Fat Joe Recalls Kanye West Thinking He Was A "Mafia Don" Who Didn't Write His Own Raps

BYErika Marie8.2K Views
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Fat Joe
They were working on "Pride N Joy."

To prepare for the December 6 release of Family Ties, the album that Fat Joe calls his "greatest," the rapper recently visited Los Angeles's Power 106 radio station. The Bronx emcee has had a successful, decades-long career, and during his chat with the L.A. Leakers, he shared a story about working Kanye West on "Pride N Joy." After taking the blame for his beef with Jay Z, Joe said that at one point people thought of him as the "New York Suge Knight."

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"The only difference was, I was really making my music. I wasn't stickin' n*ggas up," he said with a smile. "The misconception was 'Yo, this guy is like a street legend, crazy, he must be extorting. Let me tell you an ill story. I sat down to do a record with Kanye West. We did the joint 'Pride N Joy,' and when I pulled out my paper and started writing he was like, 'You write music?' This was five years ago! He was like, 'You rap?' I was like what do you mean, we’re making a song together.'"

Kanye apparently couldn't believe it. "'Oh, I just thought you were like a mafia don and they just come give you different raps and you chose which one you're gonna say.' I'm like, 'Get the f*ck out of here! I've been rapping my whole life. What the hell are you talking about.' I never had no help." Watch the entire interview below and check out Fat Joe talk about his encounter with Kanye West around the 26:53 mark.


About The Author
Erika Marie is a seasoned journalist, editor, and ghostwriter who works predominantly in the fields of music, spirituality, mental health advocacy, and social activism. The Los Angeles editor, storyteller, and activist has been involved in the behind-the-scenes workings of the entertainment industry for nearly two decades. E.M. attempts to write stories that are compelling while remaining informative and respectful. She's an advocate of lyrical witticism & the power of the pen. Favorites: Motown, New Jack Swing, '90s R&B, Hip Hop, Indie Rock, & Punk; Funk, Soul, Harlem Renaissance Jazz greats, and artists who innovate, not simply replicate.
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