Fat Joe’s imprint on Hip Hop is unmatched. His rise arrived next to the late-great Big Pun, and the pair became formidable forces in the industry. Following Pun’s untimely passing, Joey Crack did his best to honor his friend’s memory while continuing to become one of Hip Hop’s elite. The award-winning hitmaker has done just that.
In the early 2000s, Terror Squad was a force to be reckoned with Joe at the helm. Often, we’ve seen Joe with his best friend and hitmaking partner Remy Ma collide on a track. However, she is one of many collaborators of Joe’s that have joined him at the top of the charts. While many of today’s artists shun away from certain contemporaries, Joe often works with creatives from around the globe. Whether they’re from his stomping grounds of the Bronx (like Cardi B), making hits in the South (with the likes of Rick Ross), or grooving in the West (with Ty Dolla $ign), Joe isn’t afraid to link in the studio.
Throughout the years, Fat Joe has proven to be in the conversation as a great emcee. Undoubtedly, he’s one of the greatest rappers to come out of New York. Let’s look at some of his best work.
13. “Pullin” With Dre & Lil Wayne (2019)
Fat Joe makes a good rap record on “Pullin’.” It’s neither a club record nor a song for the ladies. On “Pullin,” Crack wasn’t going for a commercial hit. He taps Lil Wayne and his long-time collaborator, Dre, for features. Wayne and Crack link up again as they have appeared on the same track together plenty of times.
12. “Money Showers” With Remy Ma ft. Ty Dolla $ign (2017)
“Money Showers” might be part two to “Make It Rain.” He even uses a popular line, “I make it rain on them h***,” from the 2006 hit in “Money Showers.” Both songs are indeed meant for the strip club. The music video for “Money Showers” takes place in a club as it is influenced by the 1998 movie, The Players Club.
Instead of a heavy rap club record, Fat Joe opts to go for a smooth, subtle Hip Hop-R&B blend. Remy Ma’s aggressive flow complements this peaceful production. Joe taps into the new school R&B by linking up with Ty Dolla $ign. This gives the typical Fat Joe-Remy Ma collaboration a modern sound.
11. “John Blaze” ft. Nas, Big Pun, Jadakiss, & Raekwon (1998)
“John Blaze” is one of the best “posse cuts” in Hip Hop history. Some of the best lyricists we have ever come across come together on this track. Jadakiss, Raekwon, Nas, and Big Pun took turns on “John Blaze.” Including Fat Joe, it’s hard to decide who had the best verse. Many will go with Pun, but you can’t go wrong with any of the five heavy hitters.
10. “Yes” With Cardi B & Anuel AA (2019)
Fat Joe taps into his Latin roots on “YES.” Whether he collaborates with Latin artists or shouts his culture out on a song, the Bronx native makes sure to represent. He gets help from Cardi B and Puerto Rican rapper Anuel AA. “YES” has a Latin feel to it as Fat Joe samples a salsa song to loop throughout the track. It’s another track for the ladies, unlike “Another Round” or “I Won’t Tell.” It’s more of a strip club record like “Make It Rain.” What better way to make a club anthem than to have a former stripper on the track?
9. “So Excited” ft. Dre (2017)
If you heard “So Excited” and “Attention,” you may get the same feeling from both songs. And it’s not just because Dre is on both tracks. Fat Joe keeps the energy fun and light with “So Excited.” It’s another bop for Crack as he adds one more party record to his catalog. His ability to appeal to all audiences should not go unnoticed.
8. “Attention” With Chris Brown & Dre (2018)
“Attention” feels just like “Sunshine (The Light).” Instead, it’s an original song, as Crack grabbed Chris Brown and Dre for this one. Fat Joe has a knack for making records that feel like the summertime. It seems as if Scott Storch is his go-to producer for his hit records. This is the third time they have linked up and been successful.
7. “Sunshine (The Light)” With Amorphous & DJ Khaled (2021)
Fat Joe has a knack for making songs to dance to. What’s interesting about “Sunshine (The Light)” is how it came about. DJ Amorphous is known for creating mixes of different artists’ songs. His mashup of Rihanna and Luther Vandross caught the attention of Fat Joe and DJ Khaled. Amorphous combined Vandross’s “Never Too Much” with Rihanna’s “Kiss It Better.” Fat Joe’s smooth flow is perfect for this sound. The title of the song perfectly describes the feeling of this tune.
6. “Another Round” ft. Chris Brown (2011)
”Another Round” is one for the ladies. However, this one is a bit more intimate as Fat Joe taps Chris Brown to make a slow jam. Not to be compared to the similar sounds of the 90s, “Another Round” is more modern. The sound feels R&B, but the drums make it Hip Hop. ”Another Round” is an example of Fat Joe taking a page from Big Pun or the Notorious B.I.G.’s book.
5. “I Won’t Tell” ft. J. Holiday (2008)
For this track, Fat Joe calls on J. Holiday to create “I Won’t Tell.” This was another hit for Joe as it landed in the Top 40. He also has a knack for collaborating with artists while they’re hot. First Lil Wayne, now J. Holiday. ”I Won’t Tell” was Fat Joe’s lead single for his album, The Elephant in the Room. Many believe it was solely for radio, but nonetheless, it is another hit in Joe’s catalog.
4. “All The Way Up” With Remy Ma ft. French Montana, Infrared (2016)
Decades later and Crack is still making hits. Grammy-nominated hits, that is. ”All The Way Up” was one of the best songs in 2016. It was nominated for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance. The hit song even got the attention of arguably the greatest rapper of all time, Jay-Z. To everyone’s surprise, he was on the official remix. Hov’s presence on the record gives it more of a New York feel. First “Lean Back” and now “All The Way Up,” it’s safe to say Fat Joe knows how to make a song for the Big Apple.
3. “What’s Luv” ft. Ashanti (2002)
Fat Joe makes a song the ladies can enjoy on “What’s Luv?” Ashanti elevates the song with her catchy chorus. Their chemistry on this track makes you wonder why this is their only track together. Fat Joe gets his first Top 10 with “What’s Luv?” while also creating another memorable moment for Hip Hop in the 2000s.
2. “Make It Rain” ft. Lil Wayne (2006)
The North and South collide on “Make It Rain.” Fat Joe taps Lil Wayne for this Grammy-nominated hit. It was up for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 2008. ”Make It Rain” was so popular that it called for a remix. Birdman, Rick Ross, R. Kelly, Ace Mac, and T.I. all joined Fat Joe and Wayne for the updated version.
1. “Lean Back” – Terror Squad ft. Fat Joe & Remy Ma (2004)
Fat Joe and Remy Ma joined the Terror Squad and created a dance craze with “Lean Back.” Now, it wasn’t the most complex move ever, but it sure was popular. Whenever Fat Joe said, “Do the rockaway, now lean back, lean back…” people of all ages did just that. ”Lean Back” is arguably one of the best songs of the 2000s. Any time you can create a great song with a popular dance craze is a success. The 2004 hit is a huge party record, giving Fat Joe another No. 1 hit.
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