Joe and Jada — The Game, Fat Joe & Jadakiss Talk 50 Cent Beefs, Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake & More (PART 1)

Podcast: Joe and Jada
Hosts: Fat Joe & Jadakiss
Guest: The Game
Date: February 24, 2026
Presented by: iHeartPodcasts & The Volume

Episode Overview

In this lively, raw, and insightful episode of Joe and Jada, legendary rappers Fat Joe and Jadakiss sit down with Compton’s own The Game for an unfiltered conversation about hip-hop loyalty, career choices, epic beefs, and defining moments in rap culture today. The conversation flows from heartfelt talks on friendship and loyalty to wild stories from touring Africa, reflections on why hip-hop artists clash, and debates about positivity versus realism in rap. The episode is part one of a two-part interview, setting the stage for more revelations and stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing The Game: Loyalty, Legacy, and Early Memories

[04:00–11:30]

• Joe and Jadakiss roast and celebrate The Game’s career, highlighting his loyalty, lyricism, and fearlessness.
• Game recounts early support from Jadakiss: Before releasing his debut album, Jadakiss invited him to Yonkers, a memory The Game holds dear, as it made him feel welcomed in New York.
  • “Kiss came to the W, bro... took me to YO, to the studio, to the bodega... That’s one of my favorite days, for real.” — The Game [09:20]
• Fat Joe speaks about embracing The Game, providing mentorship and showing him how to survive on the East Coast.

2. Loyalty Over Fame: Why The Game Left G-Unit

[18:30–26:10]

• The Game reveals the real reason for his split from G-Unit: loyalty to Joe, Jada, and Nas when pressured by 50 Cent to pick sides.

  • "A nigga told me 50 had beef with Fat Joe and Kiss and Nas... There’s no way I’m turning my back on him... So I guess I gotta leave the group, nigga, about my friendship.” — The Game [20:30]

• Fat Joe and Jadakiss acknowledge the code of honor in The Game’s decision, emphasizing that the streets and hip-hop are built on loyalty.

3. On Squashing Beefs: Fat Joe & 50 Cent

[27:45–32:20]

• Game discusses his mixed feelings about Joe reconciling with 50 Cent after years of tension.
  • “I was just like, nah... later I see Joe and 50 squash it. I said, damn, I don’t know how to feel, but I’ll give him a chance.” — The Game [29:00]
• Special guest D1 (“the positive brother”) enters to stress the need for peace in hip-hop, advocating for maturity and setting positive examples.
  • “That’s what hip hop needs more of, seriously. Anybody who’s a grown man that wants to keep beef going, they can do better.” — D1 [31:45]

4. The Game vs. 50 Cent: Reflections on Missed Opportunities

[34:55–40:10]

• Discussion about what could have been if The Game and 50 Cent had stayed a duo.
  • Fat Joe: “That was Snoop and Dre all over again. One of the greatest duos!”
  • The Game: “I never said it once... If 50 don’t give me those records, as me being who I am, I still am in the same position because that’s my destiny.”
• Game gives 50 Cent props for his songwriting, especially for giving him "How We Do" and "Hate It or Love It”, but states he would have found his way regardless.

5. Positivity vs. Realism in Hip-Hop (Debate with D1)

[48:40–59:30]

• D1 challenges the glorification of violence and negativity in rap, advocating for more responsible messaging.
  • “Can everybody not understand that it’s a difference between narration and glorification?” — D1 [54:10]
• Game, Joe, and Jada push back, defending hip-hop as a reflection of reality, not just a motivator for negative behavior.
  • “Our artform was people that had to do stuff for their family, but music in general was art... you like movies, not all of it’s real!” — Fat Joe [51:30]
  • “I rap about murder, I rap about drugs, but that’s reality. What’s going on.” — The Game [58:00]

6. “Hate It or Love It” & The New York/LA Musical Blend

[01:04:00–01:11:40]

• Game describes the creation of “Hate It or Love It” at 50 Cent’s Connecticut mansion, the blending of LA and NY sound, and his respect for NY rap pioneers.
• Fat Joe explores Game’s ability to merge East and West Coast flows, making him unique among LA rappers.
  • “Game is the only guy from Compton who can make New York music... how did you do that?” — Fat Joe [01:09:30]
• Game credits his early education in hip-hop, specifically Illmatic and We Are the Streets, for influencing his style.

7. Touring Africa: Wild “Kidnap” Stories

[01:17:00–01:38:00]

• Fat Joe and The Game tell hilarious (and harrowing) stories about touring Africa, being confronted by local bosses, and “accidentally” being held for extra shows after being upfront paid large sums.
  • “I was really kidnapped for like two, three weeks. But I made the most money I ever made in my life.” — Fat Joe [01:36:30]
  • Tales of show promoters with armed escorts, run-ins with hyenas on chains, and quick-thinking to escape sticky situations.
• Cautionary advice to artists: “If someone named Casablanca is your promoter in Africa... just know you may not leave for two or three weeks!” — Fat Joe [01:37:50]

8. Rap as Survival & Trauma, Not Just Entertainment

[01:43:00–01:50:30]

• Fat Joe recounts his own history of being bullied in the Bronx, how it hardened him and led to his tough street persona, tying the experience to why some artists “crash out” or act wild.
  • “Let me tell you this... Every Thanksgiving picture, I got a bloody nose, a lip. They was beating the brakes off me every day.” — Fat Joe [01:47:10]

9. On Kendrick Lamar, Compton Legacy, and Drake

[01:54:00–02:01:00]

• Fat Joe and Jadakiss press Game on recent comments about Kendrick.
• Game clarifies: he always shows love to Kendrick, but tensions stem from loyalty to Drake during the heated Kendrick-Drake rivalry.
  • “If you watched Kobe Bryant talk about Michael Jordan... No man with children and a woman at home is gonna say another man is better at shit, correct? I got the utmost love for Kendrick... But Drake is my friend. So if they go to war, I gotta just sit back as a fan.” — The Game [01:57:00–01:59:00]

10. Closing Reflections & Coming Up Next

[02:02:00+]

• The hosts and Game tease more stories to come in part 2, with Jada telling Game he’s the only guest to have “taken his shot.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “A lot of people say I’m a liar—I call myself on the Hallucination Mount Rushmore with Joe, Jim Jones, and... who else?”
  — The Game [17:30]
• “I couldn’t turn my back on you. That’s why I left the group.”
  — The Game to Jadakiss [22:00]
• “If you want to go lyrical warfare—I’m with all that... Bring my kids in, you must wanna exit earth...”
  — The Game [01:51:00]
• “We’re not just telling stories, we build unity. That’s why we let everybody be heard.”
  — Fat Joe [02:04:30]
• “No other podcast would let a guest like ‘the positive brother’ air this out—here, we’re open arms.”
  — Fat Joe [02:05:00]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:00] — The Game joins, early career stories
• [20:30] — Loyalty and leaving G-Unit
• [27:45] — Joe and 50 Cent squash beef
• [34:55] — Game and 50: what could have been
• [48:40] — Positivity in hip-hop debate
• [01:04:00] — The making of “Hate It or Love It”
• [01:17:00] — Africa tour/kidnap tales
• [01:43:00] — Fat Joe’s early life and trauma
• [01:54:00] — Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake, Game’s stance
• [02:02:00] — Closing and preview for part 2

Tone & Style

The episode is unfiltered, boisterous, and honest, with constant friendly ribbing, deep respect among the hosts and guest, and moments of both hilarity and serious reflection. The language remains candid and reflects the true essence of hip-hop dialogue—no punches pulled, but with an undercurrent of love and respect throughout.

For Listeners

If you missed the episode:
This summary captures the candid revelations, hip-hop wisdom, and wild storytelling that mark the Joe & Jada podcast. Come back for Part 2, as the conversation—and the storytelling—promises to get even more epic.