Fat Joe to Host BET Hip Hop Awards for Second Consecutive Year

Posted on September 14, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Fat Joe is reporting for (hosting) duty again…

The 52-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American rapper will host the 2023 BET Hip Hop Awards for the second consecutive year,

Set to take place at the Cobb Energy Center in Atlanta on October 3, the live broadcast will air the following week on Octpber 10 at 9 p.m. ET on BET.

“We are thrilled to welcome back a true hip-hop legend in Fat Joe as this year’s host! As we round out a banner year of celebrating hip-hop’s landmark half-century of influencing culture, he is the perfect emcee to lead us through what promises to be an iconic night,” Connie Orlando, EVP, Specials, Music Programming & Music Strategy at BET, tells Billboard. “Throughout his career, he has continued to be a leader within the culture, bridging the gap between generations. We can’t wait to watch what he comes up with for this year’s show.”

“Hip-hop is my life, and I’m extremely proud to return as host of BET Hip Hop Awards 2023,” Fat Joe adds. “We’re going to make this year’s award show even bigger while also celebrating our hip-hop stars and pioneers in a spectacular way. It’s going to be a legendary night of music and entertainment, and you’re not going to want to miss it.”

This year’s nominations include a diverse crowd of proven veterans, rising rookies, thriving producers and international stars. 21 Savage and Cardi B lead the way with 12 nominations, while Drake is right behind with nine. DJ Khaled and Burna Boy each have seven nods, while J. Cole has six. Jay-Z, Coi Leray, and GloRilla follow with five apiece.

New Episode of Paramount+’s “Behind the Music” to Feature Jennifer Lopez

Posted on November 12, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Prepare for a behind the scenes look at Jennifer Lopez’s music…

The 53-year-old Puerto Rican superstar will be featured in one of the new episodes of Paramount+’s Behind the Music.

In addition to J.Lo, new installments of the documentary series will also feature Boy George, Jason Aldean and Remy Ma.

The new installments of the documentary series will hit the streamer on November 29.

Additionally, remastered episodes spotlighting Boyz II Men, Christina Aguilera, Gloria Estefan, Hootie & the Blowfish, Mötley Crüe, Pink and TLC will drop the same day.

Here are the loglines for the new episodes:

After three decades, Jennifer Lopez is at the very top of her game and shows no signs of slowing down. J.Lo reflects on key moments of her iconic career in music, film and fashion while celebrating her present with husband Ben Affleck.
Boy George reflects on his meteoric rise from outcast to ‘80s global superstar with Culture Club. A tumultuous love affair, intense fame and addiction almost destroyed his career – but 40 years on, he remains an LGBTQ+ pop icon.
Jason Aldean is a small-town kid turned country superstar who never backed down in life, and changed the country music genre forever.
Remy Ma shares her journey to becoming the queen of New York hip hop. Her road to fame with the Terror Squad was paved with loss – a prison sentence almost ended it all – but her comeback inspired millions.

For 14 seasons, Behind the Music has provided an intimate look into the personal lives of pop music’s greatest and most influential artists. Since moving to Paramount+, the series has gone behind the scenes into the lives of stars like Bret Michaels, Busta Rhymes, Duran Duran, Fat Joe, Huey Lewis, LL Cool J, New Kids on the Block and Ricky Martin.

The series is executive produced by Bruce Gillmer, Jennifer Demme and Michael Maniaci for MTV Entertainment Studios.

Starz Order Pilot of Documentary-Style Format Interview Series from Fat Joe

Posted on September 12, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Fat Joe is seeing Starz…

Starz has given a pilot order for an interview series with a documentary-style format from the 52-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American hip hop star and television personality and Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Produced by SpringHill, founded by LeBron James and Maverick Carter), the pilot will feature Fat Joe sitting with celebrities and high-profile guests as the show’s host.

“We’re about to create the biggest and most culturally-relevant series on television,” said Fat Joe in a statement. “With Puff, LeBron, the incredible team at Starz, and myself teaming up, you have a dream team that is guaranteed to produce TV gold. Hosting a show has always been a dream of mine and I’m thankful for everyone who helped make it a reality. I promise you that we’re going to push the envelope, deliver compelling interviews and provide pure entertainment. Do remember – you don’t know who I know!”

“I’m excited to partner with Starz and bring these cultural giants together to create the No. 1 show on television,” added Combs. “Fat Joe is a very authentic and respected voice in the culture that deserves a platform to bring these important conversations to a global audience on a major network.”

Fat Joe continues to expand in the television space with various projects on the horizon.

A pilot is currently in development from Starz and BET Studios titled The Book of Jose about the rapper’s life from Fat Joe, Kenya Barris and Jorge Reyes.

On the hosting front, he launched The Fat Joe Show, a nightly Instagram Live talk show where he interviewed politicians, musicians, athletes, actors, entrepreneurs, and influential personalities like Dr. Anthony Fauci, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Floyd Mayweather, Dwyane Wade, Jamie Foxx, and Alicia Keys.

He also recently served as a guest host for both The Wendy Williams Show and the official recap for Triller’s Verzuz platform.

“Time and time again, Fat Joe has delivered outstanding, insightful interviews with legendary personalities who define the zeitgeist, and we are thrilled to welcome him to the Starz family,” said Kathryn Busby, President, Original Programming, Starz. “Fat Joe, Sean Combs, and LeBron James are inspirational icons, and we can’t wait to get started on this incredible journey.”

Fat Joe to Host This Year’s BET Hip Hop Awards

Posted on September 6, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Fat Joe is hedging his BET…

The 52-year-old rapper, whose real name is Joseph Antonio Cartagena, will host this year’s BET Hip Hop Awards, slated for October 4 at the Cobb Energy Centre in Atlanta.

“This will be the BIGGEST award show in history,” Fat Joe tells Billboard. “It’s truly an honor to host and produce the BET Hip Hop Awards, and I can’t thank Connie [Orlando] and the entire BET family enough for this opportunity. We’re going to celebrate music, culture, and entertainment, honor the biggest and brightest stars in the world and make this an unforgettable night full of laughs and surprises. Always remember that yesterday’s host is not today’s host.”

“Fat Joe is hip-hop royalty. He has represented the art form and the Bronx, the birthplace of hip-hop, throughout his outstanding musical career. He is a treasured friend of the network, and we’ve loved seeing and supporting his evolution to becoming the superstar he is today,” adds Orlando, EVP, specials, music programming & music strategy at BET. “We can’t wait to watch him take the stage with his vivacious energy, standing together with today’s hottest and beloved hip-hop stars.”

In August, Joe announced his one-man stand-up show, which will highlight his life and career. The show is set to debut in New York City this fall. Dave Chappelle will start the show with a special introduction, while Chris Robinson serves as the show’s director. Magic Lemonade and Roc Nation are co-producing the event. His autobiography will also drop Nov. 15.

As for the BET Hip Hop Awards, the event will be taped on Sept. 30, and premieres on air Tuesday, October 4, at 9:00 pm ET/PT on BET.

Showtime & BET Studios Adapting Fat Joe’s Memoir “The Book of Jose” into TV Series

Posted on June 26, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Art will soon imitate Fat Joe’s life…

Showtime and BET Studios are developing the television project based on The Book of Jose, a pilot about the 51-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American hip hop star.

Fat Joe, whose real name is Joseph Cartagena, will executive produce alongside pilot script writer Jorge A. Reyes and Kenya Barris.

The Book of Jose is a rags-to-riches story following Fat Joe’s evolution from growing up in the drug and violence-scarred streets of the Bronx to becoming a Grammy-nominee, producer, and actor with a career spanning nearly three decades. The project will follow every phase of Joe’s life and the threats that have come in the form of rivals, addiction, incarceration, and death. All of which showed the artist that resilience and the love of his family are the only paths to success.

The Book of Jose comes from Barris’ Khalabo Ink Society in collaboration with Cinema Giants, Buffalo Kid Films, and Artists First. It will be produced through Khalabo Ink Society’s overall deal with BET Studios, where Barris is also a principal partner.

Also serving as executive producers alongside Cartagena, Barris, and Reyes is E. Brian Dobbins, and pilot director Jessy Terrero. Luis F. Velasco and Ulysses Terrero will produce and Ashley Acevedo will AP.

Fat Joe Releasing Tell-All Memoir “The Book of Jose” in the Fall

Posted on April 5, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Fat Joe is telling all…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban rapper is set to release his new memoir The Book of Jose.

The hip-hop hitmaker said in a statement, “The Book of Jose is more than just a book about my career. It explores the darkest moments of my life that shaped me as a man, brushes with death, being locked up, losing friends and dealing with depression.”

“I overcame significant adversity, but I’m excited to be in position to share my story and inspire others through my journey,” he added.

The tell-all book will be published by Roc Lit 101, an imprint of Random House Group, in the fall.

Fat Joe shared a video announcing the news on Instagram.

“I’m proud to present my memoir, The Book of Jose. This is my life unfiltered, the story of a kid growing up in the South Bronx’s unforgiving streets and how I became a multi-platinum-selling artist,” he captioned the post.

“#TheBookofJose comes out on 11/1, but you can pre-order your copy now from @roclit101! Link in bio. @randomhouse.”

Speaking about his book in the clip, Fat Joe said, “This ain’t just a rapper’s story, it’s talking about everything [from] police brutality [to] drug abuse, selling drugs, hustling, getting locked up, getting framed, getting betrayed, depression, hip-hop’s greatest moments — they’re all in this book.”

Prior to the book’s November 1 release, Fat Joe will perform as part of LL Cool J’s newly announced Rock the Bells Festival at Forest Hills in Queens, New York.

Fellow festival performers include Lil Kim, Ice Cube, Trina, Remy Ma, Digable Planets, Jadakiss and more. The Rock the Bells Festival kicks off on August 6.

Fat Joe to Return as Guest Host on “The Wendy Williams Show” in March

Posted on March 1, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Fat Joe is marching forward to help a friend…

The Wendy Williams Show has lined up its guest hosts for the month of March, including the 51-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban rapper.

The month kicks off with comedian Kym Whitley and actor Finesse Mitchell hosting from Monday, March 7 through Friday, March 11.

Frequent guest hosts Fat Joe and Remy Ma will take the helm beginning Monday, March 14 through Friday, March 18.

Main guest host Sherri Shepherd, who was recently announced to succeed Williams with her own syndicated talk show Sherri, will return to the purple chair beginning Monday, March 21 through Friday, March 25.

Closing out the month will be TV personality Carson Kressley and actress Vivica A. Fox in their debut as guest hosts from Monday, March 28 through Friday, April 1.

Shepherd, along with Michael Rapaport have been the lead guest hosts of the show with Williams out, but Rapaport is no longer on the schedule.

The Wendy Williams Show is slated to continue through the end of this season with rotating guest hosts, including Shepherd, as Williams has been sidelined with health issues for the entire season.

Fat Joe to Guest Co-Host “The Wendy Williams Show”

Posted on January 30, 2022 by Tom Castaneda

Fat Joe is returning to the hosting chair…

The Wendy Williams Show has announced guest hosts for the month of February amid Williams’ continued absence due to health issues, with the 51-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban rapper set to return to the show.

Fat Joe and Remy Ma will make a return appearance as they take over the reins beginning Monday, February 7, through Friday, February 11.

Comedian Michael Rapaport will return as guest host of the syndicated daytime talker beginning Monday, January 31, through Friday, February 4.

Bevy Smith and Terrence J, who make their co-hosting debut, will host from Monday, February 14 through Friday, February 18, and Sherri Shepherd from February 21, through February 25.

Rapaport returns to take the helm from Monday, February 28, through Friday, March 4.

The show has pulled in a rotating list of guest hosts since the beginning of the 13th season. The scheduled September premiere was pushed three times due to Williams’ COVID-19 diagnosis, followed by ongoing health issues.

Williams has battled various maladies over during the past few years. Her battle with Graves disease, an immune system disorder, dates to 1999, and her show went on hiatus in 2018. She also passed out on live TV in 2017 during the show’s Halloween episode, an incident that was attributed to dehydration.

Fat Joe to Guest Host on “The Wendy Williams Show” Next Week

Posted on November 15, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Fat Joe is set to momentarily take the hosting reins…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban-American rapper has been announced as a guest host for The Wendy Williams Show.

Fat Joe is among a roster of guests hosts that will help take the show through Wednesday, November 24.

Thanksgiving week kicks off on Monday, November 22 with co-hosts Devyn Simone, Bevy Smith, Elizabeth Wagmeister and comedian/actor Michael Yo.

They’ll be followed by hip-hop stars Fat Joe and Remy Ma on Tuesday, November 23, and Wednesday, November 24, respectively, according to the show.

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A post shared by Wendy Williams (@wendyshow)

Guest hosts have been filling for Williams since the show’s delayed Season 13 premiere on October 18, as Williams recovers from complications of Graves disease.

Fat Joe to Perform at Mexico’s Golden Sand Music Festival in January

Posted on September 8, 2021 by Tom Castaneda

Fat Joe is heading south (of the border) for the winter…

The 51-year-old Puerto Rican and Cuban American rapper has been added to the throwback lineup for the Golden Sand music festival, which will hit the beach from January 12-16 in Maya Riviera, Mexico.

In addition to Fat Joe, who will face off against Ja Rule in an all-new Verzuz battle this month, the fest will feature a mix of classic R&B and hip-hop stars including 50 Cent, Flo Rida, Kelly Rowland, Lil Kim, Ludacris, Nelly, Sean Paul, T-Pain and TLC.

The site for the Pollen Presents produced event promises to “throw it back to sunnier days and simpler times. 4 days and 4nights in a 5* resort with all food and drink included, featuring the biggest names from the 90s and 00s.”

Among the other promised experiences at the 18+ event are an: opening ceremony, three daytime pool parties, daily yoga, meditation and wellness sessions, sunset beachside cookout, Saturday cartoons & cereal, throwback video game lounge, film screenings with a twist, adventure park with ATVS & more and a COVID-19 money back guarantee.

Visitors at the festival on the Caribbean coastline of Mexico’s northeastern Yucatán Peninsula will stay at the Barceló Riviera Maya resort, which is spread across the Maya Riviera, Maya Beach and Maya Caribe. The event features a COVID-19 money back guarantee, which offers a complete refund if the experience is canceled by Pollen, it is rescheduled to a later date the ticket buyer doesn’t want to attend, the ticket buyer tests positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of the start date and there is a quarantine rule in effect six weeks prior to departure and the ticket holder doesn’t wish to travel.

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