The album also featured guest appearances came from Trey Songz, Too Short, R. Kelly, Cam'ron, Clipse, Lil Wayne and Young Jeezy.

MTV News reported that Fat Joe intended "all the material...to be much harsher" than his previous album.

On March 28, 2010, Fat Joe signed a record deal with E1 Music and announced that he would release The Darkside Vol.

"[2] Fat Joe stated that he returned to his hardcore hip hop roots and considers this album to be a classic.

"[20] RapReviews gave it a 7/10 rating, writing "Reputation now restored, Joe finds himself comfortably back in the role of narrator to the streets.