Fat Joe – Darkside III (Mixtape Review) DX Consensus: “EP-Worthy”
Fat Joe has survived the highest of highs and the maximal lows of the Hip Hop industry by staying flexible and changing with the times. He’s transited from a D.I.T.C.-affiliated underground New York emcee to a Terror Squad general and mentor in the ‘90s and early aughts, to a frequent musical collaborator with the likes of Rick Ross, Lil Wayne and DJ Khaled in more recent years. All the while he’s managed to teeter between staying afloat and being musically relevant in his own right—most recently with The Darkside mixtape series. Darkside III, the latest installment and released just before Joe began serving a four-month prison sentence, sees him trying to bring the many different parts of his career together in one 10-song offering. And at least to some extent, he succeeds in doing so.
To begin with, Fat Joe starts out Darkside III by following the examples of some of Hip Hop’s other New York elder statesmen, Jay Z and Nas in particular, by tossing out bars on living an upper crust, opulent lifestyle after years of scraping and scratching his way to the top of the Hip Hop heap. This especially happens on “Madison Squares,” where Joe opines on missing conversations with the late James Gandolfini, dropping a hundred racks sitting ringside at a prizefight, and indulging in spaghetti with lobster over Young Sap and Cool & Dre’s ornately luxurious composition.
The quality of a breezy, flowing elegance manifests itself courtesy of production by Cool & Dre and Streetrunner (“Madison Squares”) and Young Hype (“Angels Sing 2”). But that element is coupled with an inherent griminess Don Cartagena can’t and refuses to shake from his DNA as an artist from his early days that’s brought out by production on 9th Wonder, Diamond D and DJ Premier on the second half with “9th Wonder”, “Cypher” and “Grimy in the Early ‘90s.” Basically, the entirety of Darkside III is an exercise in Fat Joe trying to meld and mesh the successes of the different segments of his career into one condensed yet playable project.
And as legendary and respected as Fat Joe has become as an emcee through years of gaining stock in the game, he also attempts mightily to paint an environment that darts and dashes between decadence and sophistication. At times he succeeds, and at others he unwittingly falters, but the beats never let him down. This is most evident on “Your Honor” where neither Joe nor guest feature Action Bronson give their best lyrical performances, but the fundamental cuts, scratches and overall boom bap-centered production by Premier truly save the day. Similarly, on “Angels Sing 2,” the sweeping, lushly picturesque music by Young Hype make up for the awkward, staccato-staggered second verse from Joey Crack.
The primary criticism against Darkside III is that it’s too short, with only 10 songs that collectively don’t even reach 30 minutes. One would expect that an artist of Joe’s caliber would want to put out a project that’s more substantial, instead of one that, while commendable, might easily get lost in the shuffle amongst more notable albums and mixtapes of 2013. Then again, that could also mean that after his prison stint is over, there’s more music on the way from the Bronx representative. Either way, Fat Joe has given fans a satisfactory mix tape in his Darkside series that will at least remind Hip Hop heads of what he’s been able to accomplish during his time in the game.
Joe aint the most lyrical but he far from wack and has one the best ears for beats in the game I fucks with the darkside trilogy all were dope
The lights are out on this bum’s career..
said the bum hiding behind the screen hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
classic
Fat Joe may never sell millions, but at least he can kick back in his cell and think about how he had Curtis running scared.
Curtis running scared?? Nigga please!!
I started to listen to this mix-tape with a bit of skepticism Joey Crack is cool, I have all his stuff because well just because. But by faaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrr!!! This is Fat Joes best work in the last 10 years I have listened to this album twice (once in the morning on my way to work and it made the commute fun) and it aint annoying like most new music tends to be, he changes up rhyme style on every song (better writers, HA! Sorry Joe), he truly brings some Fly shit to the Game on this one a little something for both the new and the old school listeners
P.
didn’t expect at all but this is worth to listen.
reminds me he had the flow even it’s not lyrically weak.
at least no need to collabo with lil wayne or rick ross.
Shits CRACK
holla iam hamed
good
Album is fire! Best shit to come out of NY in a minute! All the darkside albums are dope! I still listen to all 3. This album is better than JayZ bullshit too!
i agree
Fat Joe can say nigga?
If B-Real can I guess he can too.
been saying nigga, NIGGA!
go home please we dont want you joe
i want joe
nice
I love his CD, I’m glad you’re back
joey heading in the right direction with this!
Good to see him still doing his thing.
I never used to be a fan of him but since I started digging into older stuff he’s on with Big L and Big Pun I realise he’s actually pretty dope. Such a shame those guys had to go
May be Fat Joe needs to work with old school producers more,cause thats what we see,i mean Joey Crack goes underground with effective confidence,confidence that he can feel himself comfortable in the underground community as much as back in the days with his good taste on beats.
That’s what i see
DOPE MIXTAPE JOE ALWAYS HAS TOP NOTCH PRODUCTION & HIS PEN-GAME IS STRONGER THAN YOU HATERS TALK SHIT ABOUT FOR NO REASON..A TRUE LEGEND IN THE GAME 20 PLUS YRS STILL DOING IT!!
The Darkside Trilogy is probably one of my favourite mixtape series’ ever. All three are dope. Joe keeping that NY sound alive!!
Mixtape of the year!!! You killin’ em Crack!!! You should work with Premo, Diamond D and Buckwild
all the time!
Dope beats, dope rhymes. Classic tape.
It’s a banger!!!
Classic material right here!
this shit is heat one of the best releases this year….
Fat joe has always been underrated for years dude has made a hit after hit and never be recognized he birth terror squad as a whole made great albums that terror squad true story album was a classic but got 4 mics in the source keep ya head up joey crack cant wait to see what you have next for that next album peace
man joey knows how to select them beats and this just a mixtape
Hell yeahhhh Crack’s Back!!
Doppppeeeee