Fat Joe

She really is still Jenny from the block. Fifteen years into her successful career, Jennifer Lopez returned to her home for her first ever concert in the Bronx Wednesday night. There’s a theme here – JLo has kept up her connection to the Bronx throughout her career, so what better time to return – or to make her debut – than the fifteenth anniversary of her first album On The 6. Fun fact – the album was named after the subway line that connected Lopez’ home to her big city dreams.

With numerous costume changes, Lopez walked down memory lane back throughout her fifteen years on stage.

Now an international superstar, Lopez definitely returned in style, with a free, 90-minute concert at Orchard Beach in Pelham Bay Park for State Farm's Neighborhood Sessions, featuring some amazing choreography, abundant pyrotechnics and several guest performers. Ja Rule, Fat Joe and French Montana all made appearances throughout the night, which was themed around Lopez’ Bronx-gone-Hollywood story.

Continue reading: Jennifer Lopez Returns To The Bronx For 15th Anniversary Gig

Rapper Fat Joe has turned himself into Miami Police today (26th August) in order to serve a four month prison sentence. Fat Joe -whose real name is Joseph Cartagena- was sentenced in December for tax evasion. The charges refer to Fat Joe's tax evasion between 2007 and 2008, he managed to avoid paying taxes totalling to more than $1 million. 

Fat Joe has begun his prison sentence for tax evasion.

The New York born rapper was initially facing up to two years in prison but his sentence was altered to four months jail time. In addition to his four month sentence, Cartagena was ordered to pay a $15 000 fine. He will also be serving a year's supervised release, according to TMZ. The 43-year-old is currently being held at the Federal Detention Center in Miami. 

Continue reading: Fat Joe Begins 4 Month Prison Sentence For Tax Evasion

He might have hit the headlines for having beef with 50 Cent of late, but it was Magistrate Judge Cathy Waldor who had a few words to say to rapper Fat Joe recently. On Thursday (December 21, 2012), Fat Joe pleaded guilty to criminal charges of failing to file his federal income tax returns, according to New York Daily News.

The 42 year-old hip hop star, real name Joseph Antonio Cartagena, admitted in court that he had failed to file any tax returns back in 2007 and 2008. This was despite the fact that he had earned over $1.3 million during 2007, as a result of his musical sales royalties and concert appearances. The following year was a similar story, as he raked in $1.4 million. It’s worth noting that he didn’t file in 2009 or 2010 either, despite earning $320,000 and $680,000 respectively. Luckily for Fat Joe, he managed to strike a plea bargain with the prosecutors which meant he was only being accountable for a two year period.

In total, it looks as though the rapper owes over $718,000 from his earnings. He’s currently on $250,000 bail but could well be facing a two year stretch in jail when he receives his sentence on April 3. So that will be his home in New Jersey resting empty for a while then…? Oh and his other home in Miami Beach. That’ll be empty as well. Looks like he’d been doing alright out of this tax evasion business… until he got caught, that is.

Rap entrepreneur Fat Joe was found guilty of tax evasion today (Dec. 20), with prosecutors charging him for failing to pay taxes on the $3 million in income he earned over two years for performances and music royalties, Yahoo reports. 

The multi-million-selling artist, real name is Joseph Cartagena, found fame alongside the likes of Big Pun and Big L in the mid-nineties, but drifted more towards the business-side and more commercial side of rap as the years progressed. The CEO of Terror Squad Entertainment may now see his star burning significantly dimmer than it did in his heyday, but he now faces his toughest challenge of all in keeping it lit: facing off with the federal government.

Joe is facing two counts of tax evasion charges, covering the years 2007 and 2008. He was initially faced with a suit charging him on failing to pay income taxes for the years 2007 through 2010, however the case has since been re-evaluated to just the two years. Federal prosecutors said the total tax loss to the government for those four years was $718,038, with the current charges seeing that amount halved.

Continue reading: Fat Joe Guilty: Rapper Found Guilty Of Tax Evasion