Fat Joe claims that he almost had problems with Bruno Mars during an encounter at an awards show.
The breakdown of Bruno's ethnicity, a mix of Puerto Rican, Filipino, and Jewish ancestry, has been confusing for some. Fat Joe, who’s also Puerto Rican, once tried to chop it up with Bruno about his culture but alleges that he was shut down by the "That's What I Like" vocalist.
Joey Crack recalled the run-in during the Thursday (Oct. 9) episode of podcast Joe and Jada, explaining that he waited 15 years to meet Bruno.
“You know, he's Puerto Rican. At least that's what they say," Joe said, adding that he was "excited" to meet Bruno.
But while attending the unspecified awards show, the rapper was warned that Bruno wouldn't be the friendliest. "The guy next to me said, 'You might not want to do it. He's a fuck n***a,'" Fat Joe recalled someone telling him at the ceremony, although it didn't deter him.
"I said, 'What? Yo, Bruno, what's up, man?' 'Yo, what's up, Joe?' He's with
Anderson .Paak. I'm like, 'Yo, you Puerto Rican?' He got up. 'The fuck you mean? I'm a real Puerto Rican from Bushwick, Brooklyn! Don't ever ask me that shit in your life.'"
While the singer was born in Honolulu, his father, Peter Hernandez, who's Puerto Rican and Jewish, hails from Brooklyn.
After Bruno allegedly walked to the opposite side of the awards show venue, Joe was left to comprehend what happened.
“Man, broke my heart," he said. "I wasn't challenging him. Like, tell me something. Who's your father? [I asked in] the nicest way. [We're at an] awards [show]."
"The answer is 'Yeah, Puerto Rican. What's up, bro? I love Big Pun,' something. Man. Screamed on me. Went to the other room and was mad," Joe continued. "Bruno, if you don't remember it, I forgive you. But you did that, brother."
The rapper also jokingly pondered whether he "beat up" Bruno's dad before since the singer allegedly took the question "personal."