Fat Joe - The Elephant in the Room

BORICUA POWER!!

Fat Joe you did it again. I have all your CD"S and love each one in it's own special way. He blends a commercial production of today with the same flow he had since Don Cartegena. Many people don't understand that artist change. He has to please his young fans as well as old. If he spit the pure OG rap he spit in the 90's he wouldn't sell any CD's. He has to appeal to everybody, and does a good job at that. KEEP HOLDIN IT DOWN!!! April 27, 2008

(2.5 Stars) Can't Bare To Be In The Same Room!

An "elephant in the room" is described as a problem that everybody knows exists but nobody bothers to bring it up because it would be too humiliating. Such is the case with Fat Joe's doomed rap career. Anybody that's paid any attention to the declining sales and popularity of Joey Crack knows that it's only a matter of time before the inevitable happens. His crew knows it; that's why the Terror Squad has had more lineup changes than Must See TV. So with the collection of unimpressive tracks on Elephant In The Room, Fat Joe substantiates everybody's beliefs that he's fast approaching that exit ramp that has been visited by the likes of Ja Rule, DMX, and soon 50 Cent. "K.A.R. (Kill All Rats)" is one of the few tracks that actually sounds decent, with a throwback to early Fat Joe . "I Won't Tell" with singer J. Holiday is another track that is at least listenable. But the album standout has to be his collaboration with KRS-One, a pairing that actually works out for the song "My Conscience." But the rest of the album is either uninspiring or too bland to even force yourself to listen to. "Ain't Saying Nothing" featuring Plies unfortunately lives up to its name, Lil Wayne provides little for "The Crackhouse," and the failed attempt at a pseudo dance track with "Cocababy." DJ Khaled does his usual role of being an annoying hypeman and mediocre producer for the track "Get It For Life." Scott Storch fails miserably with the production on "Preacher On A Sunday Morning," a song that just sounds like a bad idea from one glance at the title. And Swizz Beatz gives Fat Joe a decent up-tempo track to rock called "Drop," but Fat Joe doesn't work it like a classic DMX or Eve track. Things don't look good for Fat Joe. He has a crew that is practically non-existent (a la Flipmode Squad), yet another failed album (well, barely an album considering it doesn't even clock in at 45 minutes), and a stupid beef with another doomed rapper (pay attention to how well 50 Cent's Before I Self Destruct does whenever it comes out).
April 10, 2008

Joey - Back on Fire and Flaming Hot

To most Harcore Rap fans and off the back of his last couple abulms a new Fat Joe album was nothing to look forward to or be excited about. Infact thats the reason for the late review.

However in "The Elaphant in the Room" album Joey has given me something i have on constant repeat on my mp3, in my car and in my head!

I wont attampt to define or explain this album however i will say this, I HAVENT GIVEN A HARDCORE RAP ALBUM A 5 STAR RATING SINCE BIG. April 8, 2008

From start to finish

This guy is so underrated. I loved it on the first listen, 4 stars. No instant classics or major hit singles here, though I personally like a few of the tracks quite a bit... lyrics are tight, some good production from some well known producers (Scott Storch, Swiss Beatz, Danja, DJ Kaled). Pretty up tempo tracks... one of those CDs you can throw in & listen to all the way through from start to finish over & over again.

April 1, 2008

Best Joe In Years

Fat Joe the legend. I think many people forget about Jealous One's Envy, Represent,Don Cartagena and D.I.T.C.. This dude is lyrically dope, but he trys to find commercial success and the worst part is he has not made it and his attempts take away from his real talent.

This album is one of his best albums in years. The Fugitive is a dope track speaking on the current state of hip hop, while You Ain't Sayin' Nothin makes a good track to ride with or blast in the club. The Crackhouse takes from Meth & Red and is dope, other then the first 20 seconds. The beat is crack but what did you expect with cool & dre on the boards. I hate Lil Wayne and you can tell, he takes away from the track with his weak lyrics. Cocababy and Get It For Life are both average tracks that i could take or leave. Drop is a failure in my eyes and i wish Joe would not have worked with Swizz. I Wont tell is a nice song for the ladies, but not for me or the hardcore Fat Joe fan, still a club banger better then your average commercial joint by a 50 cent. K.A.R. uses samples that all true hip hop heads well recognize, which 300 Brolic is a hard hittin track that leaves you stuck, because the chorus is wack. Preacher on a Sunday Morning features one of the dopest scott stoch beats i have heard in a while, but i dont care for the hook.

Now we hit the high point. My Conscience and That White well without a doubt come out as 2 of the best songs of 2008. These are classics that every hip hop head can respect. That White features a dope beat by one of hip hops greatest producers, DJ PREMIER and My Conscience features one of hip hops greatest legends, KRS ONE. these are the artists that fat joe should work with. Forget the commercial rappers and producers. stick to hip hop.

Top Tracks

That White
My Conscience
The Fugitive
You Ain't Sayin' Nothin

Features - KRS One holds it down, while other features let down and take from the quality.

Production - Not bad for a commercial album, but premio kills it

Overall best fat joe in years. Not classic but a banger.

Its nice to hear fat joe give a shout out to all the DITC members maybe he well start working with them again

better then 50 cent.
March 26, 2008

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