Model Dana Lemor at Fat Joe CD Release Party & Concert "

Model Dana Lemor "Miss Pinch Sobe International" walks Red Carpet on South Beach.
at "Fat Joe" CD Release Party & Concert at Living Room Night Club, South Beach,FL

Q&A with rapper Fat Joe

The Hip Hop artist talks about SoBe life and remembers Big Pun

By Mike Rothman Forum Publishing Group

October 19, 2009

It was a waiting game and a night of perseverance at the Fat Joe Album Release Party for J.O.S.E. 2 at Living Room on Oct. 15 in humid South Beach, 671 Washington Ave.

With Joe's ninth solo album Jealous Ones Still Envy 2 hitting shelves in early October, all the event's attendees were sweating his arrival and his impending post-midnight performance for the intimate crowd of less than 1,000.

MyFirstSingle.com sponsored the night for the Bronx native to promote Joseph Cartagena aka Fat Joe's newest production, which features T-Pain, Lil Wayne, Akon and Lil' Kim.

After arriving at 10 p.m. sharp, I persisted for more than five hours through an evening of meeting Playboy models (Dana Lemor) Miss Pinch Sobe International. Also stars from CSI Miami and a dramatic performance where Joe reminisced about his late-friend Big Pun to get a chance to sit down with Joe and talk about the new album, life in South Florida and the recession.

Somehow, stone crabs also made their way into the conversation.

MR -- With Jealous Ones Still Envy 2, what kind of Identity are you looking for on this album?

Joe -- I'm one of the fortunate few artists that gets better with time. I love to make bigger and better music. So for this album I went all out and made great music. I got Lil' Kim on the album. Lil Wayne is also on it with Rico Love, T-Pain, Akon and a lot of my friends just came out.

MR -- How do the women of South Beach compare to others you have encountered all over the world?

Joe -- South Beach is a very unique place with so many different tropical vibes and so many beautiful women.

MR -- You live down here now right? Any favorite spots or Cuban restaurants you like to hit up since you have been down here?

Joe -- I have been living here for some time. Actually, I am just glad stone crabs are back in season. I'm a big fan."

MR -- The country is struggling with the current recession, how has this financial crisis affected you as a platinum-selling artist?

Joe -- It affects everybody, you know what I'm saying. It affects everyone, even millionaires are affected.

MR -- You have to downsize you 24-inch rims to say 22-inch?

Joe -- Yeah, that's funny.

MR -- Today, Oct. 15, is the last day of Hispanic Heritage Month, is there a coincidence that you had your record release party on this day, with your Puerto Rican and Cuban background?

Joe -- Naw, I didn't know but that's a beautiful thing. You know, I am proud to be Latino and I am proud to represent Latinos everywhere.

MR -- Do you like playing these smaller venues like Living Room? Is this type of atmosphere reminiscent of your roots and where you came from as an artist?

Joe -- You definitely get in touch wit the crowd for smaller concerts. It's like an intimate venue, where I do stuff I normally would not do but I feel the crowd wants me to.

MR -- You brought up Big Pun on stage and performed a song you said you hadn't performed since he died. Was that an emotional moment for you?

Joe -- Yeah I don't usually do that one but the fans wanted it. The song is "Deep Cover Twins" that we used to perform together. It has been a long while since I did that one.

MR -- If you could have one night, one setting, one person to hang with and spend this night with, who would it be?

Joe -- Big Pun, right here, right now