Fat Joe’s son Ryan Cartagena, 23, is one of the many cast members of Growing Up Hip Hop: New York. The aspiring rapper is working hard on his music in our EXCLUSIVE preview of the Aug. 29 premiere of Growing Up Hip Hop: New York. “I would never even consider calling myself Fat Ryan,” Ryan says in our sneak peek. He wants to make his father proud, but he wants to pave his own path in life.
“Having my father in my life in terms of my music career isn’t the easiest,” Ryan admits. “My dad is my best friend and my worst enemy.” Fat Joe stops by the studio to hear what his son has been working on. “He’s just starting out so with experience comes wisdom,” Fat Joe says. “He will emerge as a superstar if he stays focused.”
Ryan reveals that his biggest influence is Kanye West. “That’s really all I look up to. Uh, and God,” he says. Despite having faith in his son, Fat Joe knows that a successful rap career is never guaranteed. He believes that Ryan “should definitely learn the sneaker business in case the music career doesn’t work.” Fat Joe is the owner of the sneaker store UpNYC.
In addition to Ryan and Fat Joe, the cast of Growing Up Hip Hop: New York includes rap star Ja Rule and children Jeff Bruce Atkins Jr. and Brittney Atkins; Murder Inc. mogul Irv Gotti and children Angie Pearson and Jonathan “JJ” Wilson Lorenzo; famed rapper Charli Baltimore and daughter DJ Siaani; Young Dirty Bastard, son of the late Old Dirty Bastard; Flavor Flav and his children Da’Zyna, Quan, and Will; JoJo Simmons, son of legendary rap pioneer Rev. Run; rapper and actress Lil’ Mama and her brother Arnstar; rapper and producer Kid Capri with daughter Vina Love and renowned industry manager Madina Milana. Growing Up Hip Hop: New York will air Thursdays at 9 p.m. on WE tv.