- Rapper Fat Joe shared the sad news on Instagram that his mother Marie has died at the age of 77
- Marie’s death comes less than three months after Fat Joe’s father Ernesto died at age 89 on Feb. 12
- In a moving tribute to his mother, the musician wrote in part: “You were my world, my heart, my everything. I’ll continue to make you proud”
Fat Joe is grieving the loss of his mom, Marie.
On Saturday, May 3, the “Lean Back” rapper, 54, announced in an Instagram post that his mother, Marie Del-Carmen Cartagena, has died. She was 77, according to TMZ.
“This a real one, rest in peace to the woman who brought me in this world,” the musician wrote in a lengthy message, sharing how close he was with his mother. “She didn’t have much but she gave us everything.”
“Anyone who knows my mom knows she had a heart of gold. She refused to move out the projects for many years even though I had money,” he continued. “She loved her community, she loved her people — Ms. Ruby the Terror Squad Queen.”
Fat Joe (whose real name is Joseph Antonio Cartagena) shared that his mother was “sooooooo proud of us” — meaning “everyone in the crew” — including his friends and frequent collaborators, DJ Khaled, Remy Ma, stylist Terrell Jones and more.
Marie’s death comes less than three months after the death of Fat Joe’s father, Ernesto, at age 89 in February. The couple were together for 60 years before his death, Fat Joe said.
“I have to give thanks to the father my God for letting me have her in my life this long,” Fat Joe continued. “Truth is she died of a broken heart. 60 years with a man and he recently just died, my dad wanted her with him.”
“To the Castro family, the Cartagena family, the Delgado family,” he continued in part, before addressing his mom directly. “I love you and thank you for the outpouring of love. Mommy, till I see you again. You were my world, my heart, my everything. I’ll continue to make you proud 🙏🏽❤️🕊️.”
The “What’s Luv” rapper also shared a series of photos of his mother, including shots of her posing with her son and his friends and family, as well as a photo of her as a young woman.
The father-of-three previously shared that his father died on Feb. 12.
“Sad to announce the passing of my father “ERNESTO AKA CUBA” papi te quero para siempre,” he wrote at the time. “This has been tough I’m not looking for sympathy just Honoring my dad he’s a Legend in my eyes.”
Alongside the tribute to his father, Fat Joe shared a carousel of photos of the pair together and with other family members.
In the first image, Fat Joe could be seen wrapping his arms around his father from behind. The next snap showcased the duo standing against a blue car, while a third photo featured Ernesto leaning on his grandson Joey’s shoulder. Other photos showed Fat Joe and his extended family with his father and a snap of his wife Lorena Cartagena with Ernesto.
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In January, the rapper celebrated his mom’s birthday, writing in another Instagram post that she was “the love of my life.”
“I pray to God everyday and thank him for him having you in my life,” he wrote, alongside a photo of himself hugging Marie. “We had a rough one but we got us and I will forever be by your side.”
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