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  • The Book of Jose

  • A Memoir
  • By: Fat Joe, Shaheem Reid
  • Narrated by: Fat Joe
  • Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (72 ratings)
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The Book of Jose

By: Fat Joe, Shaheem Reid
Narrated by: Fat Joe
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Summary

Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum–selling artist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Fat Joe pulls back the curtain on his larger-than-life persona in this gritty, intimate memoir about growing up in the South Bronx and finding his voice through music.

“An adrenaline rush . . . buckle up and lean back.”—
Spin

Fat Joe is a hip-hop legend, but this is not a tale of celebrity; it is the story of Joseph Cartagena, a kid who came of age in the South Bronx during its darkest years of drugs, violence, and abandonment, and how he navigated that traumatizing landscape until he found—through art, friendship, luck, and will—a rocky path to a different life.

Joe is born into a sprawling Puerto Rican and Cuban family in the projects of the South Bronx. From infancy his life is threatened by violence, and by the time he starts middle school, he is faced with the grim choice that defined a generation: to become predator or prey. Soon Joe and his crew dominate the streets, but he finds his true love among the park jams where the Bronx’s wild energy takes musical form. His identity splits in two: a hustler roaming record stores, looking for beats; and a budding rapper whose violent rep rings in the streets. As Joe’s day-to-day life becomes more fraught with betrayal, addiction, and death, until he himself is shot and almost killed, he gravitates toward the music that gives him both a voice to tell the stories of his young life and the tools he needs to create a new one. The challenges never stop—but neither does Joe.

This memoir, written in Joe’s own intensely compelling voice, moves with the momentum of pulp fiction, but underneath the tragicomedy and riveting tales of the streets and the industry is a thought-provoking story about a generation of survivors raised in warlike conditions—the life-and-death choices they had to make, the friends they lost and mourned, and the glittering lives they created from the ruins.

©2022 Fat Joe and Shaheem Reid (P)2022 Random House Audio

What listeners say about The Book of Jose

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  • Overall
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Fat Joe, he's not who I thought he was!

I love to hear people's life stories but I came to Fat Joe with reservations. I thought he was too, too much and I also had a problem, as a Black British Jamaican, with his constant use of the N word. I wanted to learn about him after I saw him in the most FABULOUS pink suit. I knew that there must be some redeemimg quality about him dressed so beautifully and after listening to his story, I found love and respect for him. I really really enjoyed this book and took my time to digest it. Fat Joe is an amazing man, artist, story teller and I wish him all the best. And he deserves to give himself grace and stop blaming his past for nightmares. I wish I had a Fat Joe as a friend! He's remarkable 👏🏾 👏🏾👏🏾

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Great book

I'm a long time Hip Hop fan and love Fat Joe ,This is a good read for anyone even if your not really into Hip Hop. Excellent performance flows nice . Joe is a natural raconteur .

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Review

Absolutely loved this book! Fat Joe’s story is amazing. Taking the listener through his ups and downs.

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One of the great

Real hip hop pioneer reading a real hip hop memoir. Joey Cracks story is tremendous and his delivery is too. Highly recommend.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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Joe has to be one of the best story tellers!

Absolutely loved this book, great pace and really brought me back to my 90s nostalgia. Joe is the life of the party and really knows how to tell a story!

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Knocked it out the park 5 platinum stars

This book should be read and taught in schools as a part of the curriculum worldwide.
Fat Joe represents The Bronx, New York. The East Coast, America, Latinos, Blacks and Hip Hop worldwide.

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Brilliant story brilliantly told!

What a book, and amazingly read by the man himself, absolutely belting listen, good people prosper through storms 👌🏼💪🏼

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Joey Crack

Great listen, like many have said one of the realest and most humble guys in the industry, could listen to fat Joe’s stories all day, the way he tells stories too, that’s another thing that makes this so much better, it’s actually fat Joe reading it, always think it’s better when it’s read by the author

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Joey crack

One of the most consistent guys in terms of humbleness and staying true to himself, i always like Joe for that, great stories great book

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Joe is REAL

Beautifully told by the man himself.
Funny, raw, gritty and real

A must listen regardless of your taste in music

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