Fat Joe

Joseph Siaki Cartagena (born Joseph Nuufolau Siaki, July 23, 1983), better known by his stagename Fat Joe, is a American Grammy Award-winning rapper. Joseph is the older brother of the late Johnny J, and Young Dre the Truth

Biography
Joseph grew up in Los Angeles's Compton neighborhood. By all accounts from Joseph's family, his early years were very difficult, including witnessing his mother's drug abuse, his father leaving the family, and a stepfather who was very hard on Pun. According to his grandmother, Joseph would become angry and self-destructive, punching holes in the walls of his family's apartment. He used video games as an outlet for his frustration. His favorite video game was Bad Dudes. Rios dropped out of high school and for some time was homeless staying in abandoned buildings or at friends' homes and even lived a life of crime such as selling drugs on the streets, and joining the Rollin 60's crip set even later on becoming a Triple O.G for many years until he was incarcerated for two years.

Early Years
Under stage name Fat Joe da Gangsta, Joseph formed the rap group Strictly Dope with his childhood friend Tupac Shakur and his brother Johnny J as the group's producer. They rapped in the underground for over a year until 2Pac went on to become a backup dancer for Digital Underground while Joseph and his brother went on to be a part of the Diggin' in the Crates (D.I.T.C.) crew, Cartagena was signed to Relativity Records in the early 1990s, recording material and working with many artists who he would later sign to his own label. In 1993, his debut album Represent was released, featuring production from The Beatnuts, Diamond D, Lord Finess, and others. Its lead single, "Flow Joe" peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart; other minor singles from the album included "Watch the Sound" and "This Shit is Real".

In 1995, Fat Joe released his second studio album, Jealous One's Envy, which peaked at #71 on The Billboard 200 and at #7 on Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums. The album featured a guest appearance from KRS-One and production from Dr.Dre. The lead single was Success, but his second single, "Envy" peaked at #8 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart.

Discography

 * Solo


 * 2011: Jealous One's Envy