Fat Joe is a hip hop legend, point blank. From his 15 years in the game as a solo artist, to his days in rap supergroup D.I.T.C. alongside O.C., Lord Finesse, Diamond D, Showbiz and A.G., Buckwild and the late Big L, the man has repped hip hop. He also helped put Latinos on the map in the rap game, founding his crew Terror Squad in the process, which launched the careers of MCs like Cuban Link and Remy Ma and introduced the world to his protégé, the late, great Big Pun.

So it was with much honor and respect that Freestyle 101 accepted Fat Joe’s offer to meet him in New York while we were in the Big Apple and catch him spittin’ at a grand piano, Sinatra style. A true Don through and through.

In his interview, Joe takes us back to the glory days of hip hop, back when New York was the Mecca of hip hop and KRS-One and Lord Finesse ruled the freestyle circuit. It’s a rare glimpse back into the golden era of rap music and hip hop culture. Joe was there. He knows of what he speaks. (And who knew he was a Ninja Warrior fan?!?!)

Pick up Fat Joe’s excellent new album, The Elephant In The Room, and check out our behind the scenes photo gallery from the New York sessions. Freestyle 101 goes up at 9 a.m. PST (that’s noon over on the east) every Tuesday, and next week we bring you a videogame-themed rap from the one and only Del the Funky Homosapien. Stay tuned for Pack FM, Ice-T, Buckshot, Ali Vegas, Big Noyd, Kool Keith and many more.

Make sure to visit us on MySpace, watch past episodes, rant in the Forums or check out some past freestyles from fellow New York MCs Sheek Louch, Shyheim, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, Termanology,  Papoose, Joell Ortiz and Cormega.