Fat Joe and his father Ernesto.Photo:Fat Joe/Instagram
Fat Joe/Instagram
Fat Joeis in mourning.On Wednesday, Feb. 12, the “Lean Back” rapper, 54,announced on Instagramthat his father Ernesto had died. He was 89.“Sad to announce the passing of my farther “ERNESTO AKA CUBA”papi te quero para siempre,” he captioned the post. “This has been tough I’m not looking for sympathy just Honoring my dad he’s a Legend in my eyes.“Fat Joe (whose real name is Joseph Antonio Cartagena) concluded the post: “To my mom, wife, brothers and sisters i love you and we’ll always be united 🙏🏽❤️ 🇨🇺 9/15/1935 - 2/12/2025.“Alongside the tribute to his father, Fat Joe shared a carousel of photos of the pair together and with other family members.In the first image, the “What’s Luv” musician can be seen in a black T-shirt wrapping his arms around his father from behind. The next snap showcases the duo standing against a blue car. The third photo, while the third picture features Ernesto leaning on his grandsonJoey’sshoulder. The following photos feature Fat Joe and his extended family with his father and a snap of his wife Lorena Cartagena — with Ernesto.Fat Joe and his father Ernesto.Fat Joe/InstagramThe second to last photo features his father with his wife Marie alongside Fat Joe, while the final snap is a solo shot of Ernesto.Fat Joe — who has beenmarried to Lorena since 1995— is a father to three kids.He became a dad for the first time in 1990 with the birth of his son,Joey. After he was born with Down syndrome and diagnosed with autism, Joey’sbiological mother left the familyand Fat Joe raised his son with the help of his own parents.Raising Joey, now 34, was never a question for the musician, who noted, “[A] father’s got to be a father.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.“I don’t know how to be a fake father,” he said in an October 2024 episode of theClub Shay Shaypodcast. “I got to take care of my kids regardless and do everything I can for them. I don’t know how to give up on my kids. I don’t know how to not love on my kids. That’s impossible.“In 1995, he welcomed a second son, Ryan, from a past relationship. The same year, Fat Joe married Lorena, and they later announced the birth of their daughter,Azariah, in 2006.Over the years, the “Make It Rain” artist has spoken about his fatherhood journey and expressed his gratitude for his sons and daughter.
Fat Joeis in mourning.
On Wednesday, Feb. 12, the “Lean Back” rapper, 54,announced on Instagramthat his father Ernesto had died. He was 89.
“Sad to announce the passing of my farther “ERNESTO AKA CUBA”papi te quero para siempre,” he captioned the post. “This has been tough I’m not looking for sympathy just Honoring my dad he’s a Legend in my eyes.”
Fat Joe (whose real name is Joseph Antonio Cartagena) concluded the post: “To my mom, wife, brothers and sisters i love you and we’ll always be united 🙏🏽❤️ 🇨🇺 9/15/1935 - 2/12/2025.”
Alongside the tribute to his father, Fat Joe shared a carousel of photos of the pair together and with other family members.
In the first image, the “What’s Luv” musician can be seen in a black T-shirt wrapping his arms around his father from behind. The next snap showcases the duo standing against a blue car. The third photo, while the third picture features Ernesto leaning on his grandsonJoey’sshoulder. The following photos feature Fat Joe and his extended family with his father and a snap of his wife Lorena Cartagena — with Ernesto.
Fat Joe and his father Ernesto.Fat Joe/Instagram
The second to last photo features his father with his wife Marie alongside Fat Joe, while the final snap is a solo shot of Ernesto.
Fat Joe — who has beenmarried to Lorena since 1995— is a father to three kids.
He became a dad for the first time in 1990 with the birth of his son,Joey. After he was born with Down syndrome and diagnosed with autism, Joey’sbiological mother left the familyand Fat Joe raised his son with the help of his own parents.
Raising Joey, now 34, was never a question for the musician, who noted, “[A] father’s got to be a father.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“I don’t know how to be a fake father,” he said in an October 2024 episode of theClub Shay Shaypodcast. “I got to take care of my kids regardless and do everything I can for them. I don’t know how to give up on my kids. I don’t know how to not love on my kids. That’s impossible.”
In 1995, he welcomed a second son, Ryan, from a past relationship. The same year, Fat Joe married Lorena, and they later announced the birth of their daughter,Azariah, in 2006.
Over the years, the “Make It Rain” artist has spoken about his fatherhood journey and expressed his gratitude for his sons and daughter.
source: people.com
