Fat Joe’s legal team is firing back hard at the $20 million lawsuit filed by his former hype man, Terrance “T.A.” Dixon—calling the case a “fraudulent” and retaliatory move meant to smear his name.
In a statement to The Independent, Joe’s attorney Joe Tacopina slammed the suit, saying, “The lawsuit filed by Tyrone Blackburn and Terrance Dixon is a blatant act of retaliation. The allegations against Mr. Joseph Antonio Cartagena are complete fabrications — lies intended to damage his reputation and force a settlement through public pressure. Mr. Cartagena will not be intimidated.”
Dixon’s lawsuit accuses Fat Joe of everything from financial fraud and coercive labor to sexual manipulation, violent intimidation, and psychological abuse. The claims even allege underage sex, money laundering, and tax evasion—painting a dark picture of the Bronx rapper’s behind-the-scenes life.
But Joe is not backing down. He had already filed a defamation lawsuit earlier this year, claiming Dixon and attorney Tyrone Blackburn attempted to extort him for money tied to his music catalog. He also said Blackburn falsely accused him of pedophilia in statements shared with Tacopina.
“These allegations are completely false and part of a criminal conspiracy orchestrated between a disgruntled former hype man and his attorney,” Fat Joe said at the time. “The threats, harassment, and defamation I’ve endured are utterly deplorable. I’m taking legal action to expose their misconduct… this is nothing more than a deceptive and desperate scam.”
Fat Joe’s legal complaint also points out that Judge Denise Cote previously called out Blackburn’s tactics, accusing him of misusing federal court filings to attract media attention and pressure defendants with sensational claims. Another judge, J. Paul Oetken, reportedly warned Blackburn his filings were full of “inaccurate statements of law” and “irrelevant insults, misstatements, and exaggerations.”
Joe’s message is loud and clear: he’s not backing down, and he’s coming with receipts.
