Fat Joe has revealed the three rappers he looks to for inspiration when embarking on a new album.
During an Instagram Live session with Michael Rainey Jr. on Wednesday (October 2), Joe revealed the rappers he looks to when making new albums, in addition to revealing his upcoming project’s title and release month.
He began: “Whenever I make an album, I always put up a poster of Nas, a poster of JAY-Z and one of Eminem. And I be like, ‘Yo, I gotta be as good as them or even better. In my own mind. I could be delusional, but I do that. I shoot for the stars.”
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Back in July, a reporter for TMZ caught up with the Terror Squad boss in Los Angeles to talk about his peers such as Nas, DJ Premiere, LL Cool J, Common and Pete Rock all releasing new projects in 2024.
“Breaking news: Fat Joe be dropping a[n] album in August, too, so put me in that list of pioneers and legends and icons,” he shared. While that release date is now pushed back, it appears as if the new project is finally coming.
The 54-year-old MC released his last album back in 2021, and stated the very next year that he didn’t plan on releasing fresh material anytime soon.
In other Fat Joe news, he officially received the key to his hometown of New York City back in August. The star-studded affair included the likes of Funk Flex, Doug E. Fresh and more.
The ceremony took place at New York’s Orchard Beach , hosted by Rise Up NYC. In addition to Flex and Doug E., Chubb Rock, Wayne Wonder and DJ duo Bobby Konders and Jabba were also in attendance as Mayor Eric Adams presented the Terror Squad rapper with his key.
“His music has unlocked our hearts for so many years,” Adams said to News 12. “Fat Joe is a real legend, and we’re just really thrilled about giving him the key to [the] city.”
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After posting the news he’d be receiving the key earlier in the month, Fat Joe was seemingly met with some pushback, despite his status as a New York rap legend and philanthropist.
“I get the key to the city [on] the 20th and, boy, was that a hard one. Hip Hop got a black eye,” he said in a post. “The mayor and his crew, his right-hand girl, got me the key to the city. Everybody was a little upset.
“But I don’t know another guy who keeps it realer with the streets of New York than Fat Joe, who feeds more people, opens more businesses. I don’t know what to tell you guys.”
The “Lean Back” rapper didn’t specify who was upset with him being awarded the key to the city.
