In a candid revelation that challenges the authenticity of hip-hop storytelling, Fat Joe, renowned for his gritty lyrics and streetwise persona, has admitted to embellishing the truth in “almost 95 percent” of his songs. The 53-year-old rapper, known by various aliases including Joey Crack and Don Cartagena, made the surprising admission during the premiere episode of the show “King Charles,” hosted by Gayle King and Charles Barkley.
Fat Joe’s confession came in the context of the legal battle involving Young Thug, where the authenticity of his lyrics is being scrutinized as potential evidence. In the interview, he openly acknowledged the creative liberties he took with his lyrics over his three-decade-long career.
“I’ve been rapping professionally for 30 years — I’ve lied in almost 95 percent of my songs,” Fat Joe revealed. “I write like I feel that day. I’m just being creative. You couldn’t build a jail high enough for the lyrics I’ve said on songs which are all untrue.”
Drawing attention to the disparity between his stage persona and personal life, Fat Joe stressed that his artistic expression doesn’t reflect his real identity as Joseph Cartegena, a family man actively involved in community initiatives and businesses.
While discussing the controversial case of Young Thug, who has been in prison since May 2022 facing racketeering and gang conspiracy charges, Fat Joe criticized the use of lyrics as evidence in legal proceedings. He argued that district attorneys are well aware that these lyrics are a form of creativity, yet they exploit them to bolster their cases.
“What’s even more horrible is the District Attorneys, they know those lyrics ain’t real,” Fat Joe expressed. “They know that’s creativity, but if it helps their case, they’ll use it to put these guys in jail.”
The revelation adds a new layer to the ongoing debate about the line between artistic expression and real-life accountability in the world of hip-hop. Fat Joe’s honesty about the fictional nature of his lyrics raises questions about the impact of such admissions on the perception of authenticity within the genre.