Joe and Jada Podcast

Episode: Monie Love on Queen Latifah's Genius, Cardi B's Star Power & Fat Joe's Native Tongues Connection
Release Date: February 10, 2026

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode dives deep into the legendary career and influential legacy of Monie Love—pioneering UK-born rapper, member of the Native Tongues collective, and trailblazer for women in hip-hop. Hosts Fat Joe and Jadakiss engage Monie in candid conversation, celebrating hip-hop’s golden era, reflecting on industry barriers (especially for women), the evolution of the female MC, the impact of social media, Monie's connection to Queen Latifah and the Native Tongues, and the powerful resonance of old school camaraderie in today’s music landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction, "Moni in the Middle," and the Origins of Her Career

• Monie’s Cultural Footprint: The hosts welcome Monie Love by referencing her hit "Monie in the Middle" and joke about seating her in the middle ("You made the middle famous." – Jada Kiss, 02:31).
• Song's Enduring Legacy: Monie reflects on accidentally starting a cultural phrase with "Moni in the Middle" and the joy and surprise that came with its success and Grammy nomination.
• British Roots, Crossing Over (04:03–07:16)
  • Monie explains her journey from London, being immersed in American hip-hop culture, and getting her first record deal at 16 with Chrysalis Records.
  • She discusses the importance of cassette tapes and early DJ influences, and shares her Jamaican father's skepticism about the music business.

2. Industry Hardships and Early Hip-Hop Connections

• Universal Industry Struggles: Fat Joe and Monie share war stories about artists getting "robbed" by record labels in the early days (07:35–08:07).
• Harlem Digression: A brief detour into Rob Base’s origins in Harlem, illustrating the tight-knit and interconnected nature of New York hip-hop (08:11–08:36).
• Joining the Native Tongues (08:44–10:39)
  • Monie recounts meeting Queen Latifah and Jungle Brothers via music industry ambassador Dave Klein in the UK, performing for them, and being welcomed into the Native Tongues crew.

3. "Ladies First" and Queen Latifah's Vision

• Recording "Ladies First" (10:39–12:53)
  • Monie reveals the excitement and unexpected maturity involved when she and Latifah recorded the song at 17, with Latifah acting as the “mad scientist” with a clear empowerment vision.
  • Memorable Moment: Monie describes their creative synergy—writing verses in separate corners and running to share bars (12:00).
  • Quote: "Latifah is like a mad scientist...we form Voltron and get on stage and do this two hour ensemble show." – Monie Love (11:17)

4. Hip-Hop Camaraderie, Competition, and Fat Joe’s Connection

• Studio Energy Then vs. Now (12:53–13:31)
  • The group laments the lost energy of in-person creative sessions, replaced by remote collaborations.
• Fat Joe's Native Tongues Bloodline (13:31–15:35)
  • Monie reveals the behind-the-scenes legacy connecting Fat Joe to the Native Tongues through Chris Lighty, their manager and protector.
  • Quote: "Chris comes back. Everybody out. We not performing. Nope. Everybody out...if we get in the building and the venue money ain't right, Chris is like, nobody's touching a mic." – Monie Love (14:10)

5. The Evolution of Female MCs & Industry Dynamics

• Collective Support vs. Individualism (18:35–20:19)
  • Jadakiss notes how the ‘family’ crew spirit of female hip-hop (groups like Native Tongues supporting their women) has shifted to more independent, individual platforms.
  • Monie agrees: "It's more...individualism, entities like that." (20:15)
• Paying Homage and Studying the Past (20:49–26:46)
  • The group discusses whether new artists study their predecessors.
  • Monie advocates for research: "It behooves a person to know what came before them...That’s why it’s called research." (22:31)
  • She draws parallels to hip-hop DJs, noting how Clark Kent forced her to learn DJ techniques as both skill and homage.

6. Elements of Hip-Hop & Personal Journeys

• Hip-Hop’s Four Elements (27:00–27:41)
  • Monie talks about moving from being a breakdancer ("B-girl") to learning DJ skills under Clark Kent.
• Graffiti and DJing (27:41–28:39)
  • Fat Joe shares his exploits as a graffiti artist but admits failing at DJing, showcasing the multifaceted creative pursuits foundational to hip-hop culture.

7. Social Media, Stardom & Cardi B’s Impact

• If Social Media Existed Back Then… (32:07–32:44)
  • Monie and the crew speculate on how their careers would have exploded with today’s platforms.
• Cardi B’s Mastery of Social Media (32:44–34:43)
  • Monie praises Cardi B’s relatable persona and notes the parallels between Cardi’s openness as a mother and her own past (“That’s another reason...I related to Cardi, because when she was pregnant that first time...I understood it, because I was there.” – Monie Love, 35:21).
• Industry Sexism & Pregnancy (35:43–37:32)
  • Monie shares how her label reps subtly pressured her over her pregnancy; she resisted. This links to Cardi's unapologetic public pregnancies.

8. Transition to Radio & The Impact of DJ Rivalries

• Monie on the Radio (38:06–41:39)
  • She narrates how Steve Smith (creator of Hot 97) recruited her, her initial doubts, and messy on-air training sessions leading to a decade-plus on air at NYC’s premier hip-hop stations.
• The Hot 97 vs. Power 105 Rivalry (41:39–44:57)
  • The hosts recount the fierce station competition and the behind-the-scenes pressure on artists to choose sides, which impacted careers and relationships.

9. Female Rap Influence & Early Inspirations

• Monie’s Influences (50:02–54:03)
  • Pebbly Pooh, Roxanne Shanté ("put the battery in my back"), Salt-N-Pepa, MC Lyte ("She was a superstar when I was going to high school with her.") (51:29).
  • Stunning stories about being inspired as a young woman by older MCs and not revealing her own rhyming abilities until much later.

10. Old School Legacies & Giving Flowers

• Giving Flowers to Pioneers (70:03–73:07)
  • Hosts emphasize the importance of honoring influences while they are alive. Fat Joe recounts stopping a public event to praise Chubb Rock’s influence on his career.

11. Political and Social Consciousness in Hip-Hop

• Content with a Message (71:08–74:17)
  • Fat Joe and Monie discuss the lost tradition of MCs dropping knowledge (KRS-One, Nas), saying contemporary rap often lacks the pride-building and historical context purpose it once held.
  • Monie reminisces about KRS-One’s shows: “Chris used to shut the showdown...and start talking and dropping all that knowledge.” (73:18)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Queen Latifah's Vision:
  "Latifah is like a mad scientist...she knew she wanted to do something that made sense, that spoke to women...fist in the air for women type vibes." – Monie Love (11:17–11:53)

• On the Origins of 'Ladies First':
  "I'm just the rowdy one...the Ramaholic that's just happy to be here. But she knew she wanted to do something that made sense..." – Monie Love (11:53)

• On Social Media and Cardi B:
  "She could wake up first thing in the morning and don’t even be in her outfits yet, and it’s a top post because there’s always a level of relatability." – Monie Love (33:03) "That's another reason...I related to Cardi, because when she was pregnant that first time...I understood it." – Monie Love (35:21)

• On Record Labels and Motherhood:
  "The label reps were like, well, what are you gonna do? And I was like, I’m three months pregnant. What you mean, what I’m gonna do?..It means I’m having a baby. Like, what you think it means?" – Monie Love (36:20)

• On Hip-Hop’s Community:
  "Chris was our road manager...Chris has always been thorough, so it was no surprise to me that he then made his business moves and created Violator Records...when he put you out, we're all looking at you like, that's our little brother." – Monie Love (14:04–16:03)

• On Radio Rivalry:
  "You want to keep it real with Hot 97...But they were also telling me, Power 105 is owned by a company that owns 40 other radio stations. So if you try to front on Power 105 they will not play your shit in America." – Fat Joe (45:49–48:24)

• On Studying the Past:
  "It behooves a person to know what came before them...That’s why it’s called research." – Monie Love (22:31)

Highlighted Timestamps

• 02:31: Jada Kiss: "You made the middle famous."
• 11:17: Monie Love on Latifah's "mad scientist" approach with "Ladies First."
• 13:55: Monie reveals Fat Joe’s connection to the Native Tongues via Chris Lighty.
• 18:36–20:19: Discussion of the shift from group/crew support for women artists to individualism.
• 22:31: Monie on the importance of researching hip-hop history.
• 33:00–34:43: Praise for Cardi B’s authentic social media presence.
• 36:20–37:32: Monie's candid story about label pressure during her pregnancy and standing firm.
• 41:39–44:57: Behind the scenes of the Hot 97/Power 105 rivalry.
• 50:02–54:03: Monie names Pebbly Pooh, Roxanne Shanté, Salt-N-Pepa, and MC Lyte as role models.
• 71:08–74:17: Fat Joe and Monie discuss consciousness and knowledge in hip-hop.

Tone & Style

The episode maintains a familial, nostalgic, and authentic tone, laced with good-natured teasing, humility, and mutual respect. The conversations move naturally between storytelling, social commentary, and technical discussions about hip-hop’s roots, while celebrating the enduring impact of its originators.

Closing

The hosts close by promoting Monie Love's latest project, Love Notes EP, and together, the trio underscores the importance of honoring hip-hop’s architects and the culture's evolution, while celebrating Monie's unique role in the game.
"Get that new album, Love Notes EP!" – Monie Love (76:01)

For listeners, this episode is a goldmine of hip-hop history, industry insight, fond reminiscences, and personal stories, all colored by the warmth and reverence of true legends.