Fat Joe says going broke after spending millions on private planes is part of his worst decisions ever in life

Luc Belaire’s acclaimed series “Self Made Tastes Better” continues with hip hop legend, Fat Joe.

The Latino rapper and actor was raised in NYC’s South Bronx neighborhood and has gone on to become one of the world’s leading hip hop artists. Despite his mega fame, Fat Joe (real name: Joe Cartagena) always embraced his Hispanic heritage, becoming a role model for urban youth.

In this interview, Fat Joe discusses how he learned the ways of the street, respecting the pioneers, wasting $1.5 million on a single record (and millions more on private planes and jewelry), and learning how to sustain himself as one of the biggest and most consistent names in hip hop by making wiser business decisions. He remembers Jay-Z and Diddy “they had a business plan, they had a structure… they only LOOKED like they were partying.” 

Joe counts 36 singles, 10 full-length albums, 12 Billboard Hot 100 hits, and awards from MTV, ASCAP, BET and multiple Grammys among his achievements. He has worked with artists like Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Kanye West, Ashanti, Puff Daddy, Ludacris and many others.

In keeping with the spirit of our “Self Made” series, last year Joe launched a sneaker initiative in to improve student performance in NYC public schools. Students at four schools in the Joe’s neighborhood, the Bronx, were measured on improvement; the class rated “most improved” received free sneakers for everyone in the class!  Joe recently announced “round 2” of the popular contest this year, and encourages other celebrities to join him to take the program city-wide.

Fat Joe joins globally renowned music artists like Trina, Eve, Fabolous, G Herbo and more in the second season of Belaire’s “Self Made” campaign.

You can watch the full interview by clicking the button above, and download video clips from HERE.