Fat Joe…. is Robert Horry!
Over the past few years I’ve felt like…and believe me, it’s hard to even admit this…that Fat Joe probably hasn’t gotten the credit he’s deserved. I’ve come to gain a new found respect for Joe. I know, he can truly irritate the hell out of people…me included, but one thing none of us can deny is that somehow…Joe survived! Fat Joe’s first album “Represent” came out in 1993. He’s from the day when Chris Thomas was the Mayor of Rap City…and he’s still relevant. That’s a feat within itself…
So to make my argument…I had to think of another person to compare him too. Someone’s whose career parallels Fat Joe’s, yet everyone will acknowledge they may not like but do respect…and then it came to me….
For those of you out there that are fans of both hip hop and the NBA…Fat Joe is Robert Horry! I know right now that doesn’t make a damn bit of sense right now, but when I’m done…you’re going to say to yourself, “you know what Fat Joe ISSSS Robert Horry!”
You may just think about Robert Horry as just being “Big Shot Bob,” but if you look at the details and line both of them up next to each other, you can’t even deny that Fat Joe is Robert Horry. And if you respect Robert Horry….then you gotta respect Fat Joe!
Robert Horry comes in the NBA in ’92 out of Alabama. He wasn’t the superstar player any of his years there, James Robinson and Latrell Sprewell had those roles. But he was solid and a 1st round pick. Fat Joe…before we heard about Terror Squad, he was a solid member in D.I.T.C…wasn’t the ring leader (that was Lord Finesse and Diamond D) and wasn’t even close to being the best lyricist (that was Big L). He was just…solid!
Throughout his entire career, every time Robert Horry was no better than the 4th best player on his team…his teams won championships. He knew his limitations and was ok in living in the space. Set a pick, make a block, take a charge, hit a clutch three…he was good with that! Didn’t need to be the star…but I am going to have one on my team! Olajuwon, Drexler, Shaq, Kobe, Duncan…all going to the Hall of Fame! Yea yea yea yea yea, Big Shot Bob has more rings than all of them! I need to WIN!
Now since we first heard Big Pun destroy the first verse on “Off the Books,” Fat Joe’s always kept a superstar close by. You gotta give Joe credit for realizing Pun was a bigger star than him and letting him take the reins. He could have kerked out when his man got bigger than him (ie Cam’ron), but he knew he needed a star a win the 7 games series! What do I need to do to win? Old Fat Joe won’t work? Want me to loosen up and dance a little? Well let me jig around with The R in this “We Thuggin” video! I’m dancing with Ashanti you bastards. I’m surviving the times baby!
Rob was given a shot to be a star when the Rockets traded him to Phoenix…and he bugged out! Couldn’t handle it! A post Big Pun Terror Squad…with just Cuban Link and Remy, Joe was doomed! And what did each of them do? Trade me muthafuckas! Trade me to the Lakers! Trade me to the South! Now he’s got Rick Ross as Tim Duncan, Lil Wayne as Tony Parker, DJ Khaled as Gregg Popovich …and he’s…Robert Horry!
If you’re not a fan of the Rockets, Lakers, or Spurs, there’s a good chance you hate Robert Horry. He’s a hack, he’s a cheap shot artist, he doesn’t even play during the regular season… and f’ him for all those 2.0 seconds left in the game 3’s that still pain you to this day! All in all…fuck Robert Horry! But ask a Houston fan about Rob! Ask a Laker fan about those 3 rings he gave them! Actually…ask a Spurs fan, who’ve been on both sides of a “Big Shot Bob” game winner. Do what you gotta do to win the game!
Remember that hip check Rob gave Steve Nash last year in the playoffs, when Amare and Diaw jumped off the bench…that cost the Suns the series. And that’s what Joe did with Papoose over the weekend. I don’t know what happened down at CIAA…but the intended outcome was too rile up 50, Remy and whoever else already doesn’t like him, get us all talking about what the hell happened, help sell these albums, and WIN THE GAME!!!
Will “Big Shot Bob” ever go to the Hall of Fame? Not a chance! But you can’t take those rings away from him! And when you’re in the barbershop on Saturday morning, will anyone ever start an argument about Fat Joe being in anyone’s top 5? It ain’t happening! But somehow…he’s still on the radio!
Bari the Beautiful
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