Fat Joe has been rapping for a long time. In fact, it’s been nearly 30 years since he dropped his inaugural solo album Represent in 1993. But at one time, the Bronx native was considering retirement and vowed to put the mic down after 2019’s Family Ties.
As he told Complex at the time, “I don’t really wanna stop. I’m stoppin’ because I’m trying to be a regular guy and raise my daughter. I think I’m dead nice right now, if you ask me. I think I’m extremely nice.”
But in a recent interview with Maino Presents Kitchen Talk, he appeared to have a change of heart and called off his rap retirement. When asked if there was a chance he’d eventually quit altogether, he replied, “I don’t think so. I mean, I’m really good at this shit, man. And I’m on time. I know when rappers gotta give it up. A lot of legends that we looked up to was the illest in the world, [but] when they got older, they wasn’t on point with the flow, they weren’t on point with everything. They sounded dated […] Fat Joe knows everything going on. I’m pushin’ P right now.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAYIdZeOuzc
At this point, rapping isn’t about making money for Fat Joe. Instead, he said it’s “really about the love of making music.” After all, endorsements and other money-making endeavors have been lucrative side hustles for everyone from Ice-T and Snoop Dogg to Big Boi and Fat Joe, who teamed up with White Castle on a campaign earlier this year.
“We doing TV, we doing series, we doing animated shows, investments …” he said. “We doing so much shit… trying to get to the end result. The end result is the super bag.”
Eminem Called Fat Joe Last Week To Talk Him Out Of Rap Retirement
Fat Joe also talked about feeling underrated throughout his career, saying around the 46-minute mark, “I never get the credit that I deserve. You don’t get the credit that you deserve. But that’s the shit that keeps us going […] When I do music, for like the past 10 years, it wasn’t even doing music for people that’s living.
“I’m doing it for 20 years, 30 years from now, for the kids that got no opinion, that got no bias, that got no crew, ain’t got no team. When they start studying hip hop in 20, 30 years from now, when they do the math, they’re gonna be like, ‘This is one nasty muthafucka out here. He was putting in that work.’ That’s what it’s about for me now.”
I’d rather hear a comeback mixtape from Kurtis Blow rapping over NY drill beats before I listen to another underwhelming album from washed Puerto Rican windbag lolz
Hate to break it to you Joe. You`re a trend chaser..
And you was never a top tier rapper..
Facts, this dude never had his own sound. Always hopping on the next trend.
Bruh no joke I don’t know what crack Joe be on but I’d rather be washed n bagged than make an ass outta myself if dudes so “nice” then stop whoring
Fat Joe the best example of staying current. He don’t sound washed like Busta or 50 or Snoop. Shout out to Nas and Kiss who also do the same.
LMFA0!!! This prick typed Busta sounds washed!! LMA0…thanks for the laughs buddy
This dude is an embarrassment to old heads. I’d rather sound “dated” than be an old jackass pandering to the younger crowd. Them kids don’t fuck with you like that, Joe. Just stop it.
Ain’t nobody ever fuck with Joe like that
Bruh what crack Joe be on? This dude is the definition of BRAGGART saw a interview he talked bout jail n how he stood up to the BADDEST men on HIS OWN?? Not too sure how much I believe lol
Most music he did was collaboration efforts for the most part. He never could hold his own and that is why fans never really gave him the prompts. None of his “shits” hit like a Nas, Jay Z or Biggie. Fat Joe just never stood alone to create his own classic album. Don’t get me wrong now dude had some bangers but nothing lyrical like the heavyweights that I just mentioned…Sorry Fat Joe but we still love you and you are very funny to…Keep up the great work with the podcast thingy!