The recording artist Fat Joe’s new book, “The Book of Jose: A Memoir,” details the highs and lows of his life. NEW YORK, Nov. 10 (Reuters)
The rapper, whose real name is Joseph Cartagena, began his career in the early 1990s and found success with several popular songs, including “Lean Back” and “What’s Luv?
as well as “Up.”
However, Joe admits that despite having a difficult life in the background, he appeared carefree.
“My mother was getting cancer, my brother getting addicted to drugs, my son being born autistic and his mother wanting to give him up for adoption, or myself going through despair when (Big) Pun died.”
Big Pun, a rapper, passed away in 2000 after a heart attack and respiratory failure. Joe claimed that his passing had devastated him.
The Bronx native sought therapy after thinking about suicide.
Joe has changed a lot in recent years. He recently served as co-host of two daytime talk shows and is getting ready to take the helm of his late-night program.
Showtime will also adapt his book into a television series.
However, giving back to his community is one of Joe’s top priorities.
“Fat Joe no longer resides in the South Bronx. But my shops are like a haven for the neighborhood, a hub,” said Joe, the owner of three “Up NN.Y.C. stores in New York.
“We are continuously aware of the needs of our community. And we adore them and aren’t leaving them, he continued.
His store in the Bronx has a classroom where both adult and after-school sessions are held.
After thirty years in the hip-hop business, Joe felt comfortable revealing his choices for the top five rappers, both alive and dead.
You made a big pun. Biggie is yours (Notorious BB.I.G. Tupac is a spiritual rapper who likes the Bible. You have Tupac with the most. You have Lauryn Hill, arguably the best female rapper of all time, Rakim, and females. Please don’t murder me, Remy (Ma).
Nov. 15 will see the publication of the book.
