In this online-only interview Fat Joe talks retaliation towards 50 Cent, the N-Word, and the status of New York rap.

By Joe La Puma; Photos courtesy of Imperial Records

You'd think that someone who names their album "The Elephant in the Room" might be feeling a bit passed-over, but it’d be tough to overlook the consistent catalog of hits Fat Joe has racked up in his 15-year career. Staying relevant through collaborations with some of hip-hop's resident hitmakers, Joey Crack continues to make his overwhelming presence felt. While he's been successful at spreading East Coast mania down South, things at home seem to be less comfortable. His on-again, off-again tiff with 50 Cent picked up steam when G-Unit's "I'm Leaving" diss-track leaked on the Internet a few days ago. With fans awaiting the Terror Squad Boss's next move, we sat down with Joe to talk about retaliation, his new album, Remy Ma, and his take on the N-Word.

What difference will we hear on The Elephant in The Room compared to your last LPs?

Fat Joe:  If you noticed Fat Joe is one of the very few rappers who have improved during his whole career, every single album. So all you can anticipate is if you like the last LP, this one’s going to be hotter on a different level.  I just take it to another level, just making big music, man. Making movies on wax. That’s all.

Now you have been known for consistent-club anthems. What track on this album do you expect to really pop off?

Fat Joe: There’s a couple. Even I Won’t Tell has started to pop off in the clubs believe it or not. This one I got called Coca Baby, produced by Danja, is a definite club banger. I got a joint by Cool & Dre it’s called You Ain’t Seeing Nothing. And I got another one that Swizz made me called Drop.

Do you weigh the success of all your singles against Lean Back?

Fat Joe: No I actually don’t. I make different hit records, different singles, different songs. I’m never stuck on like Lean Back . The single after Lean Back was Get It Popping and it was totally different, it was more of a pop hit.  Then we made Make It Rain, and had that bounce and there’s nothing like it. Now I got I Won’t Tell and I’m talking to the ladies. You know I just make different kind of music, as long as it’s popping.

In the past you’ve said making club songs for the ladies was a much greater challenge for you than doing street records, do you still feel like that?

Fat Joe: Absolutely. It’s true man. When you make records for the clubs and the ladies it’s got to be on some fly shit. I’m more of an underground gangster rapper, that’s me naturally. I hit about .400 righty, and lefty I’m about .350. Home // CELEBRITIES // WEB EXCLUSIVE // Fat Joe