Sep 16, 2005 5 min read

CALIFORNIA – California University of Pennsylvania and its Student Activities Board (SAB) announced that musical performer “Fat Joe” will perform a live concert at Cal U on Friday, Sept. 30. This event will take place beginning at 9 p.m. in the Natali Student Center’s Performance Center. The doors will open at 8 p.m.

Tickets are available at the Information Center, located in the lobby of the Natali Student Center, and all tickets will be sold in advance.

There will be no tickets sold at the door the night of the event. There is a cost for the tickets. Discounted tickets are available for Cal U students, who present a valid CalCard at the time of purchase and as entering the show. For more information, call 724-938-4303.

They say good things come to those who wait. For more than 10 years, Fat Joe has patiently waited for his opportunity to be recognized as one of the greats in the world of hip-hop, according to his Web site. Through years of hard work and dedication, Fat Joe has made his mark on music, film, clothing and urban culture. From his humble beginnings on the bullet-riddled streets of the Bronx to orchestrating the rise of the late, great Big Pun to making a whole nation “Lean Back” in 2004, Fat Joe has run the gamut of music business.

Now, he is enjoying the fruits of his labor at last with the release of his new Atlantic album, “All or Nothing.”

Born and raised a product of hip-hop’s birthplace, Fat Joe (Joseph Cartagena) lived and breathed the Bronx. The tough-as-nails demeanor that comes with growing up in crime-ridden streets, amidst the raging crack epidemic of the 1980s, infused Joe’s debut album, “Represent,” released in 1993 on Relativity Records.

Praised for its strong production, the album introduced the world to 200-plus pounds of raw aggressive rap and held such rap classics as “Flow Joe” and the DJ premier-produced title track.

As the only Latino rap artist on the East Coast scene, this tenacious Puerto Rican/Cuban represented a demographic that had been yearning for a voice they could call their own.

Two years later, Joe got a second chance to show the world his potential with the release of his sophomore set, “Jealous One’s Envy.” The album found Joe aiming for higher plateaus with singles like “Success” and “Envy.”

As he set his sights on advancing further into hip-hop dominance, he stumbled upon his greatest asset, and his name was Big Punisher. Fat Joe’s first album for Atlantic Records, “Don Cartagena” debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 album chart upon its release in 1998.

Soon after placing Big Pun on “Watch Out” (on “Jealous One’s Envy”), the entrepreneur in Joe came out in order to ensure that Pun didn’t endure what Joe did on his rise to the top.

In 1997, Fat Joe executive produced Big Pun’s debut album, “Capital Punishment.” It became the first ever multi-platinum album by a Latino rap artist. By the time “Capitals” had been nominated for a Grammy, Joe was gearing up for his most critical album to date, “Don Cartagena.”

Fat Joe’s first album for Atlantic Records, “Don Cartagena” debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 album chart upon its release in 1998.

Powered by the Puff Daddy-laced title track, the album sold more than 500,000 copies, earning Joe his first RIAA gold plaque. Joe’s hard work was well on its way to paying off, but there was a price to pay.

In February of 2000, his friend Big Pun suffered a fatal heart attack, which found hip-hop music losing one of its brightest personalities and Joe one of his best friends.

As the hip-hop world mourned the loss, many cast doubt on Joe and the future of his now established crew, The Terror Squad. As some members defected and skeptics rejoiced, Joe poured his heart into what many called his best album to date, “Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.).”

Released in December 2001, the album’s first single was the top five Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop hit, “We Thuggin'” featuring R. Kelly. This was followed by the powerhouse track, “What’s Luv?,” which featured the debut of R&B princess Ashanti. Reaching number two on the Billboard “Hot 100,” the song helped expose Joe to a new audience. As a result, “J.O.S.E.” not only gave Fat Joe another top 10 album, but also earned him his first RIAA platinum award.

The past few years have found Joe catapulting to the top of the hip-hop elite. But when his fifth album, 2002’s “Loyalty,” failed to attain the platinum status of “J.O.S.E.,” the world once again cast doubt on Joe’s ability to be perceived as one of the greats.

And the stage was set for the climactic statement that would once and forever earn Joe the widespread acclaim he had long deserved. With hip-hop music obsessed with the Crunk sounds of the South and the sample heavy sounds of the Midwest, Fat Joe – with his Terror Squad in tow – brought the New York state of rhyme back to the forefront with the infectious single, “Lean Back.”

Produced by Scott Storch (Dre, Beyonc?, Eminem, Christina Aguilera), the single took the music

world by storm. It became Joe’s first number-one single atop the Billboard Hot 100

charts and garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or

Group.