Joe and Jada - Common on Fat Joe SAVING HIS LIFE in Ice Cube beef, Chicago hip hop & Jennifer Hudson

Date: October 30, 2025
Guests: Common
Hosts: Fat Joe & Jadakiss

Episode Overview

This episode of the Joe and Jada Show is a vibrant and nostalgic conversation with acclaimed rapper, actor, and Chicago icon Common. The trio share stories from their shared hip-hop history, dig into pivotal career moments, reminisce about Chicago’s impact, and discuss relationships, resilience, and legacy. Standout moments include Common recalling how Fat Joe literally saved his life during an intense West Coast beef and deep dives into hip-hop’s golden years, the South Side of Chicago, and Common’s evolution from MC to award-winning actor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Common’s Early Years in the Industry & Friendship with Fat Joe

• Relativity Records Beginnings:
  • Fat Joe and Common reminisce about being labelmates at Relativity Records in the early '90s, recounting how their paths first crossed alongside the Beatnuts and Chi Ali.
    • “Like, literally infancy, point blank.” – Fat Joe (05:31)
• Common Admits:
  • Fat Joe is the second person in hip-hop he got to know closely, giving flowers to both Fat Joe and the Beatnuts for early support. (05:34)

2. Fat Joe Saving Common’s Life During the Ice Cube/Mac 10 Beef

• The West Coast Incident:
  • Common details a critical incident during the infamous Ice Cube-Mac 10 beef, when someone from his Chicago crew instigated drama while they were in California for a commercial shoot. Fat Joe intervened and defused a dangerous situation, pleading with serious gangsters for Common’s safety.
    • “Yo, that man really saved my life... Fat Joe’s tougher than anybody. I literally begged for your life. I literally got in the middle, was like, please, he’s my friend. He’s my brother.” – Fat Joe (08:12)
  • Common credits Fat Joe as the reason he got out unscathed, underlining the respect and brotherhood in hip-hop.
    • “You settled that... I knew it was him that said, yo, this can't happen." – Common (09:06)

3. On Relationships, Authenticity, and Jennifer Hudson

• Common Reflects on Past and Present Relationships:
  • Shares the importance of honesty, integrity, and knowing when to end things if they’re not working out.
    • “If it ain’t working, I’m gonna say it ain’t working. I ain’t gonna keep you going like, forever. Cause you got a life, I got a life. We wanna live happy.” – Common (15:08)
• Jennifer Hudson’s Resilience:
  • Both Joe and Common praise Jennifer Hudson’s ability to remain positive and “full of light” after extreme hardship.
    • “How this person still got light after all... That’s a strong type of warrior.” – Common (17:14)

4. Chicago’s Hip-Hop Scene and Surviving the Environment

• South Side Chicago Culture:
  • Common and hosts recall the omnipresence of gang culture in Chicago, describing how music and support from the community offered a way out.
    • “It’s just nowhere around it.” – Fat Joe (18:17)
    • “I escaped it because I started feeling like I had something to live for.” – Common (18:52)
• Hip-hop Family:
  • Discuss how the community would rally around and protect those making positive moves.

5. Financial Wisdom in Hip-Hop: Property over Cars and Chains

• Early Investing:
  • Fat Joe praises Common’s early financial decisions, buying property instead of splurging on chains and cars, a lesson he learned from his mother and father.
    • “My mother was like...you should invest in some property.” – Common (21:10)

6. Legacy, Awards, and Being a Standout in Both Music & Acting

• Representing the Culture:
  • Jadakiss celebrates Common’s artistic wins—Oscars, Grammys, etc.—as collective victories for the hip-hop tribe.
    • “When I’m up there, I feel like I’m representing us. Cause we all the tribe, man.” – Common (23:13)
• Evolving Through Positivity:
  • Common discusses balancing positivity and authenticity, eschewing self-righteousness in music and life.
    • “I don’t like the judgment. I don’t like it self-righteous… Life is a balance.” – Common (25:31)

7. Industry Challenges and Chasing Opportunity

• Relativity vs. Bone Thugs-n-Harmony:
  • Fat Joe remembers realizing his label didn’t see his potential after witnessing them spend $1M+ on Bone Thugs videos, prompting him to jump to new opportunities.
    • “It takes money to make money… There’s this invisible train that comes in front of you...you gotta have faith and believe in yourself and jump on that train.” – Fat Joe (36:08)
• Common’s Pivot to Acting:
  • Acting was Common’s “invisible train,” reigniting his creative drive.

8. Iconic Hip-Hop Moments & Songs

• "I Used to Love H.E.R.":
  • Common explains the inspiration and creation of this hip-hop classic, its deep metaphor, and its ongoing legacy (even inspiring the film Brown Sugar).
    • “What if I made hip hop a woman? And then I just started writing…” – Common (42:55)
    • “Yo, this is something.” – Common (43:42)

9. Actors Who Came from Hip-hop

• Top 5 Rappers Turned Actors:
  • Common lists Will Smith, Queen Latifah, Mos Def (Yasiin Bey), Ice Cube, and Tupac. Pushes back when hosts insist he deserves a spot, too. (53:34–54:24)

10. Creating the NBA Theme Song for Prime

• "Victory":
  • Common shares the story of producing the new NBA theme for Amazon Prime with James Poyser and Kareem Riggins, aiming to inject nostalgia with a modern touch.
    • “We wanted it to feel nostalgic but new… I could come to Joe and Jada, and we still like, yo…” – Common (57:37)

11. Chicago Rap Legends & Influence

• Lupe Fiasco, Kanye West, Juice, and Twista:
  • Shoutouts to Chicago’s rich scene, with special mention to the legendary freestyle MC Juice—a “hoop legend” of rap who didn’t quite make the mainstream leap. (58:46–59:34)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote / Moment | |---------------|-------------|--------------------| | 02:47 | Common | "Man, you practically saved my life." | | 08:12 | Fat Joe | "I literally begged for your life. I literally got in the middle, was like, please, he’s my friend. He’s my brother." | | 15:08 | Common | "If it ain’t working, I’m gonna say it ain’t working. I ain’t gonna keep you going, like, forever. Cause you got a life, I got a life." | | 17:14 | Common | "For her to have light and be good to people and... just still be bright about life, man, that’s a strong type of warrior." | | 23:13 | Common | "When I’m up there, I feel like I’m representing us. Cause we all the tribe, man... it’s a win for us." | | 25:31 | Common | "Positivity ain’t gotta be like out preachy much. I don’t like that... Life is a balance." | | 36:08 | Fat Joe | "I say in everybody’s life… there’s this invisible train that comes in front of you… you gotta have faith and jump on that train." | | 42:55 | Common | "What if I made hip hop a woman? And then I just started writing." | | 53:34 | Fat Joe | "What’s your top five rappers turn actors?" | | 57:37 | Common | "For me, is one of the first… I got to give it up. James Poison and Kareem Riggins, we co-produced that together, the theme song." |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:47] – Common recalls Fat Joe saving his life during West Coast beef
• [08:12] – Fat Joe describes stepping in during the Ice Cube situation
• [13:17] – Jab about “nice guys” and relationships; segue to Jennifer Hudson
• [17:14] – Powerful reflections on Jennifer's resilience
• [18:52] – Common describes growing up amidst Chicago’s gang culture
• [21:10] – Early property investment lessons from Common’s mother
• [23:13] – Common on standing for the tribe when winning awards
• [25:31] – Authenticity and positivity in music and life
• [36:08] – Fat Joe’s “invisible train” metaphor and label-exit story
• [42:55–44:27] – The backstory to “I Used to Love H.E.R.”
• [53:34] – Common’s top five rappers-turned-actors
• [57:37] – Creating the NBA’s Prime theme, “Victory”

Tone and Style

• Camaraderie, humor, deep respect: The conversation blends hip-hop braggadocio with real talk about survival, friendship, and growth.
• Anecdotal storytelling: The hosts and Common share vivid, behind-the-scenes hip-hop tales, punctuated by laughter and humility.
• Reflective and inspirational: Frequent themes of gratitude, learning from adversity, and paying it forward.

For New Listeners

Whether you know Common as an MC, an actor, or an inspirational figure, this episode is a journey through the heart of hip-hop culture, community uplift, and personal transformation—all told by legends who lived it. Suitable for fans old and new, the episode offers insight into not just music and fame, but the values, risks, and unity that underpin hip-hop’s best stories.