Fat Joe Says He’s Ready to Retire: ‘It’s Time to Give It Up’

Fat Joe Appears on CBS This Morning (Credit: CBS)

Fat Joe is thinking about hanging up his mic.

The 49-year-old rapper, real name Joseph Cartagena, said he’s considering retirement in an interview Monday while promoting his new album Family Ties.

“I think I’m retiring,” Fat Joe told CBS This Morning correspondent Vladimir Duthiers. “It’s time to give it up.”

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Asked if he was serious, the Bronx native said yes. But music producer Andre “Dre” Lyon of Cool & Dre, who was sitting next to the hip-hop star, appeared skeptical.

“He doesn’t believe me,” Fat Joe said as he pointed to Dre. “But he’s never heard me say this. And I’ve got mad at all the other rappers who said they’re retiring and they came back. No, I’m a strong advocate against that. So I’m really – I’ve been flirting with it. I’m like 85 percent gone.”

The rapper started his music career as a member of hip-hop group Diggin’ in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.). He went solo, started his own label called Terror Squad, and released his first album in 1993.

Fat Joe is known for such hit as “Lean Back,” “What’s Luv?” with Ashanti and Ja Rule, and “All the Way Up” with Remy Ma featuring French Montana and Dre.

He’s also appeared in a string of films, including Night School and Happy Feet.

Family Ties is Fat Joe’s 11th studio album, and features guest appearances to Cardi B, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, Jeremih, Cool & Dre and Lil Wayne, just to name a few. The album drops on Friday, Dec. 6.