Not Signing Eminem Is Fat Joe's Biggest Regret

The Terror Squad boss says Eminem gave him multiple demos.


Fat Joe spoke with South China Morning Post about his music career and details not signing Eminem.

"Man I got so many regrets," the Terror Squad boss says. "The biggest is that Eminem gave me so many demos, six different times he approached me and I didn’t sign him. Shame on me."

Eminem, born Marshall Mathers, signed with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment in 1998.

"Marshall was looking at smaller labels, like Duck Down, Fat Beats and Rawkus,” fellow D-12 rapper Bizarre said to XXL in 2008. “If he had went with all those underground labels, I think he would have just been one of those guys that was respected as a dope lyricist in the underground circuit. I don’t think it would’ve gotten to the level that it got to without Dre."

Terror Squad's marquee artist was the late rapper Big Pun. The Bronx, New York artist was the first solo Latino rapper to have a platinum album, a milestone he achieved with 1998's Capital Punishment. The project included the singles "I'm Not a Player," "Still Not a Player" and "Twinz (Deep Cover 98)," a collaboration with Fat Joe.