Fat Joe Shares a Touching Message About Son With Special Needs
Fat Joe with his son Joey (Facebook)
Fat Joe is one proud papa.
The rapper, who’s a father of three, gave his fans a rare glimpse into his personal life this week when he posted a touching tribute to his eldest child, Joey. “I’m very private with my first born,” the Bronx, New York, native and Jennifer Lopez collaborator wrote on Facebook. “Joey is special kid full of joy and Love. there’s no way you could understand unless you have a family member who has challenges in life. He’s my angel and the reason for all my blessings. I Love him to death #godisgreat.”
The accompanying photo, which has 479,000-plus likes, shows father and son hanging out together. The men share the same smile — and are in a similar pose.
The slimmed down “What’s Luv?” singer, 45, then shared a throwback photo of Joey and his middle child, Ryan, when they were wee ones.
A throwback photo of Fat Joe with Joey and Ryan (Facebook)
“My 2 baby boys,” he wrote. “No matter what challenges we face in life. You two are my heart and soul. I breath for u. I live for u. Joey and Ryan you mean the world to me. God bless my boys!”
Joe, who also has a daughter with wife Lorena, opened up about Joey — and raising him with his parents after Joey’s mom left — in an interview with UrbLife.com in 2010.
Rounding out the family are Joe’s wife, Lorena, and his daughter, Azariah (Facebook)
“My oldest son is Joey, he’s 18. When I had him I was very young,” he told the website. “I love my son dearly, but I didn’t feel like I was ready to have kids at the time. From time to time I told my mom and dad they should have educated me on the responsibilities of having a kid. He was a special needs child, I raised him with my parents. His mom couldn’t handle him, and instead of him going to a center we raised him all of his life. I had to learn the responsibilities of being a parent the hard way.”
He continued, “My younger son Ryan is 15, he’s a good kid with a 97 average in school, but I have to stay strict with him. I always said I would never hit my children, but then when you get hip to the fact that you’ll never hit them they go ahead and get real loose. I don’t believe in abuse at all and I think no one should abuse their kids, but they shouldn’t abuse the parents either. My daughter [Azariah] is 4-years-old and she’s the love of my life – she’s the boss and she runs the show.”
Joe also shared the advice he’d give a new dad.
“Just be a father, never abandon your kids,” he said. “If for some strange reason you can’t work it out with the mother, then always take care of your kids and instill morals in them. Work hard to give them what they need and want.”
The star seems to be practicing what he preaches — and it’s a beautiful thing.
