Fat Joe: The Elephant in the Room

Let’s face it. Fat Joe is here to stay. Record label or no record label. Terror Squad or no Terror Squad. One thing’s for sure…this self-proclaimed “Elephant in the Room” will not be ignored and with his new album, Fat Joe sets out to prove just why.

Not wasting any time, Fat Joe goes hard out the gate on the Street Runner produced “The Fugitive” but unfortunately, there’s a dramatic drop off after that. Don’t get me wrong, noticeable cuts like “K.A.R. (Kill All Rats)” and the Lil’ Wayne assisted “The Crackhouse” stand out, but it’s not enough to save Fat Joe from what he’s been trying to escape from.

It’s obvious that his blatent attempt at crossover appeal and commercial success is what fuels Joey Crack these days but, it seems like he tries too hard. The lead single, “I Won’t Tell”, is a worthy exception, however, and backed by the smooth vocals of J. Holiday, the track works well for both. Whether or not this will translate into more album sales than his previous effort (Me, Myself, and I) remains to be seen but this is far from placing him in the upper echelon of rap’s elite. Elephant in the Room is sub-par at best and save for great production, the only thing that can’t be ignored is the fact that Fat Joe has one hell of an (alleged) ghostwriter. As much as I’m disappointed, I’m not surprised. A friend once said that potential can only go so far. Sadly, he was right.

Rating: 4.0 headphones out of 10