Fat Joe Came Out of Rap Retirement for This One Reason — to Win a Grammy

Mar. 15, 2025

Fat Joe in December 2024; Killer Mike in March 2024.Photo:Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty; Paras Griffin/Getty

Gilbert Flores/Penske Media via Getty; Paras Griffin/Getty

There’s one reason whyFat Joewould come out of retirement.

In aninterview withBillboardon Tuesday, Jan. 7, the “Lean Back” musician, 49, revealed howKiller Mikeinspired him to return to his music career — and the one goal that lured him back.

According to Fat Joe, it was the Run The Jewels performer’s three Grammy wins that helped him realize he wasn’t quite done with rapping.

“He’s the guy who inspired,” he told the publication, of Mike’s impact. “I retired. I was gone. I had an infamous phone call withEminem, 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.”

Fat Joe in September 2023.Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

Now, getting a Grammy is Fat Joe’s main goal.

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

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“I don’t want to go getU2,BonoorThe Rolling Stonesand when I get the album it sounds like one of these young kids rapping, he said, adding, “so when you get a Joe LP, it’s gangsta hip-hop, it’s hit records, it’s lyrics.”

He added, “You know, my daughter’s 18 and she heard the album, and she was like, ‘Yo, dad, what you doin’? 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— tha police.'”

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

source: people.com