Fat Joe Came Out Of Retirement To Win A Grammy

Fat Joe was enjoying his retirement from the rap game until he was inspired to return to his first love. He wants to win a Grammy.

In an interview with  Billboard on Tuesday, (Jan. 7), Fat Joe shared that Killer Mike’s three Grammy wins inspired him to begin making music again.

“He’s the guy who inspired,” he told the publication, of Mike’s impact. “I retired. Then, I had an infamous phone call with Eminem, where he was trying to talk me into not retiring. ‘Joe, we need you. You’re one of us.’ I was super done, but I got back outside because of Killer Mike. The man won that Grammy.”

“When I saw [Killer Mike win], I called [Dr.] Dre, I was like, ‘Yo. It’s possible,” he continued. “Let’s get back in the kitchen and cook.’ So, he inspired me to come out of retirement.”

Although he’s dropped other collaborative projects over the years, Fat Joe released The World Changed on Me in December. The LP is his first solo album in 15 years. 

“Everyone keeps saying that. I have Plata o Plomo that’s with Remy and then the Dre album. I feel like I’ve been consistently working, but I guess this is my first solo in 15 years. That’s crazy,” Fat Joe recalled. “Man, it’s incredible, though. This album is consistent. This album is incredible.”

Although he evolved as an artist, Joe is committed to being himself on the project.

“My daughter’s 18 and she heard the album, and she was like, ‘Yo, dad, what you doin’?” he said. “You talkin’ crazy.’ I’m like, ‘I don’t wanna buy an Ice Cube album and he’s talkin’ nice. I want to hear him say f*ck police.’”

“And that’s what I love about this album. I kept it really consistent with all my music in the past,” Fat Joe added. “Just 2024, different flow patterns…I just wanted to show my growth.”