How Fat Joe Turned His Hustle & Career All the Way Up

When Fat Joe joined me on That Moment with Daymond John, he chose to be as vulnerable as anyone can be and share the experiences of losing his sister, best friend, and grandfather all within a short window, and how that grief ultimately shaped his life. Mixed in with stories about his mother and the way she raised him to be above all a supporter of his community, this was an incredible discussion that so many can relate to.

Key Takeaways:

The story of how, after 2 years, a chance encounter with strangers was what it took to snap Fat Joe out of his state of grieving is the type that really embodies being at the right place, at the right time, and it’s only because of his loss that he was even at this place to begin with! I won’t spoil it here, but Fat Joe was able to turn criticism into the fuel he needed to drive him back on top.

One of the crazier moments he reflected on was when all of NYC shoe stores were looted except two of them - and he owned both. As you’ll hear in the episode, it’s really a testament to how much the community valued the respect that he continued to show them even after he made it big.

You’ll also appreciate learning how Fat Joe developed a healthy sense of paranoia and how this translates into his relationships - I definitely walked away with a new perspective on how to balance optimism and vulnerability with protecting yourself and your brand. Tune in to this all new episode now of That Moment with Daymond John!

Who is Fat Joe?

Let me preface this by saying no, I’m not criticizing my friend when I call him “Fat Joe.” I had the pleasure of sitting with Grammy-nominated artist, author, and entrepreneur Fat Joe for an episode of That Moment with Daymond John, and he’s not someone you want to overlook.

This year marks the 30 year anniversary of Fat Joe’s debut album Represent and his debut single “Flow Joe” that propelled him to stardom. He recently celebrated on the cover of XXL Magazine as they honored the Bronx legend’s milestone.

In November 2022, he released his memoir The Book of Jose that pulled back the curtains on all of the trials, tribulations, and triumphs throughout his life and career. Joe gets really candid about his challenging upbringing and the costs that came with his quick rise to fame, even revealing how he contemplated taking his own life. Other key takeaways from the memoir include his experience parenting a child with Down Syndrome and Autism, squashing his beefs with Jay Z and 50 Cent, and how those beefs cost him a $20 million deal to be the first-ever music ambassador for Michael Jordan’s sneaker line.

In recent years, Joe has reinvented himself from a Grammy-nominated musician to a media personality with hosting roles for The Drew Barrymore Show, Wendy Williams Show, and BET Hip-Hop Awards. Joe’s memoir is being converted into a TV series on Showtime, and he’s also launching his new talk show on STARZ with executive producers Sean Diddy Combs and LeBron James.

He’s a true inspiration to his community and beyond, and it was such a motivating discussion.