Let's play a game called: Is this Fat Joe story true, unverified, or complete bullshit?
One day, when Tupac was locked up at the Clinton Correctional Institution in upstate New York, Joe went on the radio and made a crack about the imprisoned rap star. Apparently, the Puerto Ricans associated with Joe in the same prison overrode this beef and began harassing Pac to defend Joe's honor. So Puck, behind bars, made a pleading phone call to Joe as a way to get him out. 1
Another time, in Los Angeles, Fat Joe was in the company of Westside Connection's Mack 10 for a Sprite commercial shoot. Common, who was previously involved in a historically sour beef with Ice Cube and the Westside Connection until Louis Farrakhan defused tensions, was there and sparred with the crew. Supposedly, things were on the verge of violent escalation until Fat Joe, aka Joey Crack, intervened and saved Common's life. 2
All year round speed. Fat Joe not only booked Biggie for his first show – at The Fever in the Bronx – but also recorded a joint album with Big before his death, filled with uncommitted Tupac diss records. 3
When NBA winger Stephen Jackson was a rookie, Fat Joe secretly had two Puerto Rican heavyweights follow him to New York to ensure his safety. 4
Over the years Fat Joe has paid out hundreds of thousands of dollars in physical assault lawsuits for decades of beating up rappers and civilians. Some are rumored to be hype (Papoose), some urban legends (Masta Ace), some confirmed (Cuban Link). 5
On New York's blackout day in 2003, Joe and Jay-Z had to settle their heated beef as opposing coaches in a streetball game at Rucker Park, with members of the hoops elite such as LeBron James, Allen Iverson and Yao Ming. side. 6
50 Cent was so pissed off by Joe's guest feature on Ja Rule's “New York” that a ridiculous skit-filled feud on YouTube hadn't been seen since his heyday In vivid color to thunderous rants on stage at the VMAs, they lit up. 7
Myths, legends, the unbelievable made somewhat believable: this is Fat Joe, though not the Fat Joe I grew up with as a kid in 00's New York. In my eyes, he was a bald, cartoonish rap villain, always wearing flashy leather, Yankee uniforms and a massive chain to represent the Terror Squad, his Bronx-based cabal. He was the flag-waving Puerto Rican radio giant with inescapable hybrid rap-R&B player connections with Jennifer Lopez, Thalia and most famously, Asadi. He was the type to make silly appearances Scary movie 3 and Happy feetas an animated penguin named Seymour. He was one of the great video game villains Dej Jam: Battle for New York. He delivered blistering hits blasted over the loudspeakers at Knicks games, including “New York,” “We Takin' Over” and “Lean Back,” a bare-bones scrub with Remy Ma softened by a shoulder-swinging dance. it went so hard that even my rap-hating grandma proudly hit that shit.
