Joe and Jada Podcast: "Fat Joe & Jadakiss talk Clipse's Grammy noms, NO HIP HOP in Top 40, Michael Jackson movie & Max B"

Date: November 18, 2025
Hosts: Fat Joe, Jadakiss
Production: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Episode Overview

In this vibrant, rapid-fire episode, hip-hop veterans Fat Joe and Jadakiss dive deep into the big issues and stories shaking up hip hop right now. They tackle the significance of no hip hop records in the Billboard Top 40 for the first time in 35 years, celebrate Clipse's five Grammy nominations, and debate the meaning and politics of award shows. Joe and Jada give raw thoughts on the new Michael Jackson biopic, reminisce about sneaker culture, discuss New York's changing landscape and real estate, and welcome special guests Eric and Jeff (It's The Real) for inside talk on podcasting, jail stories, Max B's release, and much more. The episode is a mix of unfiltered opinion, personal anecdotes, hip hop history, and street wisdom—with plenty of quotables in the original, high-energy style of the hosts.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Hip Hop's Billboard Absence & Clipse’s Grammy Nods

[05:58–08:45]

• Historic Billboard gap: For the first time in 35 years, no hip hop tracks are in the Billboard Top 40.
• Cultural impact: Hosts discuss whether hip hop is "losing grip" on the mainstream or simply thriving elsewhere.
• Hip hop’s influence: Other genres are heavily influenced by hip hop, e.g., “the number one producer of K-pop is a dude from Compton.”
• Quality vs. Charts: Fat Joe points out that even without chart domination, the art is thriving ("Cardi B's album was crazy").
• Clipse’s Grammy moment: Clipse earn five nominations, symbolizing critical love even as the genre gets less mainstream play.

  “Shout out to Clipse, man. Five Grammy nominations, you know what I mean? That means something. So somewhere, somebody, something ain't maffin.”
  — Jadakiss [08:06]

2. Award Show Politics (Grammys & Podcasts)

[16:33–26:55]

• Grammy skepticism: The guys rail against awards politics, with Joe citing times they or friends were snubbed despite popularity.
• Fat Joe’s Grammy losses:

  “I should have won many Grammys. ... Lost to, like, I don't know who was it... Come on, let's Lean Back, man.”
  — Fat Joe [16:33]

• Podcast charting: Joe parallels Grammy politics to podcast rankings, skeptically comparing his show's real numbers and influence to unknown podcasts placed above them.

  “Just because they say they number one, that just means they got friends picking who's number one. They not really number one.”
  — Fat Joe [20:47]

• Refusal to “kiss ass”: Joe’s determination to stay authentic—“I'm buying some shit for $350,000, yo, sell me the shit. Like, I'm not kissing your ass.” [24:55]

3. Michael Jackson Biopic & Media Narratives

[08:42–16:33]

• Antoine Fuqua’s MJ movie: Fat Joe looks forward to the film exposing how narratives were weaponized against Michael.

  “A lot of the shit they did to Michael Jackson was ahead of the time... If MJ had beef with anybody... they was controlling that narrative in the fucking magazines.”
  — Fat Joe [09:47–11:53]

• Tabloid power: In MJ’s era, gossip mags dictated perception; today, social media makes such control harder, but adds new issues.

  “Right now the phone is different. We get to see more aspects. ... But back in the day, in the MJ era, they could control the media.”
  — Fat Joe [13:12]

• Love & relationships: Social media and public pressure make long-term love harder for today’s youth.

4. Sincerity in Music & Industry Games

[26:39–27:10, 26:39–27:10]

• Clipse should win at least one Grammy for staying true to their sound and not selling out:

  “The album was incredible. ... They stood to the clip sound. They got Pharrell with it too.”
  — Fat Joe [26:43]

• Pharrell praised for industry savvy:

  “Pharrell know how to play the game... That motherfucker know what to do.”
  — Fat Joe [26:55]

5. Sneaker Talk, Culture & Camouflage

[27:15–29:18]

• New sneaker drops, comfort of new “jellyfish,” and the art of matching kicks.

  “The one thing you can't do is match... Camo’s like a blank plate. ... Green screen. ... Camel go with everything.”
  — Fat Joe [28:13]

6. New York’s Changing Landscape, Real Estate, & Politics

[65:22–70:37]

• Cost of living: Riff on NYC’s unaffordability and the exodus to Florida.
• Admiration for Mondami (politician):

  “I never seen people hate a guy who says he wants to give less rent, free bus rides... What happened? People want to pay more?”
  — Fat Joe [66:41]

• Creative drain:

  “Why are there no creatives, young creatives in New York anymore? Because they're all moving to more affordable cities. ... You can't stay here. You can't create here.”
  — Eric [66:19]

• NYC nostalgia: Shared stories about seeing Donald Trump at events, the Knicks, and daily city life.

7. Thanksgiving & Hard Times

[40:07–42:49]

• Organizing turkey giveaways, challenges with sponsors, and how economic recession is hitting the streets.

  “Things are doing... They ain't got it... It just ain’t no money in the streets. This is an all-time low. ... a recession, a depression.”
  — Fat Joe [41:17]

8. Special Guests: It’s The Real (Eric & Jeff), Podcasting Stories

[45:19–47:53, 58:23–61:15]

• Joe and Jada welcome Eric and Jeff, OG podcast hosts, for reflections on the evolution of podcasting; stories about legendary interviews and missed connections; Joe's jail experience and the importance of holding one’s reputation.

  “You are the greatest storyteller in hip hop. This platform is amazing.”
  — Eric [49:46]

• Joe’s jail story: Confirms legendary status by commanding authority inside and winning over the crowd.

  “I had to walk in. And it's the only time in my life where I had to check myself. ... you can't have no stories of you being played pussy.”
  — Fat Joe [50:16–51:53]

• Jadakiss’ reputation for napping on podcasts:

  “Sometimes he come in here so hot, y' all. I can smell that shit, man ... there's a weed that's maintained, maintain. He hot, he chilling... Then there's some times that boy come up in here, fry.”
  — Fat Joe [59:09]

9. Max B’s Release & Correction System

[75:59–77:34]

• Max B returns: Praised for coming home from an 18-year bid and immediately being back in style and in the game.

  “Have you ever in your life seen a dude do 18 years in jail, come out, go to the field of the Jets in Louis Vuitton... He looked like Big Eval.”
  — Fat Joe [76:14]

• Reflections on correction officers: The disrespect and psychological games played by COs, contrasted with the defiance shown by returning stars like Max and Remy Ma.

  "Suppose that cop in Max B's life... and Max B. Was on that court. ... That nigga felt like that correction officer. He felt like the biggest dick you ever seen in your life."
  — Fat Joe [77:35]

Notable Quotes & Quips

• "Hip hop is here. The buck stops here. Nowhere else." — Fat Joe [05:04]
• "Is the art more important? ... Just 'cause they ain't charting on the top 40 Billboard don't mean the art's not there." — Fat Joe [07:17]
• “If you really want the Grammy, you got to kiss a million babies. ... That's not happening... This whole shit is bullshit.” — Fat Joe [25:36]
• “We want everybody to win. But ain’t nobody bigger than us.” — Fat Joe [05:32]
• "This is controlling the culture... We got these niggas packed up." — Fat Joe [22:05]
• "They also not moving like us, brother." — Fat Joe [21:59]
• "We gotta play good on the road, though." — Jadakiss [38:33]
• “Each his own bottle of Patron.” — Jadakiss [70:54]
• "I wish I had hair. I’m not gonna lie. That's one of the things I wish." — Fat Joe [74:10]
• "The winners sleep on the bottom. Yeah, Paul." — Fat Joe [58:12]

Important Timestamps

• 03:57 — Episode kicks off with classic Joe & Jada banter.
• 05:58 — Discussion on hip hop missing from the Top 40 for the first time in decades.
• 08:06 — Clipse’s Grammy nods and the meaning of critical respect.
• 11:53–13:12 — Media narratives, Michael Jackson, and social media critique.
• 16:33 — Grammy politics, Fat Joe’s personal run-ins with losing.
• 22:05 — Podcast politics and metrics; authenticity over politicking.
• 27:15 — Sneaker talk, camos, and fashion influences.
• 40:07–42:49 — Thanksgiving charity challenges and economic realities in the streets.
• 45:19–47:53 — Eric & Jeff ("It's The Real") join and share podcasting history.
• 50:16–51:53 — Fat Joe’s infamous jail story and protecting reputation.
• 58:12 — Inside rap and podcast banter—“winners sleep on the bottom.”
• 59:09 — Jadakiss’ podcast “napping” legend confirmed.
• 75:59–77:34 — Max B’s dramatic return and the significance for NYC and hip hop.
• 66:19–70:37 — NYC real estate, Mondami, gentrification, and the creative exodus discussed with strong local insight.

Memorable Moments

• Podcast Self-Awareness:
  Joe goes on a tangent about podcast rankings, making it clear he won’t compromise authenticity for industry approval.
• Unfiltered Jail Tales:
  Joe describes the wild, real politics of prison, coaching basketball, and maintaining manhood.
• Clipse and Grammy Skepticism:
  The hosts’ blend of hope and resignation for deserving artists snubbed by political awards.
• Max B’s “Preserved” Return:
  The excitement in the culture about the resurgence of a legend after a long bid.
• Real New York Perspective:
  Reflecting on NYC, migration trends, affordability, and what remains at the city’s core.

Tone & Style

The conversation is lively, braggadocious, brotherly, and irreverent—with frequent laughter, storytelling, and gems from life in hip hop, the streets, and the industry. Both Joe and Jada maintain a balance between humor and hard-truths, while their guests keep the vibe light and relatable.