Fat Joe
Fat Joe in 2011
Background information
Also known as	Fat Joe da Gangsta Joey Crack
Born	Joseph Antonio Cartagena (1970-08-19) August 19, 1970 (age 55) The Bronx, New York City, U.S.
Genres	East Coast hip-hop gangsta rap hardcore hip-hop
Occupations	Rapper songwriter actor record executive
Works	Fat Joe discography
Years active	1991–present
Labels	EMPIRE R.N.G. R4 So Valid E1 Mr. 305 Inc. Warner Bros. Imperial Terror Squad Virgin Atlantic Big Beat Mystic Violator Relativity
Formerly of	Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.) Terror Squad
Spouse	Lorena Cartagena ​ (m. 1995)​
Children	3
Signature

Joseph Antonio Cartagena (born August 19, 1970), better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper. He began recording as a member of hip hop group Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.) in 1991, and pursued a solo career with the release of his debut studio album, Represent (1993) the following year. Cartagena formed the hip hop group Terror Squad and its namesake record label in the late 1990s, through which he has signed fellow New York artists including Big Pun, Remy Ma, Tony Sunshine, Cuban Link, Triple Seis, as well as then-unknown producers DJ Khaled and Cool & Dre.

Represent was preceded by his debut single "Flow Joe", which entered the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked atop the Hot Rap Songs chart.^[1] The album was followed by Jealous One's Envy (1995), Don Cartagena (1998), and Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.) (2001)—the latter received platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and yielded the hit single, "What's Luv?" (featuring Ja Rule and Ashanti).^[2][3] The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, while his 2004 single "Lean Back" (with Terror Squad) peaked atop the chart and remains his most commercially successful release. Cartagena has also released the top 40 singles "Make It Rain" (featuring Lil Wayne) in 2006, and "All the Way Up" (with Remy Ma featuring French Montana and Infared) a decade later.

Cartagena has appeared in several films, including Scary Movie 3 and Happy Feet, as well as Spike Lee's Netflix series She's Gotta Have It.