Fat Joe: How To Be Successful After Hitting Rock Bottom & Stop Letting Failures Define You

Fat Joe candidly shares the trials of his formative years, including bullying and criminal activities, and how hip-hop became his lifeline.

Growing up in a predominantly Black neighborhood, Fat Joe faced constant bullying and violence due to being Latino

Fat Joe, known among his friends as Joey, grew up in a neighborhood that was 90% Black and faced bullying due to his Latino heritage, particularly when visiting his grandmother's neighborhood. There, he was not accepted due to his blonde hair and green eyes, which was uncommon in the 99% Black community. He often had to defend himself against multiple attackers, becoming a "bully" himself as a form of protection and survival.

Fat Joe's involvement in criminal activities and the "street life" at a young age due to the need for money and survival

From an early age, Joe was ambitious and determined to overcome the generational poverty that surrounded him in the Bronx, an area he described as looking like it had been bombed, likening it to Ukraine. Joe and his best friend, Louie, found it unimaginable to escape their conditions due to the entrenched financial hardship. Nevertheless, Joe was adamant about rising to the top and sought money "by any means necessary," which eventually involved criminal activities with his brother Angel. They were known in the streets for their toughness and aggressive tactics.

Fat Joe experienced the harsh realities of the streets, including getting shot over a petty dispute involving just $10, and he initially made money by being hired to commit acts of violence, earning him sneakers and jackets as payment.

Rap music and the hip-hop industry provided Fat Joe with an opportunity to escape the dangerous lifestyle he was immersed in

Music became Fat Joe's saving grace; he described his break into the industry as a "Cinderella story." The moment he secured a record deal, he seized the opportunity to turn his life a ...

Fat Joe has endured profound losses, including the deaths of his sister, his close friend Big Pun, and his grandfather in a short span of time, deeply impacting his life and perspective.

The devastating losses of his sister, close friend Big Pun, and grandfather within a short period of time

Fat Joe recalls the significant losses he faced when his sister, his close friend, and his grandfather passed away within a few weeks. His sister's death was particularly shattering as she was not only a sibling but also his best friend. She passed away after a medical error during childbirth where an epidural numbed her from the waist up instead of down, depriving her brain of oxygen. Having suffered in a coma for eight months, her passing brought a sense of relief to Fat Joe, as it meant the end of her suffering.

Around the same time, he also lost his influential friend and artist Big Pun, with whom he shared a valuable and impactful relationship, and his grandfather. Big Pun's untimely death contributed significantly to the sense of loss and grief Fat Joe was coping with. Fat Joe remembers Big Pun's incredible skill and work ethic, highlighting the importance of their friendship.

The profound grief and depression Fat Joe experienced following these losses, and how it nearly caused him to consider suicide

This cascade of losses sent Fat Joe into a serious depression, where he found himself sitting in an empty bathtub and seeing sunny days as dark and bleak. He admits to an extended period of mourning crowded with regret and sorrow, hinting at the tremendous emotional weight he carried, particularly related to his sister's passing. He shares the extent of his despair, reaching a point where he even entertained suicidal thoughts.

To manage this dark time in his life, Fat Joe sought therapy which he initially kept hidden. Therapy played a critical role by offering him the space and resources to sort through his feelings and commence a journey of healing. He recalls how a mural change for Big Pun served as an epiphany, marking a turning point away from his cycle of negative thoughts.

The enduring impact of th ...

Fat Joe candidly discusses how his deep faith and commitment to service have guided his actions and helped him overcome the temptations and challenges of a life in the entertainment industry. The rapper sheds light on his tireless efforts to support and uplift his local community in the Bronx.

Fat Joe's deep religious faith and belief in God as a guiding force throughout his life

Throughout his life, Fat Joe has faced numerous dangers and credits his survival to God's intervention. His unwavering faith has helped him navigate tough situations, including a taxing predicament caused by an untrustworthy accountant that threatened his parents' well-being. He attributes all his blessings to God and expresses a strong belief in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. Taking a spiritual view of life, Fat Joe believes true success is measured by the positive impact made on the community, not by material wealth or fame.

Fat Joe's philosophy of using his platform and resources to make a tangible difference in the lives of those around him, rather than focusing solely on personal gain

Fat Joe sees his role in life as helping his family and his people, a conviction deeply rooted in his faith. Shifting his focus towards righteous living, he is disinterested in confrontations and steers his energy toward supporting others, including a friend battling cancer, offering prayers and presence. By advocating for the community, counseling against violence, and leading by example, Fat Joe has reinforced his dedication to service, both intimate and broad.

Fat Joe's tireless efforts to support and uplift his local community in the Bronx, from providing resources to individuals in need to mentoring youth

Fat Joe's commitment to his Bronx community is evident through his numerous acts of philanthropy. His sneaker store, Up NYC, functions beyond retail by providing after-school programs, computer education, and mentorships. His philanthropic efforts extend globally too, from raising money and food for Haiti to sendin ...

Rapper and entrepreneur Fat Joe candidly discusses the lessons learned from financial betrayals, his diverse business portfolio, personal health transformation, and his latest venture aiming to destigmatize men's grooming practices.

Fat Joe's diversification into various business ventures, including retail, fashion, and media, to ensure long-term financial stability

Fat Joe has embraced diversification as a key business strategy. He invests in franchises such as Subway and Wingstop, and he's also delved into retail with investments in sneaker stores. The origins of his overarching project, Terror Squad, began as a graffiti crew. He advises other artists to diversify their incomes as well, especially in the face of the volatility of performance earnings, a lesson underscored by the financial challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic when touring ground to a halt.

Fat Joe's approach to building a sustainable, multi-faceted business empire that allows him to continue supporting his community

Despite the setbacks from financial betrayals, such as managers and accountants stealing from him, Fat Joe proceeds with trust and continues to build a business empire that also supports his community. He has taken legal action when necessary and believes in the power of grassroots initiatives, like advocating with Power to the Patients for health price transparency and the importance of legislation in Washington, D.C., to disclose actual medical prices.

Fat Joe's personal health transformation and his mission to help others improve their own well-being

Fat Joe undertook a significant health transformation, changing his eating habits and hiring a personal trainer to overcome his former weight of 480 pounds. Motivated by the deaths of close friends and wanting to live to see the beauty of the world, Fat Joe worked out intensely, sometimes three times a day, and educated himself on nutritional science. He now practices defensive eating, discarding unhealthy components of his meals to maintain his weight loss.

Fat Joe's journey to lose a significant amount of weight and improve his health, and his efforts to encourage others to prioritize their physical and mental health

His physical transformation has inspired others to take their health seriously, as Fat Joe acknowledges while humorously noting that he still views himself as 'Fat Joe,' akin to the character Hal in "Shallow Hal" who sees inner beauty rather than physical changes.

Fat Joe's latest venture, a men's hair coloring product, and his goal of destigmatizing the use of s ...