Rapper and cultural icon Fat Joe is mourning the loss of the woman he calls “my world, my heart, my everything.”
On May 3, the Bronx-born artist announced the death of his beloved mother, Marie Del-Carmen Cartagena, just under three months after the passing of his father. Marie was 77 years old.
In a deeply emotional Instagram tribute, Fat Joe — born Joseph Antonio Cartagena — shared his heartbreak with the world, reflecting on his mother’s generosity, resilience, and unwavering love for her family and community.
“She didn’t have much, but she gave us everything,” he wrote. “Anyone who knows my mom knows she had a heart of gold.”
Marie, whom Fat Joe lovingly called Ms. Ruby the Terror Squad Queen, was the quiet force behind the Grammy-nominated rapper’s success. Despite her son’s fame and financial success, she chose to remain in the public housing projects where she raised her family — a testament to her humility and devotion to the people around her.
“She refused to move out the projects for many years even though I had money,” Fat Joe shared. “She loved her community, she loved her people.”
Marie’s death comes just weeks after the family said goodbye to Fat Joe’s father, Ernesto “Cuba” Cartagena, who passed away in February at age 89. The couple had been together for 60 years. Fat Joe believes the loss of her lifelong partner broke his mother’s heart.
“Truth is she died of a broken heart,” he wrote. “My dad wanted her with him.”
Marie’s passing marks the end of an era for the Cartagena family, but Fat Joe vows to continue honoring her legacy. In his tribute, he extended thanks to his extended family — the Castro, Cartagena, and Delgado families — and to his longtime collaborators like DJ Khaled, Remy Ma, and Terrell Jones, noting how proud Marie was of their entire crew.
The touching tribute was accompanied by a carousel of photos showing Marie through the years — as a young woman, as a mother, and as the proud matriarch of a tight-knit family. One particularly emotional image showed the rapper embracing his mother, captioned simply: “I will forever be by your side.”
In an earlier post from January, Fat Joe celebrated his mother’s birthday by calling her “the love of my life.” It was clear then — as it is now — that the rapper’s success is rooted not just in music, but in the powerful women who raised and shaped him.
As the hip-hop community and fans around the world send their condolences, Fat Joe’s tribute serves as a powerful reminder of the quiet strength and sacrifices of mothers — especially those like Marie, who give their all without asking for anything in return.
“Mommy, till I see you again,” he wrote. “I’ll continue to make you proud.”
