Happy Birthday, Fat Joe!

Earlier this week, Fat Joe found out the hard way that the beloved Jordan 7s that he chose to save from wear and tear will disintegrate when you finally take them out of the box a decade later. Maybe he's getting new ones for his birthday today (Aug. 19). Joey Crack turns 45 years old.

Born Joseph Antonio Cartagena, Fat Joe was at the center of the Bronx's brief rise to prominence in hip-hop in the early 2000s. Joe, who was hustling at a young age to support his family, got into rapping after seeing the late Big Pun perform. At that time, he was known as Fat Joe da Gangsta from the Diggin' in the Crates crew.

Luckily for him, he found success from the jump; Represent, his debut, featured a minor Billboard hit with "Flow Joe," and his follow-up, Jealous One's Envy, became notable for featuring Big Pun's first on-record appearance.

Fat Joe moved to the forefront of Latinos in hip-hop following Big Pun's untimely passing. He and the members of his Terror Squad became reliable hitmakers by the late '90s (and it helps that an in-her-prime Jennifer Lopez was cool with them). The MC's biggest hits include "We Thuggin," "What's Luv," "Get It Poppin" and, of course, "Lean Back."

Joey Crack's career has cooled off since the last decade, though. His 11th album has been in limbo for a while and he was forced to spend four months in jail thanks to a tax evasion charge.

However, Fat Joe is no longer Fat Joe. He's lost plenty of weight over the past few years. So at 45, he's at least healthier.

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