On Wednesday, Joey Crack let the world share in his grief that his father Ernesto Cartagena had passed on, posting several never-before-seen family photos.

The world knows Fat Joe as a hip hop legend ... but Joe gave his father the credit for being a true legend in his own eyes.

In his biography, Joe admitted to being a hard-headed child, but applauded his father for showing him the true meaning of hard work.

Joe grew up to use his celebrity status to enact good -- more values instilled in him from his father.