Fat Joe - Envy

What this video is

Released in 1996 as the second single from Fat Joe's sophomore album Jealous One's Envy (Relativity Records, 1995), 'Envy' appeared at the height of the East Coast hip-hop golden age—one year after Nas's Illmatic and Mobb Deep's The Infamous had codified the dark, sample-driven NYC sound. The track's use of a Marvin Gaye 'Sexual Healing' sample via producer L.E.S. signals Fat Joe's early navigation toward a more…

Why it matters

'Envy' is a transitional artifact in Fat Joe's catalog, marking the moment when classic D.I.T.C.-lineage boom-bap began absorbing smooth soul sampling strategies. The track peaked at #8 on the Hot Rap Tracks chart, demonstrating the commercial viability of this crossover move years before Fat…