THE BOOK OF JOSE

A memoir from the popular rapper.

Joseph Cartagena (b. 1970), aka Fat Joe, opens the book like a blockbuster movie, packed with tales of violence, drug-dealing, fast cars, and more. Known for a string of hip-hop hits that span four decades, including anthems like “Lean Back” and “What’s Luv,” featuring Ashanti and Ja Rule, the author’s career has had its highs and lows, and he describes each in equally painstaking detail. “You can learn from other people’s mistakes,” he writes. “I learned from theirs and hopefully you’ll learn from mine.” Though the lessons he has learned never came easy, he writes about them with the directness of someone who has come to terms with them. When his brother, Angel, went blind from his drug addiction, the author realized how his drug-dealing affected other families. “I believe in karma,” he writes. “Sometimes I ask myself if the misfortunes that have fallen to me, to my own son, to my family, if these are because of all the destruction I took a hand in? The pain I caused? My brother sold millions of dollars in drugs. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that he fell to the drugs.” Throughout his life, Fat Joe has had plenty of celebrations only to see many of them taken away: He saw his big discovery, rapper Big Pun, become a superstar and then die of a heart attack in 2000 at the age of 28. The author earned millions but then lost nearly all of it due to embezzlement from his accountant. He ended up in jail for not paying his taxes because of his accountant, but he also rebuilt his career after getting out. The way he tells his story so far, the author seems ready to use it to make his next big move.

Fat Joe’s memoir reads just like his hits sound, brimming with flashy style, street smarts, and survivor’s strength.