Podcast Summary: Joe and Jada – Erick Sermon talks ‘Dynamic Duos’ album: Tupac, Biggie, Mobb Deep, Snoop & more

Release Date: December 4, 2025
Hosts: Fat Joe (“Joe Crack”) & Jadakiss (“Jada”)
Guest: Erick Sermon
Podcast: Joe and Jada
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Episode Overview

This episode welcomes hip-hop titan and legendary producer Erick Sermon to discuss his upcoming "Dynamic Duos" project and to share iconic stories from the history of rap music. Over nearly two hours, Erick, Joe, and Jada dive deep into the evolution of hip-hop production, music industry lessons, tales of almost-signings (Tupac, Biggie, Game, Ludacris, etc.), economic realities for artists then and now, and the reflections that come with building a legacy. True to the spirit of the show, the conversation blends humor, honesty, and unfiltered real talk about life in and outside the booth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Erick Sermon's Musical Genius and EPMD's Legacy

• First Salvos: Joe and Jada open with a celebratory—and playful—roast of Sermon’s place in hip-hop.
  • “You're a fucking genius. You're ahead of your time.” – Fat Joe (05:12)
• EPMD’s DIY Origin: Sermon explains they didn’t even know what a “producer” was—early EPMD music was made with whatever records they found at home, not deep record digging.
  • “Whatever that was at the crib is what we sampled, man.” – Erick Sermon (13:46)
• Learning Song Structure: Erick admits he learned to build choruses after watching others.
  • “That’s when I learned how to make a chorus. Before that, I had no clue.” – Erick Sermon (14:36)

2. Discovering and Passing on Future Superstars

• Redman’s Discovery: Story of meeting Redman via DoItAll from Lords of the Underground—an instant connection sparked by a unique rhyme.
  • “He didn’t say Sting like Muhammad Ali… I already knew it was special.” – Erick Sermon (15:22)
• Hip-hop ‘What-ifs’: Sermon reflects on chance encounters with giants—he almost signed Biggie, Raekwon, Rick Ross, Game, Ludacris, even worked with a young 50 Cent and G-Unit.
  • “I could have had Wu-Tang Clan. I didn’t. Rick Ross slept in my basement four months. I didn’t take him seriously.” – Erick Sermon (17:26)
  • “Ludacris knocked on my door for a month in Atlanta... I looked at him as Reggie.” – Erick Sermon (19:06)
• Industry Context: Fat Joe joins in—he himself could have signed or worked with Eminem, Pitbull, and others, and muses on how “right place, right time” is only obvious in hindsight.
  • “Any good thing, they laugh at you… and then when you get that bag, they tell you how much of a genius you are.” – Fat Joe (37:15)

3. Financial Realities & Lessons from the Industry

• Money Then vs Now: The trio compares the money new artists make today to the struggle of prior generations.
  • “EPA’s first record deal was $1,500. I got 750, Paris got 750.” – Erick Sermon (29:34)
  • “We was number one in the country. I was getting $500 a show” – Fat Joe (29:18)
• Owning Publishing and Sampling: Joe and Erick break down how owning your publishing rights pays off and how expensive sampling can be (e.g., paying $200k to sample Marvin Gaye).
  • “My check was 250 grand every three months for 4% ownership. Just for that.” – Erick Sermon on ‘I Don’t Wanna Know’ sample, (27:40)
  • “How much did it cost you to sample Marvin Gaye?” – Fat Joe (71:08)
  • “200,000. It didn’t matter because Clive gave me 4 million.” – Erick Sermon (71:11)
• Streaming and Artist Revenue: Discussion of how platforms like Spotify pay artists little compared to the actual value created.
  • “The president of Spotify in 2024, he made $300 million… they’re giving us 0.4 cent.” – Erick Sermon (63:38)
  • “This is the only business that glorifies you getting fucked.” – Fat Joe (65:48)
• The Direct Approach: Sermon and Joe encourage artists to focus on direct-to-fan sales.
  • “If 8,000 people give me $20… it’s 160 grand. Direct to consumer is back now.” – Erick Sermon (68:28)

4. Industry Wisdom and Regret

• Learning Business the Hard Way: Both Sermon and Joe reflect on poor financial literacy among artists, managers, and label relationships.
  • “We know about money… but you didn’t learn that. You think everybody’s just cool. But the business, it is a business, you know, and you find out later on. So that’s how people get stuck and we get IRS.” – Erick Sermon (55:54)
  • “The worst thing is you got somebody you trust. That’s how they get you with somebody you really, really trust.” – Fat Joe (63:29)

5. Brotherhood, Respect, and Rap Culture

• Mutual Admiration: Throughout, Joe and Jada heap praise on Erick for his enduring creativity; Jada and Joe share stories of music that defined their youth, hustle, and families.
• The Gatekeeper Shuffle: Relating to artists not delivering on promised collaborations (and sometimes being guilty themselves).
  • “TI is one… no response. Kanye West told me. Snoop told me.” – Erick Sermon (48:38)
  • “I was one of them… sometimes I’d be like, I just didn’t do it.” – Erick Sermon (51:59)

Highlighted Quotes & Moments

• “Whatever that was at the crib is what we sampled, man.” – Erick Sermon (13:46)
• “He didn’t say Sting like Muhammad Ali… I already knew it was special.” – Erick Sermon (15:22)
• “I could have had Wu-Tang Clan. I didn’t. Rick Ross slept in my basement four months.” – Erick Sermon (17:26)
• “If you tell [your core fans] to do something, they gonna do it. You don’t need a million fans.” – Erick Sermon (68:28)
• “You’re a genius... His talent, his name is Eric Shain, not Sherman.” – Fat Joe (05:12)
• “President of Spotify made $300 million… we’re getting 0.4 cent.” – Erick Sermon (63:38)
• “You want to talk about my era? I came in the game… Jay Z, Nas, Just Ice.” – Fat Joe (38:14)
• “Let the platform take it for promo, but at least you got your people.” – Erick Sermon (68:53)

Erick Sermon's “Dynamic Duos” Album

Project Story & Challenges

• Sermon explains he started "Dynamic Duos" pre-COVID, driven by frustration that legends weren’t making more music. Delays followed due to pandemic, then further as he worked to clear samples and estates for legendary artists who’ve passed.
  • “So now I do the Biggie Small’s Tupac record… Tupac estate, I offered his sister $100,000… she was going through it with Universal.” – Erick Sermon (78:27)
• The album unites pairs and collects new/previously-unreleased verses from Biggie, Tupac, Redman, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Mobb Deep, and many more.
• Clearing All the Rights: Sermon details the endless negotiations to clear estates for deceased artists (Prodigy, Nate Dogg, Sean Price, etc.), explaining how time-consuming it can be.
  • “The estate means everybody… has to say yes if they’re on the paper…” – Erick Sermon (81:14)

Tracklist & Performances Played Live (timestamps):

• M.O.P – “Sidewalk Executives” (around 87:34–91:42)
  • “This is street certified fire… I done played my part, done gave my heart through my career, done made my mark…” – M.O.P, played by Erick Sermon
• The LOX – “Where You At” (96:12–98:19)
  • “Which rapper wanna smile on their neck? You a [expletive], you ain’t say Styles is the best…” – Styles P, The LOX
• Conway the Machine, Lil Wayne & Game (99:23–102:45)
  • “New God flow, I’m God’s son, twelve goons to my apostles, when I—Eric Sermon is gospel…” – Game, Conway, Lil Wayne on the track

Notable Segments & Timestamps

• Introduction & Praise for Sermon (03:11–06:13)
• Sampling and Producing Origins (12:07–14:59)
• Redman Discovery Story (15:03–16:48)
• Passing on Icons (Wu-Tang, Biggie, Rick Ross, etc.) (16:49–19:45)
• Financial Realities—Old School vs. New (29:12–30:32)
• Ownership, Publishing, and Sampling Marvin Gaye (71:08–72:14)
• Streaming Economics & Direct to Consumer Pitch (63:38–70:51)
• Unreleased Collabs and Artist ‘Ghosting’ (47:45–51:59)
• Dynamic Duos—Project Background & Guest List (74:01–82:31)
• Live Album Previews from Dynamic Duos (“Sidewalk Executives,” “Where You At?,” “Conway/Wayne/Game” joints) (87:34–102:45)
• Reflections on Business, Trust, and Industry Lessons (55:54–57:09; 60:49–65:48)
• Closing Comments & Respect for Each Other (91:42–99:01)

Tone, Flow & Show Culture

The episode’s tone is relaxed, funny, unapologetically raw, and rooted in streetwise authenticity. The hosts balance praise and playful banter, frequently swapping stories from studio to street. There’s deep respect for longevity, the grind of hip-hop, and for artists who build and retain their independence.
The concluding message is one of community and resilience—honoring those who came before, celebrating the present, and dropping wisdom for those headed down similar paths.

Bottom Line:
This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in the inside stories behind classic hip-hop records, the harsh financial and business lessons of the music industry, and new insights into how a legend like Erick Sermon continues to create, collaborate, and influence decades into his career.
Don’t miss: Actual audio previews of unreleased “Dynamic Duos” tracks (starting 87:34, 96:12, 99:23), plus raw, actionable wisdom on music ownership and navigating an industry that’s always changing.