As a Black Puerto Rican from the Northeast who grew up immersed in hip-hop culture, I was virtually expected to be a fan of Fat Joe simply because he is Puerto Rican (and Cuban). I was ten years old when his Represent album was released back when he was known as Fat Joe da Gangsta. As the lyrics to his single, “Flow Joe” started playing, the uber-light-skinned Boricua rapper from The Bronx immediately led with, “Bust it, check it, watch how I wreck it/N***as watch your back, s**t is gettin hectic.”