The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Episode Summary

Episode: Joe and Jada - 112 & Total on Joint Tour, Biggie & Bad Boy Stories, Diddy Fallout & Modern R&B
Date: December 23, 2025
Guests: 112 (Mike, Slim) & Total (Keisha, Kima)
Host(s): Fat Joe, Jadakiss
Theme:
A lively roundtable of hip-hop and R&B legends celebrating the joint 112 & Total “Room 112” tour, sharing behind-the-scenes Bad Boy stories, reflecting on industry changes, the Diddy controversy fallout, and the evolution of love and authenticity in modern R&B culture.

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode brings together two iconic R&B groups—112 and Total—for a vibrant, unfiltered discussion about their upcoming joint tour, their 30+ year journey in the music industry, working with legends like Biggie and Diddy, navigating the changing tides of music and culture, and what it means to maintain legacy, integrity, and authenticity in the modern era.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Legacy and the Joint Tour

• Tour Synergy:

  • Both groups emphasize energy, chemistry, and “iconic representation” (04:17), with Total expressing gratitude for being included:
    • "So happy for our brothers and just blessed to be a part of this movement... 30 years of great music. This is their first headline show, 112. We gonna get them their flowers.” — Total (F) [04:17]
  • It’s the first major headline tour for 112, and they're intent on honoring each other’s contributions:
    • "We also wanted to give Total their flowers... They have been so influential not only in music, but in fashion—just how a woman is supposed to be like a queen in this industry." — Mike (112, C) [11:01]

• Nostalgia and Impact:

  • The tour aims to bring back ‘90s R&B nostalgia and show mutual respect as “sisters and brothers” in the game.
  • Case is joining the tour as opener, adding to the “30 years” celebration. [09:59]

2. Bad Boy Era & Biggie Stories

• Being Around Greatness:

  • "You had Big all over your music. The greatest ever... what was it like working with Biggie?" — Fat Joe (B) [05:17]
  • 112 recounts Biggie’s mentorship:
    • "He would bring us with him... we learned a lot of jewels, man." — 112 (D) [05:35]
  • First meetings with Biggie were memorable, including shooting videos together in brutally cold NYC winters and witnessing pivotal moments (e.g., Big hearing "Hit Em Up" for the first time) [06:14-07:27].

• Real-life Tensions:

  • Fat Joe shares a surreal moment during the East-West rap tensions, seeing someone play Tupac’s diss while Biggie performed in Harlem:
    • “I felt like God did that to me. I knew this shit wasn’t going right. The energy wasn’t right. I said, damn.” — Fat Joe [08:17]

3. Artist Growth & Ownership

• Independence & Respect:

  • 112 and Fat Joe discuss breaking away from label gatekeeping and embracing direct ownership:
    • "We shot our own Polestar numbers up, traveled, branded ourselves... the agencies then had to retract what they said and cut the check. So exactly what you see, with 112 and Total and the whole Case situation, yes, we are getting the flowers." — 112 (D) [50:13-51:38]

• Resilience Amidst Being 'Aged Out':

  • Fat Joe reflects, “At a point, the industry called people ‘old school’ at 24, 26 years old. But our era said, 'Fuck you, we do what we want.' Jay Z, me, we took ownership." [46:54-48:53]
  • The importance of supporting "seasoned" artists and how the love from fans endures, regardless of industry ageism. [41:22-43:57]

4. The Diddy Fallout and Its Impact

• Addressing the Controversy:
  • Fat Joe asks about fear of catalog backlash amidst Diddy's allegations:
    • “Was you at the time worrying about your catalog or how people will receive your music?” [52:41]
  • Response:
    • “Nothing to the music. It made them want to hear it more... We saw our royalty shoot up like a thousand percent, because the younger people got curious—‘Who is Diddy?’ ‘What was the music?’” — 112 (D/E) [53:34-54:27]
  • Even in controversy, the legacy of the music proved resilient and gained new listeners.

5. Parenting, Culture, and Social Media in Modern Times

• Social Media’s Effect on Love & Dating:

  • "Social media ruined love. My mom and pops didn’t have us... They worked it out, no divorce, no ‘Shade Room’ blowing things up." — Fat Joe [32:38, 34:01]
  • Guest stories of guiding their daughters through an era where DMs have replaced face-to-face courtship, and where expectations about romance are shaped by social media, not reality. [35:06-36:59]

• Values and Raising Daughters:

  • Mike (112) shares about setting standards for his daughters through small gestures like opening doors—instilling what respect and love should look like—and encourages other parents to do the same. [37:07-37:46]
  • Keisha (Total) reflects on family conversations about genuine relationships, self-worth, and how music shapes expectations. [38:27-40:02]

6. Modern R&B, Vulnerability, and Lessons for Youth

• The Loss of Vulnerability:

  • "We still have good music, but we're not vulnerable in our music anymore. We don't talk about love. A real man is transparent with their partner, can talk about his feelings. That's missing." — Keisha (Total, F) [39:14-40:02]

• Generational Wisdom:

  • "We came up in a time where we pay homage. We want our fans to know this is royalty. It’s not about the culture—the message is missing." — Fat Joe (B) [40:18]
  • The group stresses the importance of teaching younger generations about industry integrity, sacrifice, and mutual respect. [41:22-43:57]

7. Musical Influences & Paying Homage

• R&B Lineage:
  • 112 credits Take 6, Commissioned, New Edition, Jodeci, and Boyz II Men as foundational influences; also learned from Whitney, the Isley Brothers, Janet, and more. [62:36-63:53]
  • Total cites Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, Stephanie Mills, Luther Vandross, Sister Sledge, Labelle. [66:54-67:31]
  • "If you hear him [Slim], you immediately associate his voice with 112." — Mike (C) on Slim’s unique tone [65:25]
  • Lighthearted moments about wishing they could swap singer/rapper roles [70:02-70:18], and stories of dream collaborations and mutual fanhood.

8. The Business, Sacrifice, and Pressure Of Longevity

• Sacrifices of the Game:

  • “People don’t understand what it takes to be in the music industry—how much you miss out on, graduations, birthdays, funerals...” — 112 (C) [43:57]
  • “We’re human. We have vulnerabilities as well.” — Keisha (Total, F) [43:57]
  • The grind of back-to-back shows and the realities of maintaining energy and health on tour [19:00-21:49]

• Encouragement to Support Black Music:

  • “Support our culture. People build their music comes from us, right?” — 112 (D) [43:57]
  • The episode closes repeatedly on the call to celebrate Black artists’ legacies as expansively as those in rock or pop.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Biggie’s Impact:

  • “He would give you the shirt off his back... He embraced us as family.” — 112 (D) [05:35]
  • “Our first time meeting Big was at the video shoot in Central Park. It was one degree—the coldest winter I ever experienced.” — Jadakiss (E) [06:12]

• On Industry Gatekeeping:

  • “We had to take power in our own hands and go independent. I wasn’t scared. I was like, man, these dudes... and I’ve been winning.” — Fat Joe [52:41]
  • “We believed in ourselves, we branded ourselves, and then we made the actual agencies come to us.” — 112 (D) [50:13]

• On Social Media and Love:

  • “Social media ruined love... Now the pressure coming. ‘Yo, girl, you know...’ That’s why I never did a reality show.” — Fat Joe [34:01]

• On the Diddy Fallout:

  • “Nothing to the music. It made them want to hear it more... our royalty shot up like a thousand percent.” — 112 (D) [53:34-54:27]

• On the Importance of Integrity:

  • “It's something to be said about how we treat our artists. If you're not popping, your whole catalog went away... We sacrifice for 30 years or more.” — Mike (112, C) [43:57]

• On Musical Influence:

  • “Our trifecta: New Edition, Jodeci, Boyz II Men... You had soul from Jodeci, harmonies from Boyz II Men, entertainment from New Edition.” — Mike (112, C) [63:08]

• On Legacy:

  • “Every time your music comes on—legendary. And they can’t take that from you.” — Fat Joe [02:15, 49:52]
  • “We don’t age out—Black don’t crack.” — Mike (112, C) [41:44]

Important Timestamps

• [04:17] – Guests Introduced: Joint tour, mutual respect, tour details
• [05:17] – Biggie & Bad Boy early days
• [08:17] – Fat Joe’s story about Biggie, Harlem, East-West Coast beef
• [11:01] – 112 & Total “giving each other flowers” on tour
• [14:41] – Keisha on prioritizing family and culture over LA “Hollywood” life
• [19:00] – The logistics and pressure of touring, especially back-to-back shows
• [32:38] – On love, marriage, and social media's genuine impact on relationships
• [34:01] – Why artists of their era won’t let Instagram or “the Shade Room” dictate relationships
• [39:14] – Keisha on the lack of vulnerability in modern music
• [41:44] – On the industry and "aging out"
• [46:54] – Fat Joe on fighting industry attempts to “age out” hip hop and R&B artists
• [51:38] – How 112 & Total wrestled back business control
• [53:28] – The impact of the Diddy controversy
• [62:36]-[63:53] – Discussing key musical influences (112 & Total)
• [70:16] – Fat Joe and guests joke about wishing to swap rapper/singer lives
• [74:49]-[75:41] – Expanding the tour, more stars could join if successful

Takeaways

• Resilience, Ownership & Legacy:
  The journey of 112 and Total exemplifies sustaining artistic identity, weathering industry storms, and claiming control of their careers after decades.

• Cultural Respect:
  An underlying message urges supporting Black music legends with the respect and longevity afforded to artists in other genres, fighting ageism, and honoring those who shaped both the sound and the culture.

• The Importance of Community:
  Despite media and business pressure to compete or separate, the artists on this panel underscore that real love, support, and camaraderie remain at hip-hop and R&B’s roots.

For the Fans

• TOUR INFO: The Room 112 tour promises nostalgia, energy, and a reunion you won’t want to miss.
• SUPPORT: The episode closes with a call to action: Get your tickets, support the artists, and celebrate the music that’s “legendary—every single time it comes on” (Fat Joe [49:52]).