Fat Joe – Organized Rhyme (Album Review)

Fat Joe leans into his iconic personality while surrounding himself with some of the best production and features of his career.

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TOP 5 SONGS

5. Victory Lap (HIM) (Ft. Yung Miami & Jadakiss)

“Victory Lap (HIM)” has one hell of a foundation thanks to its cold-ass flip of Diddy’s iconic “Victory” beat. That s**t immediately gives the track larger-than-life energy, and Fat Joe takes advantage with hefty bars, an aggressive delivery, and a steady flow that keeps everything moving. The chorus he lays down is catchy as hell, too.

My biggest issue is Yung Miami. I really want to know what possessed Fat Joe to put her on a record like this. And Jadakiss? Why the hell did we only get Jada for two seconds? Give him more time!

There’s a really tough song here, but a couple of changes could’ve made it something special.

4. Back It Up

Does “Back It Up” sound a little outdated? Absolutely. However, I still think this is a certified hit.

“Back It Up” is powered by high-energy production that would make a lanky muthasucka do the Harlem Shake. The beat is easily the standout, but Fat Joe is really good here, too. He delivers punchline-heavy, tough-ass bars about his anti-snitching stance, wealthy lifestyle, and unflappable background. The chorus he delivers is also catchy enough to stick with you.

Honestly, if this dropped in 2002, y’all probably would’ve called it one of the best tracks ever.

3. Not Goin’ (Stove God Cooks)

One thing nobody talks about enough with Stove God Cooks collaborations is how luxurious they tend to sound. “Not Goin’” keeps that tradition alive with soulful, chilling, high-quality production that sounds expensive as hell. Stove goes completely nuts over it, bouncing around the beat with a chorus that makes me question whether he’s actually rhyming or following the instrumental at all. I don’t even care, though, because that s**t is fire.

Fat Joe is solid, but I’m not crazy about his vocal tone here. He sounds like he’s yelling at someone across the street instead of recording a song. The beat deserves better than that. Still, the track works.

2. Set Of Keys (Ft. Dre & Pusha T)

Pusha T absolutely bodies his verse on “Set Of Keys.” Don’t get it twisted, Fat Joe is going crazy here, delivering his boss talk with the kind of conviction that makes him sound like a man possessed. The production is cold as hell, too. But then Pusha comes in with that completely unbothered energy and takes the whole thing somewhere else. His flow is slippery, his trash talk is efficient, and he drops a nasty line about his GOOD Music money being spent. This track practically pulls out a red carpet for Pusha, and he makes himself right at home on it.

1. The Aroma (Ft. Jadakiss, Stove God Cooks & Cool & Dre)

I can’t confidently call “The Aroma” the best hip-hop track of the year, but when parts of it leaked a few weeks ago on Jada and Joe’s podcast, it sure did sound like it was. I get it now.

Cool & Dre provide some grandiose production that sounds enormous, while Stove God Cooks comes through with a completely wild chorus built around one of the craziest flips of an Erykah Badu hit I’ve ever heard.

Then Jadakiss drops a Knicks-heavy verse that is tough as hell. That OG line in particular was nasty. Joe also gets back into his gritty street bag, which feels right for him. And somehow, even Jim Jones’s intro is fire. Everything comes together beautifully here. This track genuinely made me appreciate hip-hop a little more.

SONG BY SONG RATING

Narcos (N/A)

2 Plots (Ft. CeeLo Green) (3.5/5)

The Aroma (Ft. Jadakiss, Stove God Cooks & Cool & Dre) (4.5/5)

Coach Mike Brown (Interlude) (N/A)

Victory Lap (HIM) (Ft. Yung Miami & Jadakiss) (3.5/5)

Back It Up (Ft. Cool & Dre) (4/5)

Heavy Price To Pay (Chef’s Kiss) (Ft. MIKE DEAN & Cool & Dre)

Dead Or Alive (Ft. Remy Ma) (3.5/5

Not Goin’ (Ft. Stove God Cooks) (4/5)

Set Of Keys (Ft. Pusha T & Dre) (4/5)

Feelin A Way (Ft. Steven Mackie) (3.5/5)

They Wanna Know (4/5)

RGM RATING

(C+)

Fat Joe sounds like he woke up and decided it was time to remind everybody that he can still make some hard-ass hip-hop. Organized Rhyme is an interesting listen because it leans heavily into everything that has made Joey Crack such an iconic figure, even if he has never been considered one of rap’s elite lyricists.

That distinction matters here. Fat Joe spends a lot of time rapping like he has something to prove, constantly trying to show that he’s a lyrical miracle MC with punchlines for days and fiery deliveries. But honestly, his character is what makes this album work. What stood out to me most was hearing him talk about his history in the streets, his gangsta lifestyle, and his love for the Knicks. Those details make the album feel like Fat Joe instead of just another rapper trying to sound tough. His actual rapping isn’t bad by any stretch, but it’s definitely limited. His personality is the real selling point.

The production we get on this album is outstanding. Mainly Cool & Dre provide Joe with soulful, nostalgic, luxurious, and downright menacing beats that sound like they should be displayed in a museum. I’m not always convinced Joe gets the most out of them because his delivery stays pretty consistent throughout, but the production deserves serious credit.

The features are another major strength. Remy Ma, Stove God Cooks, Pusha T, and Jadakiss all bring their A-game. As for Dre, he doesn’t sound bad, but I’m still trying to figure out why he’s jumping onto songs like “Set Of Keys.” At this point, I’m starting to think Joey owes him money.

Overall, Organized Rhyme is far from a bad album. The beats are excellent, Fat Joe is entertaining, and the features deliver. I just can’t stop thinking about what Pusha T would’ve done with these exact ingredients.

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