Fat Joe shares more details about his new album
Terror Squad founder Fat Joe has been teasing the release of a full-length studio album for a long time, and he has finally shared more details about his forthcoming project, The World Changed On Me. More specifically, he has unveiled that it is a tribute to his older brother, Angel, who died earlier this year.
On December 3rd, the ‘Lean Back’ emcee took to Instagram to reveal the cover art and the release date and pay homage to his late brother. The album depicts the emcee alongside his brother, and Fat Joe confirmed to fans that The World Changed On Me will arrive on December 13th.
Few know a lot surrounding Joe’s brother as the rapper has spoken so little about him, but he did open up in one 2022 interview. During a sit-down with NPR, the ‘What’s Luv?’ lyricist explained that his brother began as a DJ in the Bronx when hip-hop was being accidentally created at block parties.
Recalling those precious days, Fat Joe told NPR, “When he would go DJ at the legendary jams, my brother would carry milk crates that had vinyl.” The musician then unveiled that the pioneers had a nickname for him long before he began rapping, adding, “Grandmaster Flash and Melle Mel — they call me Little Angel.”
Fat Joe confirmed his brother’s death on Instagram, telling the world, “On the AM of Thanksgiving, my Big Brother Angel aka the Money Man, Passed Away.” He continued, “You Walked so that the Terror Squad could run. You were the most giving person I ever known.”
The emcee’s sibling wasn’t the only inspiration for The World Changed On Me. During an Instagram Live session with Michael Rainey Jr, Fat Joe admitted that other artists who he respects inspired him during the project’s creation.
Emphasising this, Joe told Rainey Jr, “Whenever I make an album, I always put up a poster of Nas, a poster of Jay-Z and one of Eminem. And I be like, ‘Yo, I gotta be as good as them or even better. In my own mind. I could be delusional, but I do that. I shoot for the stars.”
Some of Fat Joe’s counterparts have released albums this year, and in July, the Terror Squad founder spoke to TMZ about the fact he will be joining the cohort. Hip-hop has seen albums from Nas, DJ Premier, LL Cool J, Common and Pete Rock this year, and while in Los Angeles, Fat Joe told one reporter, “Breaking news: Fat Joe be dropping a[n] album in August, too, so put me in that list of pioneers and legends and icons.”
Although the album has seen multiple delays, we finally know the creative direction of this upcoming project.