Fat Joe knows what you’re thinking when you see him in a suit and tie. Misinformed opinions still don’t slow his hustle, however.
The veteran rap aficionado is no stranger to taking the stage in front of thousands of screaming people but over the last couple of years, that scenario was altered ever so slightly.
Crack, born Joseph Cartagena, had traded in his trusty mic sword for a wearable one and those gaudy Terror Squad chains and custom denim fits were swapped for subdued business casual attire. As for the potent street parables? The end message of hustling to achieve one’s dream aligned with the raps that made him a platinum-selling draw. Yet, it was more like spoken word that he was really putting down in the people’s ears.
Over the last couple years, Fat Joe has been heavily involved with Market America, the “the product brokerage and Internet marketing company” started by J.R. Ridinger that has found its way into several notable lists within the stock realm. Joe serves as the President of Urban and Latino Development and ahead of his presentation at the 2016 Market America World Conference, he spoke up about preconceived notions about Market America’s “buy-in” setup while inviting anyone with the drive and focus to join him on the quest.
Can a young brother get money anymore? Apparently, that answer remains yes.
Market America 2016
HipHopDX: Your career is so storied so you can imagine the people’s surprise when they saw you in full motivational speaker mode, with the suit and wireless mic to match. How did all this come about?
Fat Joe: The founders and CEOs are good friends of mine. Scratch that; they’re not even friends. They’re family. For over 14-15 years. They’re some of the best people in the world. So one day I was hanging out with my man J.R. and I asked him, “How many people do the business you in?” and he replies, “180,000 people.”
So I ask, “How many are black? How many are Latino?” And he says, “Two” for both. And I’m like, “Damn, so how many are white?” And he say, “One hundred thousand.” I say, “How many are Asian?” He say, “Eighty thousand.” I ask, “Yo, J.R., if you hang out with black and Spanish people everyday, how the hell they ain’t working for you?” And he say, “I’ve been trying to tell them about the business but they think it’s a white man trying to take advantage of them. Now this business been around for 24 years and made close to $7 billion dollars and people that we call UnFranchise Owners — that’s what I am — made $3.5 billion dollars back in their pocket.
HHDX: And the notion of this being a pyramid scam…
Fat Joe: The numbers don’t lie. The data is there to prove this is a successful business. It’s all about when people take the knowledge that they get and apply it to their business and become successful. In a sense, all we’re doing is opening the doors and giving the average person an opportunity to become an entrepreneur and make six-figure income. And some people make up to seven-figure income. It’s all about how work you hard and how hard you work. How dedicated and relentless you are to succeed. Also, if you’re a follower of Fat Joe, you’ll know that I will never sell my people out; I will never sell my soul. It’s not the easiest thing in the world. People just got to get off their ass and it will really, really happen for them. But I don’t see no other opportunities that’s letting you [get in] for close to nothing and have the opportunity of building your own business.
HHDX: How does this benefit minorities, per se?
Fat Joe: Basically black and Latino people have been hustling forever but we’ve been hustling backwards. Now we have an actual system where we can hustle one time really hard and make residual income for the rest of our lives. That is what is unique about this company. And I’ve always been the type of person who wanted to give back. I’ve always thought of others first. So how else could I have a better karma-based system than to help people own their businesses, put food on the table and at the same time benefit as well?
HHDX: What kind of products are you dealing in? Do you manage a specific area in the company?
Fat Joe: We sell different products. We sell vitamins. Our OPC-3 vitamins are the best vitamins in the world because of their delivery system. We got makeup. We have over two million followers on our Motives Instagram. Carmelo Anthony’s wife, Lala Anthony is actually the brand ambassador of Motives Cosmetics. We got a weight loss system just like Nutrisystem or Weight Watchers, we have the TLS Weight Loss Solution. It the last six months, we recorded people have lost over 50,000 pounds all over the world. So we sell whatever is the number one seller and we find a way for people to make a profit off of it.
Fat Joe Talks D.I.T.C., Remy Ma Collaboration Album
HHDX: With everything going in the right direction for you with Market America, does that mean the music is on ice?
Fat Joe: Never! The people are going to love what I’m doing this year musically. We just finished the Diggin in the Crates and the Remy Ma and Joey Crack album. Both projects came out really, really phenomenal. We’re currently in the process of shooting the first video from the Joe Crack/Remy Ma album. A nigga just out here in those streets, you know?
HHDX: In a nutshell, you found ways to make both worlds collide.
Fat Joe: Definitely. In the conference, I have some surprises planned but I’m pretty much telling the UnFranchise Owners about my experience being an UnFranchise Owner. Just because I’m Fat Joe “the rapper” doesn’t mean I got a bigger hookup. I got to get out their and show the plan, sell products, motivate my team to go out there and become big businessmen as well. So I’m going through the same trials and tribulations they are as well.
But nobody ever really shows you their hustle. Nobody really shows you how hard it was for them to succeed and make it. It’s all about the finished product. Whenever I try and tell everybody: Fat Joe may be looking nice or whatever but you didn’t seem him at the Apollo Theater trying to rap and get on. You didn’t see him sneaking into record labels trying to play his demo. You didn’t see him knocking on people’s door talking about, “Please put me on.”
I always try to show the truth of what’s been going on since day one.
For more information about Market America visit their official website.
Wait…we getting a Joe/Remy project? Dope
Important questions
What’s the AVERAGE annual income of Market America participants? I’m sure it’s great for Joey Crack and the higher ups, but what about Regular Joes?
trust but verify…
Like he alluded to, the amount of income would likely depend on the effort “the Regular Joe” applies to the craft. I’m sure they have soluble numbers based on product x hours/commitment but even that would vary between region, community, city, no?
the average income of unfranchise owners that completed the 3 year program consistently meeting master unfranchise owner program makes a little over 80k usd/year from commission alone. I dont know what the numbers are for those that have been in the business for 3 months and quit or those that have been part of the business but have taken little to no action.
Hip Hop is a Ponzi scheme. You get screwed by your record label, only way to recoup is to screw the next crop of talent. No surprise Joey Crack would be involved with another Ponzi or pyramid scheme. Wasn’t gonna say anything but don’t talk about your company “benefiting black people”.
With all due respect, if Fat Joe or anyone else sponsors you in you get paid off what he or they do. That is not something you get with a ponzi or pyramid. It’s 2016, welcome to the future my friend
It is not unknown for people who get wrapped up in these MLM groups to eventually have to deal with problems like repossessed cars, home eviction (rent or mortgage related), marital strife, separation, divorce, selling household keepsakes, problems with the children, religious fundamentalism, not meeting household needs (food, utilities) and more. I would truly advise people to stay away from these organizations. in this case, maybe there’s a good reason why there aren’t that many black or Latino folks involved. Stay away.
I agree Fat Hoe has hit a all time low. He is selling pyramid scheme dreams now. LMFAO.
Have you looked at how the business works? More importantly, have you looked at how most businesses work? Get the facts and give an educated opinion.
Cool story old ass weirdo
network marketing isn’t perfect, it’s just better. Straight up.
But i’d never do products, i’d be like Redman and do home/business services. thats real residual.
I was at a my company’s event and Redman came on stage the same way, speaking on residuals and royalties and how it just makes sense. and now Redman doesn’t have to pay for electricity or internet LOL it was dope to see.
And when an article about Pun comes out, I’ll expect to see your ass hating on that one, too.
Its a real business I lost 38 pounds on TLS in 12 weeks. Made a bit of money… Life challenges of a sick loved one pulled me away. Make no mistake, A lot of real work tho to make the $$, but a scheme….No
I would have never imagined this nigga doing some marketing motivational speeches, oh man. 2016 is already weird af. I’ll lean back from investments here, good day, sir!
So many network marketing plans out there and they all get the same wrap, the same connotation, regardless of what product or service they offer. How can you assume they all work the same or that they’re all a ponzi/pyramid scheme? There’s a reason why some do better than others. There’s a reason why Market America has been around for 25 years and still growing. There’s a reason why they have the least turn over rate. There’s a reason why their products have so many repeat customers. There’s a reason so many celebrities put their name behind it. There’s a reason they don’t fall under the Direct Selling Association like all MLM’s do. Unlike all the other home based businesses out there, Market America has separated themselves from the rest. The ability to help others and focus on their success rather entirely focusing on yours, that makes for a successful outcome for everyone including yourself. There is no comparison.
Just look at the plan for yourself and poke holes at it. Find out how it does not work. If the “Job” lifestyle is for you, then obviously this is not for you and you will always think this is a scam. Keep waiting for that social security check, the biggest ponzi sheme out there.