Fat Joe is one the glossiest veterans in rap. Tracks like 2005's “Lean Back” or his new single “Make It Rain” are tailor-made for radio, but don't get it twisted; Joe knows where he's from. The early 90s saw Joe as a member of New York's legendary Diggin' In The Crates crew, which consisted of fellow legends like Buckwild, Diamond D, and the late Big L, and was also best friends with the late Big Pun, whom many consider as one of the best lyricists of all time.

This year, Joey Crack seems to be taking it back to his roots. His upcoming album, Me, Myself & I is an independent release, and he vows that the aforementioned LP is filled with more street bangers instead of pop tarts (writer's note: from the six songs I've heard from the album, he's stuck to his word). In an interview with HipHopDX, Fat Joe talks about shifting toward a mainstream-friendly direction, calls for a Diggin' In The Crates reunion, and battles accusations about not taking care of the late Big Pun's family.

HipHopDX: The past few years—specifically since “Lean Back”—have really seen you come out into the limelight as a superstar, with instant recognition. How has life been different for you since then?

Fat Joe: It's great. I get to go different direction with everything I do now, and get more of a priority when I come out and put something together. That's why I put out this album independently: I was popular enough, and enough of a celebrity, and enough niggas feel me, so that I could do something like this and be successful at it.

HipHopDX: Talk about the album a bit.

Fat Joe: The album is called Me, Myself & I, in stores November 14. The single “Make It Rain” is with Lil Wayne, we just shot the video. Puff, Rick Ross, Scott Storch, Dre, Weezy Baby, everybody's up in there. The album is called Me, Myself & I because it's a personal album for me. I locked myself in the room, called my favorite producers and told them to send me tracks, and just wrote away. None of my crew heard the album, I didn't really take no creative input on the album. I did it exactly how I wanted to do it, it's real personal.

(For example) I've got a song called “Maria,” dedicated to my mother that's real personal. Talking about our struggles as a family, how strong she was to help us survive in the severe. It's a deep song, and when you hear it, you feel like you're there. I know I feel like I'm there.

HipHopDX: It's an independent album, but you're also with Virgin. How does that work?

Fat Joe: They're actually distributing the album. I just felt like partnering up with a place that has the capabilities, that if we put out a record and it's going to a certain place where maybe an independent can't chase it like that, we have can have the big boys kick in and help us out. That was important to me. Continued on page 2 »