Joe and Jada Podcast: Rich Paul on LeBron-Jordan, Jay-Z vs. Terror Squad Rucker Blackout Game & Adele

Date: January 6, 2026
Hosts: Fat Joe & Jadakiss
Guest: Rich Paul

Episode Overview

On this vibrant episode of the Joe and Jada show, sports super-agent Rich Paul joins hip-hop legends Fat Joe and Jadakiss. The conversation bounces between iconic basketball debates (LeBron vs. Jordan), legendary hip-hop moments (the Rucker Park Blackout Game, Jay-Z vs. Terror Squad), sneaker entrepreneurship, life lessons on loyalty and business, and even Rich’s relationship with Adele.

The trio delivers raw, unfiltered insight into the worlds of sports, music, personal ambition, and the pitfalls and triumphs that come from climbing the heights of their respective industries. The tone is candid, comedic, and authentic—full of classic New York storytelling and philosophical gems.

Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rich Paul’s Media Venture & Partnership with Max Kellerman

• [03:18] Rich discusses launching a show with Max Kellerman, explaining his motive to "do it the right way" and approach the space with dedication, practice, and a desire to provide "the real":

  "It's not like a game. It's not like we're coming in. Like, when I focus on something like that, like, I really put the time in to rehearse and want to do it the right way because you can't play with the business like that." — Rich Paul [03:41]

• [12:23] On what makes a good partnership and distinguishing the value and mindset he brings versus a seasoned broadcaster like Kellerman.

2. The Adele Conversation & Confidence to Approach Icons

• [06:08] Fat Joe jokes about Rich and Adele’s relationship, paralleling it with Jermaine Dupri and Janet Jackson, probing how "little guys" get with "beauty queen" icons.
• [07:05] Rich responds humbly:

  "We don't really do the choosing. You get chose." — Rich Paul [07:05] "When you get chose, you have a choice." — Rich Paul [07:21]

• Adds that sometimes you get chosen by the "wrong ones," but that's life.

3. LeBron James, the NBA, and the GOAT Debate vs. Michael Jordan

• [08:05] Jada presses Rich for clarity on LeBron's trade status. Rich clarifies the trade mechanics:

  "You don't play with sciatica, first of all... now you can't be trading. Has no trade clause...even if you wanted to trade...That’s great clickbait, but it’s not like the real." – Rich Paul [09:55]

• [11:11] Fat Joe yanks the conversation into GOAT territory:

  "Get to the pure. MJ LeBron James. Who's the goat?" — Fat Joe [11:11]

• [12:16–15:23] Rich sidesteps direct affirmation but reframes the debate, arguing that greatness is proven by entering elite "rooms" and levels of access—then lays out a philosophical “elevator” model for greatness:

  "You judge guys by what the rooms that you in, right? Who come in the rooms that Joe's in. You don't let anybody in the rooms that you go into, right? ...What room can Mike go in that LeBron can't?" — Rich Paul [12:34] "What I'm going to say to you is I'm talking about to the top floor. There's a key that takes you all the way up to the top floor. Kobe's go there, LeBron's go there, Mike's. They all go to that floor." — Rich Paul [15:12]

• Fat Joe insists Jordan is still top in his “elevator” model but respects Rich’s refusal to draw a definitive conclusion.

4. The New Balance Partnership & Entrepreneurship

• [16:18] Rich details his pivotal move with New Balance, using client Darius Bazley’s million-dollar internship as a NIL innovation and business education instead of the college route:

  "He wasn’t going to college, so I sent him to work at New Balance...he learned the business...marketing, the making of the shoe, all that. Still ended up going first round, signed a deal." — Rich Paul [16:18]

• Discusses the "Unbothered" sneaker:

  "It's all around being unbothered...I'm focused...the colorway came from...the idea of being unbothered by critics, opinions, naysayers." — Rich Paul [18:18]

5. Industry Evolution: From Transactional to Human-Centric Representation

• [20:04–24:33] Rich reflects on the importance of opportunity—thanking LeBron for his own—and how the best route is to build independence, not dependence:

  "My ultimate respect for the opportunity [LeBron] gave...was the position I stand in now because I'm no longer dependent upon him." — Rich Paul [21:32]

• On agenting and entrepreneurship:

  "I started the company because I felt like players was only being viewed as transactions. And I knew them as people..." — Rich Paul [23:02] "I played every role, from stylist to...ads, commercial writing, picking samples, all that." — Rich Paul [23:49]

6. The Rucker Park "Blackout Game" Story (Fat Joe vs. Jay-Z & LeBron)

• [52:13–54:13] Fat Joe and Rich revisit the infamous 2003 Rucker Park Blackout game, playfully arguing about which roster would’ve won and the legitimacy of the event after the power outage.

  "We flew in. Brian's gonna drop 50 on your team." — Rich Paul [52:13] "You didn't have young Braun that was a prince. He wasn't the king yet." — Fat Joe [53:04]

• Fat Joe details his super-team lineup and the “what ifs” of a streetball game that never happened.

7. Life, Money & Lessons on Loyalty, "The Bag," & Celebrating Wins

• [32:32] Fat Joe and Rich exchange insights on careers—rappers dropping albums vs. the business of bags:

  "You sitting in your successes when you do that ... it becomes settlement." — Rich Paul [33:08]

• Rich urges a “compounding” not “flip” mentality:

  "We come from a flip environment, not a compounding environment...10 to 20 is a flip. Compounding is, I have $10, put that away, don’t touch it for the next 10 years." — Rich Paul [34:13]

8. Managing Friends, Loyalty, Survivor’s Remorse, and Boundaries

• [36:34–46:34] The group discuss the trials of loyalty, the difference between business and street trust, and why not everyone can—or should—be brought along for the ride. Fat Joe shares painful personal anecdotes about employing friends who aren't built for success.

  "My thing is survivor's remorse, too. Part of that is that survivor's remorse." — Rich Paul [40:43] "The minute someone told me somebody I trusted, 'yo, homie's a bum,' I said, okay, I got it. ... A bum is a bum." — Fat Joe [41:43]

• [45:43] Rich draws lines on how involved agents should get in clients’ personal family issues, differentiating between giving honest career advice and stepping into private affairs.

9. Giving Back: Helpful vs. Impactful

• [63:20] Jada asks about giving back. Rich shares his philosophy:

  "Two ways to give back. In ways that's helpful, in ways that's impactful. Passing out turkeys and things like that, that's helpful. The impactfulness is being able to create things that provide opportunities." — Rich Paul [63:24] "I do a lot of things that I don't want no pub from it. ... It's very important because I was one of those kids that the community raised..." — Rich Paul [63:50]

• Fat Joe and Rich agree: those criticizing the way giving back is done aren’t doing anything themselves.

10. Style, Aging, and Staying Authentic

• [71:25] Banter about style, from sneakers (New Balance, Air Force 1) to high-end quarter-zip pullovers, and how aging in hip-hop and sports comes with its own fashion and perception battles.

Notable Quotes & Moments (Chronological Highlights)

• "We don't really do the choosing. You get chose." — Rich Paul [07:05]
• "You judge guys by what the rooms that you in, right? ... What room can Mike go in that LeBron can't?" — Rich Paul [12:34]
• "The bag ain't the money. The bag is the position." — Rich Paul [22:11]
• "I started the company because I felt like players was only being viewed as transactions. And I knew them as people..." — Rich Paul [23:02]
• "You sitting in your successes when you do that... it becomes settlement." — Rich Paul [33:08]
• "We come from a flip environment, not a compounding environment." — Rich Paul [33:55]
• "A bum is a bum." — Fat Joe [41:43]
• "Giving back... is being able to create things that provide opportunities." — Rich Paul [63:24]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:14–04:11 | Rich Paul on new podcast venture w/ Max Kellerman, doing things right | | 06:00–07:21 | Fat Joe, Jermaine Dupri, the confidence “to approach icons” | | 08:05–10:35 | LeBron never-being-traded, the truth about player movement | | 11:11–15:23 | The GOAT debate: LeBron vs. Jordan, the “elevator” model of greatness | | 16:18–19:19 | New Balance, Darius Bazley, business education, the Unbothered sneaker | | 20:04–24:33 | Opportunities, independence, representing many athletes beyond LeBron | | 32:32–34:46 | The danger of “settling,” flipping vs. compounding, business philosophy | | 36:34–41:43 | Friends, qualifications, survivor’s remorse, and “the bum” reality | | 45:43–46:34 | Boundaries for agents, getting involved in clients’ personal lives | | 52:13–54:13 | Legendary Rucker Park Blackout Game, LeBron, Fat Joe’s superteam | | 63:20–66:37 | Giving back, community, being “helpful” vs. “impactful” | | 71:25–73:43 | Fashion, authenticity, growing older while staying fly |

Episode Tone

The episode is a masterclass in friendship, competition, hustle, and real talk. It’s funny, energetic, peppered with inside stories, and rooted in honesty about what it takes to win—not just in business, but in life. The chemistry between Rich Paul, Fat Joe, and Jadakiss is undeniable, offering listeners an authentic window into the mindset of high achievers across music and sports.

Final Takeaway

If you want stories you won’t hear anywhere else, the truth about sports deals and music industry myths, and unfiltered philosophy on money, loyalty, and character, this episode is a must-listen.