Joseph Antonio Cartagena (born August 19, 1970), better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper of Puerto Rican descent, and is signed to Imperial Records. Fat Joe also runs his own label Terror Squad Entertainment, where he is the CEO and main artist, also being a performer in its musical group Terror Squad among several other New York City-based rappers.
Fat Joe's first album was Represent, released in 1993, followed by Jealous One's Envy in 1995. From 1998 to 2006, he was signed to Atlantic Records, releasing three albums under the label, Don Cartagena in 1998, Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.) in 2001, Loyalty in 2002, and All or Nothing in 2005. Around the release of All or Nothing, Fat Joe was involved in a highly publicized feud with another New York City-based rapper 50 Cent, who attacked Fat Joe in his song "Piggy Bank", because Joe previously worked with Ja Rule. His hit singles have included, in his solo career, "Flow Joe", " Don Cartagena", "What's Luv?", "Get It Poppin", "I Won't Tell", and "Make It Rain". His most popular song in which he performed was "Lean Back" with Terror Squad, which was a number-one hit in the summer of 2004.
Starting in 2006, when his album Me, Myself, & I was released, Fat Joe was signed to Imperial Records, distributing his recordings through his own Terror Squad Entertainment. His second album to be released under the label is The Elephant in the Room, scheduled for a March 2008 release.
