Don Cartagena
Studio album by Fat Joe
Released	September 1, 1998 (1998-09-01)
Studio	D&D Studios (New York, NY) Mystic Studios (Staten Island, NY) Marley Marl's House of Hits (Chestnut Ridge, NY) Soundtrack Studios (New York, NY)
Genre	East Coast hip hop hardcore hip hop gangsta rap
Label	Atlantic Big Beat Mystic Terror Squad
Producer	Armageddon Baby Paul Buckwild Curt Gowdy Dame Grease DJ Premier JAO L.E.S. Mack 10 Marley Marl Rashad Smith Ski Beatz Spunk Bigga V.I.C. Younglord
Fat Joe chronology
Jealous One's Envy (1995) Don Cartagena (1998) Jealous Ones Still Envy (2001)

Don Cartagena is the third studio album by American rapper Fat Joe. It was released on September 1, 1998 through Atlantic Records, Big Beat, Mystic Entertainment Group and Fat Joe's Terror Squad Productions. Production was handled by Armageddon, Baby Paul, Buckwild, Curt Gowdy, Dame Grease, DJ Premier, JAO, L.E.S., Mack 10, Marley Marl, Rashad Smith, Ski Beatz, Spunk Bigga, V.I.C. and Younglord, with Craig Kallman, Fat Joe and Greg Angelides serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from fellow Terror Squad members Big Punisher, Armageddon, Prospect, Cuban Link and Triple Seis, as well as Charli Baltimore, Jadakiss, Krayzie Bone, Layzie Bone, Nas, Noreaga, Puff Daddy, Raekwon and Rell.

The album debuted at number seven on the US Billboard 200, selling 106,000 copies in its first week.^[1] On October 28, 1998, it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of over 500,000 units in the United States.

It was supported with two singles: "Don Cartagena" and "Bet Ya Man Can't (Triz)". Its lead single, "Don Cartagena", peaked at number 2 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 and number 40 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in the US. The second single from the album, "Bet Ya Man Can't (Triz)", made it to number 54 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and also marked Fat Joe's first entry on the UK singles chart, reaching number 97. Both singles featured accompanying music videos. Though not released as a single, a music video for John Blaze was made.

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Entertainment Weekly	A−[3]
Los Angeles Times	[4]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide	[5]
The Source	[6]
Spin	7/10[7]
The Village Voice	C+[8]

Don Cartagena received generally favourable reviews from music critics. Matt Diehl of Entertainment Weekly praised the album, writing that Fat Joe's "blunt lyrical flow, infectious Latino pride, and appropriately ominous grooves make these gangsta tales explode like a sonic Scarface".^[3] Soren Baker of Los Angeles Times called it "Joe's triumphant return project", adding "Joe largely sticks to ultra-violent lyrics and gangster story lines. The album's appeal rests largely on his ability to effortlessly mix gangsterism and braggadocio. Joe's menacing voice and thunderous production create a masterful musical atmosphere that thrills and intimidates", and resumed: "a superb blend of hard-core sounds and sensibilities, Don Cartagena places Fat Joe among rap's elite".^[4]

Notes

• Track 11 is produced by Victor "V.I.C." Padilla, who is a member of Ghetto Professionals and The Beatnuts. The production credits are shared between the two production teams (Ghetto Pros & The Beatnuts) in the liner notes.

Sample credits

• Track 6 contains elements from "Don't You Know That?" written and performed by Luther Vandross.
• Track 7 contains a sample from "How High" by Method Man & Redman.
• Track 10 contains samples from "Got to Be Real" performed by Cheryl Lynn and an interpolation of "No Time" written by Kimberly Jones, Sean Combs and Steven Jordan.

• Don Cartagena at Discogs (list of releases)