Search - Fat Joe da Gangsta :: Represent

This is grown folk hiphop

J. Everett | U.S.A. | 03/20/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I will always appreciate the late 80's to the mid 90's hiphop era because I lived it hard. Being around when it was birthed had a great affect on me, I'm talking about break dancing, popp'n, suede pumas with fat laces, gigantic boom boxes and tight ass block parties. It keeps on going and evolving but I rather stay around and reflect on those days wit my peoples. Diamond D, kool G Rap, rakim, and fat joe paved another road for hiphop's legacy, so if anyone says that fat joe albums are garbage, that's okay because to me, Represent is a classic to keep my collection of classic hiphop classic. enjoy the history before it's wiped out because gems are hard to find."

Fat Joe - Represent

Tha Realest | Greensburg, PA USA | 11/19/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Hailing from the Bronx, Fat Joe enters the rap game with his debut album, "Represent" in 1993. From the same city in New York as other legends such as KRS-One and Boogie Down Productions, can Joe keep the city on top or will he fail at his first attempt at stardom?



1. A Word to da Wise (Intro) - No Rating



2. Livin' Fat - 4/5



3. My Man Ski (Skit) - No Rating



4. Bad Bad Man - 4/5



5. Watch the Sound (Featuring Grand Puba & Diamond D) - 4/5



6. Flow Joe - 4.5/5



7. Da Fat Gangsta - 4.5/5



8. Shorty Gotta Fat A** - 4/5



9. The S*** Is Real - 4/5



10. You Must Be out of Your F*****' Mind (Featuring Kool G Rap & Apache) - 4/5



11. I Got This in a Smash - 4/5



12. Another Wild N***** From the Bronx (Featuring Gismo, Kieth Kieth & King Sun) - 4.5/5



13. Get on Up - 4.5/5



14. I'm a Hit That - 4.5/5



Overall:



50.5/60



4 Stars



Fat Joe releases a very solid album with his debut. Just a couple of points away from being nearly classic. The production is booming and goes along great with Joe's raw flow and lyrics. He definitely represented the Bronx great with this album. It has a very old school feel to it as well. Check it out if you're a fan of Fat Joe, Big Pun, Terror Squad, or New York hip-hop."

Rockin' funky styles from New York to Piscataway

ctrx | 'bout to show you how the EAST COAST rocks... | 08/31/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Before Joey Crack, Don Cartagena, the D.I.T.C. albums, Terror Squad, Big Pun, summer anthems, the 50 Cent beef, crossover hits and R&B collaborations, Joseph Cartagena was simply Fat Joe da Gangsta, a straightforward, heavyset Latino rapper from the Bronx. Love him or hate him, he's had a truly storied career for such a modest talent, owing mostly to an appeal that many folks outside the five boroughs don't quite appreciate. Much of it lies in his attitude, sound, and style...chances are if you're a New Yorker, you know somebody like Fat Joe. For the better part of two decades now, he's managed to remain a star because he has a knack for surrounding himself with the right people, smoothly adjusting to new trends, and maintaining respect on the streets. True to the spirit of New York, Fat Joe gets his and always will.



Joe comes hard on his 1993 Relativity debut "Represent," a rugged, straightforward, consistent album with no pop concessions produced mostly by legendary D.I.T.C. beatsmith Diamond D in his prime. As you might expect, Joe's no lyrical visionary, but it's fun to hear his stories about the life of an early-90s New York gangster. Even at a young age, it's clear he knew exactly how to market himself, and guest rappers include legends Grand Puba, Kool G Rap, Diamond D, Apache, and Showbiz as well as some lesser-known Bronx MCs. Showbiz, Lord Finesse, and the Beatnuts also contribute beats, adding to an all-star cast.



The beats are excellent, bearing the classic rugged D.I.T.C. sound with choppy jazz samples, upbeat percussion, and rich New York flavor. Still, it's Joe's show, as he lives up to the album's title with heavy, angry rhymes from the openers "Livin' Fat," "Bad Bad Man" and the posse cut "Watch the Sound" with Grand Puba and Diamond D. The single "Flow Joe" is a gloomy, horn-laden track quite indicative of the album at whole, and the funky "This Is Real" and the ruthless "You Must Be Out of Your Mind" with Apache and Kool G Rap are also highlights. A surprising late standout is the Chilly D production "Another Wild N From the Bronx," a posse cut with underground BX rappers.



While not his most memorable work, "Represent" is a really solid offering of hardcore, jazzy '93 East Coast boom bap. A few guys came out of New York with debuts like this one in '93, but Joe and his machine ensured that his style progressed and star kept rising with each album well into the new millennium. While neither conceptual nor mind-blowing and somewhat predictable, it's quite well done and really consistent and "Represent" is a great album and a piece of lore in that it's a largely unheard debut from a superstar."