Fat Joe – The Elephant In The Room

“During a listening late last year, Bronx-bred rapper Fat Joe called “The Elephant in the Room” a gangster rap album, and that description is accurate. The 12-track set, with superb production by Cool and Dre, Scott Storch, Danja Handz and Swizz Beatz, among others, features rhymes about bodies washing up in the Bronx River on “Kill All Rats.” Later, Joe unsubtly proclaims, “I am a professional/I will cut your testicles” on the opera-based “300 Brolic.” There’s also the DJ Premier scratch-filled “That White,” an ode to drug dealing, and “Fugitive,” where Joe challenges, “Now who’s gonna tell me that I can’t say nigga?” before going into a repetitive rant of the N-word. Still, not all is grim. The J. Holiday-assisted “I Won’t Tell” is Joe’s dedication to the ladies, and the siren-laden “Drop,” produced by Beatz, would sound great at any club or party.—Mariel Concepcion”