Joe and Jada Podcast – Ciara on Her "Goodies" to "CiCi" Journey, Independent Success & the Power of Hip Hop

Date: October 28, 2025
Hosts: Fat Joe ("Joe Crack") & Jadakiss ("Jada")
Guest: Ciara

Episode Overview

In this vibrant, high-energy episode, hip-hop icons Fat Joe and Jadakiss welcome superstar Ciara. The trio dig deep into Ciara’s evolution from her “Goodies” era to her latest album "CiCi," discussing her experience as an independent artist, the story behind the viral anthem "Level Up," her Atlanta roots, the current influence of Afrobeats, and her friendship with Kim Kardashian and their mutual circles. The conversation flows with storytelling, laughter, real music industry insights, and a celebration of hip-hop’s global impact, punctuated by tracks from Ciara’s new project.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ciara’s Enduring Career & Embracing Age in Music

• Opening Reflections: Joe and Jada hype Ciara as a "quintuple threat" (singing, dancing, acting, entrepreneurship, motherhood) and salute her longevity.
• Ciara on Inspiration:
  • [04:48] “You’re two legends...when I see you guys and the evolution of what you meant to hip hop, but also what you're building, it lets you know that there's so much space for life to get better.”
• On Aging in Music:
  • Joe candidly discusses his fear of getting older in hip hop, sharing how turning 40 was “depression” until realizing legends like Tina Turner found career peaks later in life.
  • [07:20] “Tina Turner ain’t have her first hit till she was 47.” – Joe Crack
  • The trio agree the game needs to break out of the ‘youth only’ mindset, with artists like Smokey Robinson and Mick Jagger showing music is ageless.
  • Ciara: [13:04] “Someone questioned me in a meeting, like, how are you going to stay relevant? …the age limitation or the boundaries, like, that’s within me and how I communicate to my fans.”

2. Early Influences and Atlanta’s Musical Magic

• Dancing and Performance Roots:
  • Ciara’s inspirations: Michael & Janet Jackson (“They did it all...the ultimate definition of a star”), James Brown, and Sammy Davis Jr. for footwork. [15:12]
• Atlanta’s Impact:
  • Atlanta described as “the city that made me” because of its unique collection of talent (producers, writers, artists): “If you got music in you and you dance and you got that special gift in you, it just speaks to your soul in a different kind of way.” [20:00]
  • Shout-outs to Dallas Austin, Jermaine Dupri, Rico Wade, Sean Garrett, Jazzy Faye, among others.
• Seeing Stars on the Come Up:
  • Ciara recalls seeing future stars as peers, like Lloyd and Monica, and identifies how local showcases would reveal who had “it” before they blew up.
  • [23:03] Notable moment: Ciara rode to Frank Ocean’s (then, Lonnie Rowe) unreleased mixtape daily, recognizing his star power even before the world did.

3. Going Independent & the "Level Up" Story

• Leaving the Major Label System:
  • Ciara recounts her frustration with the constant executive shuffle and having to “resell” herself:
    • [35:28] “Played him the visual for Level Up…he didn’t see the vision…I walked out kind of, like, depleted.”
    • The next day, with her husband Russell Wilson’s support, she founded her own label, Beauty Marks Entertainment: “All the scars you get from the obstacles you face in life are your beauty marks.”
    • Received her masters from her former label for free—a power move. [37:48]
• Success as an Indie Artist:
  • “Level Up” went nearly four times platinum; recently trended anew on TikTok and landed a Starbucks campaign.
  • [38:09] “It just keeps on leveling up...”
  • Joe and Ciara agree: Fans don’t care what label you’re with as long as the music and image are right.
  • “That rock on your finger from here is the most disrespectful shit...” – Joe, on Ciara’s independence and success [34:20]

4. The CC Album & Artistic Gratitude

• Ciara shares the genesis and significance of her August 2025 album "CiCi":
  • It’s a love letter to her fans, years in the making since the pandemic, offered as a complete package after years of rolling out singles.
  • [31:30] “This has really been the era and chapter of gratitude for me...to have my fans with me along the way is so significant.”
• Collaborative spirit: recent tracks include work with Tyga, and features with African stars like Diamond Platnumz, Moliy, and Oxlade.

5. Africa’s Musical Wave & Personal Ties

• Ciara as Global Pioneer:
  • First international artist on Rolling Stone Africa cover.
  • Advocates the depth of the Afrobeats wave before it was a U.S. phenomenon.
  • [41:01] “Before Afrobeats was a thing in the U.S…I was on it...I think this is gonna be the next wave in America.”
• Personal Connections and Dual Citizenship:
  • Emotional connection to Africa: extracurricular trips include school and community outreach.
  • Ciara recently received dual citizenship in Benin, making her “the first international person to get a passport certified in Benin.” [44:06]
• Fat Joe & Ciara’s Africa Tour Memories:
  • Hilarious story of Ciara hiding her face from Joe on a plane despite touring together daily.
  • Nostalgic music memories (Magic System, etc.) and the influence of the continent on both music and spirit.

6. Film, Family, and Life in New York

• On "Sarah Oil" Film Production:
  • Story of Sarah, a young Black millionaire who discovered her family’s oil wealth at age 11; produced with Amazon Studios through her own company.
  • [48:34] “It’s a beautiful story and so necessary, especially considering where we are with history.”
• Adapting to NYC:
  • Ciara embraces NYC’s energy, recounts funny/chaotic experiences, and values the city's respectful yet vibrant culture for raising her kids.
  • “It feels like you’re walking in a movie set every day here.” [50:04]

7. Touring, Fan Support, and Navigating Public Scrutiny

• Upcoming Tours:
  • Ciara’s aiming for a global tour—Asia, Africa, Australia—her first as a headliner in years, motivated by fan support and streaming numbers.
  • [56:54] “I gotta take this show on the road. Like, I got to.”
• On Industry Highs, Lows & Resilience:
  • The hosts discuss how every star faces doubt—parallels to Elvis Presley and Hector Lavoe, who experienced comebacks after being counted out.
  • [62:08] “The greater your great, the more they hate.” – a mantra shared from Ciara’s husband Russell Wilson
  • Staying grounded through criticism: “When you’re great and when you’re a star, you’re gonna always shine like a star.” – Ciara [62:59]

8. Women’s Circles & Celebrity Friendships: Maintaining Real Bonds

• On Her Circle:
  • Ciara highlights the solid, supportive, boss energy in her longtime friend group (La La Anthony, the Kardashians, etc.):
    • [64:37] “The best thing is for all my girls, right...when you call them, they answer every time...such a strong support system of girls and friends that are also bosses.”
• Kim Kardashian & Hip Hop:
  • “Kim is actually fun…When we start talking about dancing, she’s cute…she’ll do it in her best way. But does Kim like hip hop? Of course.” [65:55]
  • Joe and Jada riff on how hip-hop has been borrowed (and stolen) across all genres, with Ciara weighing in on Atlanta vs. New York hip-hop influence roots.

9. Exclusive Performances & Memorable Moments

• Ciara plays new music live:
  • "Low" (feat. Diamond Platnumz) – crowd goes off, Joe jokes about not being able to dance as low as Ciara. [71:47]
  • “Nice and Sweet” (with Moliy and Oxlade) – a global rhythmic vibe, with the hosts and Ciara vibing together in-studio. [77:15]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On aging in hip hop:
  • Joe: [08:14] “I was scared of what the future was for what we’re doing...I was depressed [after 40]. The next day felt brand new again. Everything’s good. 50 felt better than 40.”
  • Jada: [09:26] “We gotta get rid of the mindset that everything is a young person’s game. The world has to grow.”
• Ciara on dance and singing:
  • [17:15] “Dancing is a universal language...Dancing is a form—it’s a way of freedom, you know, like mentally… I feel like I’m in my best pocket now...my wisdom, the way I pour into performing is different.”
• On independence:
  • [37:48] “I asked for my masters back, gave them to me for free. Didn’t believe…And now fast forward...Level up is almost four times platinum to date.”
• On the power of hip-hop:
  • Joe: [66:36] “Hip hop has been stolen, used and abused by every single genre era in the world…every aspect of entertainment...needs hip hop.”
• On criticism and resilience:
  • Ciara: [62:59] “But when you’re great and when you’re a star, you’re gonna always shine like a star.”
  • Joe: [63:05] “The biggest entertainer ever lived...They killed him. Jesus Christ.”
• On her friend Kim Kardashian:
  • Jada: [65:49] “The Kardashians, like, has Kim ever asked you for some dance moves?”
  • Ciara: [65:55] “Kim is actually funny when we start talking about dancing…she’ll do it in her best way. But does Kim like hip hop? Of course.”
• On the grind and future:
  • Ciara: [58:32] “We’re close to half a billion streams on the project...the fans have shown me, like, they care. So I gotta take this show on the road.”

Highlighted Timestamps

• [04:48]–[15:34]: Opening tributes, age and the music industry, Ciara’s influences.
• [19:41]–[24:17]: Atlanta’s influence, early career, spotting stars on the rise.
• [31:30]–[38:09]: Ciara’s "CiCi" album, going independent, story behind "Level Up."
• [41:01]–[45:04]: Afrobeats, connection to Africa, first Rolling Stone Africa cover.
• [48:34]–[51:40]: Film projects, adjusting to life in NYC, raising kids amid city chaos.
• [56:54]–[58:32]: Touring plans, the meaning of fan support.
• [60:01]–[63:49]: Public scrutiny, legacy, lessons from Elvis Presley and Jesus Christ.
• [64:31]–[69:44]: Celebrity friendships, Kim Kardashian and hip-hop’s universal influence.
• [71:47]–[79:13]: Live performances of "Low" and "Nice and Sweet," fun dance challenge moments.

Tone & Vibe

The conversation is lively, warm, candid, and encouraging. Joe and Jada balance tough truths with joking bravado and genuine admiration for their guest. Ciara is gracious, confident, insightful, and funny—comfortable sharing stories, struggles, and victories. The trio’s chemistry is authentic, with banter that flows seamlessly into deep reflections and musical celebration.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a celebration of Ciara’s enduring artistry, independence, and ability to navigate the shifting tides of the industry with positivity and resilience. The discussion highlights the transformative power of hip-hop culture, the importance of believing in oneself, and the love for community—whether it’s musical or personal. New and old fans alike will find inspiration, laughs, and lots of musical gems in what feels like a family reunion for culture.