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Fat Joe |
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The Elephant in the Room |
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Terror Squad/Imperial |
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By DONYA BLAZE
Published: March 24, 2008
Fat Joe is a little mad, people - not at you, but us media folk who keep denying him those coveted five-star reviews. So, the big man says he went into recording his eighth album with the distinct purpose of turning us hatin’-ass journalists into fans.
The Elephant in the Room doesn’t exactly change the game, but that’s not taking anything away from its star. With production from Cool & Dre, Scott Storch, and Street Runners, the disc packs trunk-rattling beat after beat. In addition to the radio smash “I Won’t Tell,” he brings witty wordplay on “The Fugitive” (“Who’s gonna tell me that I can’t say nigga? / Nigga, nigga, nigga, nigga, nigga, bitch ho”) and ample testosterone on “300 Brolic” (“I will cut your testicles off and stuff ‘em in your mouth.”) Joey Cartagena’s female fans should enjoy “Coca Baby,” as he trades come-ons with Jackie Rubio over a ready-made club banger, and “The Crackhouse” featuring his platinum ringtone partner-in-rhyme, Lil’ Wayne, keeps it gutter for the fellas.
The CD’s moment of reflection is The Alchemist-produced “My Conscience” featuring KRS-1. The hip-hop pioneer uses wit and experience to speak as Joe’s inner voice, helping the rapper reconcile mistakes and stay encouraged. Yet, just when you thought Joey Crack went and got some substance, he turns his attention right back to that substance with “Thank God for That White.”
If you still don’t know Fat Joe after the 15-plus years he’s been recording, don’t worry. The Bronx bomber is really only concerned with a few things: money, guns, drugs, and girls. His inability, or unwillingness, to expand his subject matter is most likely the reason those critical raves keep eluding him. However, maybe we should stop faulting him for that and just accept the man for who he is. Every emcee isn’t a Nas or Eminem, right? Like Joe said at one of his recent listening sessions, “I am a gangster rapper, ladies and gentleman."
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