He is also known to be a member of the Chicago based Latin Kings street gang.Fat Joe’s former bodyguard, Jose Mulero, was arrested and charged with a 1994 murder that Fat Joe allegedly witnessed. Mulero was charged with murder of a 16 year old Ernesto Rivera, tampering with evidence, and weapons charges.

Fat Joe had a very close friendship with Big Pun, Joe referred to Pun as Twinsito or Twin. When Big Pun died of a heart attack on February 7th, 2000, Fat Joe paid for the funeral. Fat Joe commented on Pun’s death, saying, “I’m used to young people dying by gettin’ shot … But I’ve never seen a young nigga die ’cause he was fat.”