. He has also been involved in numerous community initiatives, including a 2016 donation of computers to his old Bronx school with Microsoft support, a 2011 appearance with Newark mayor Cory Booker promoting Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative, a March 2024 White House roundtable on cannabis policy reform with former vice president Kamala Harris, and a campaign rally appearance for Harris in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in November 2024.