The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "Joe and Jada: Fat Joe, Jadakiss & Lola Brooke Talk Massive Changes in 20 Years of Hip Hop"

Date: February 17, 2026
Featured Guests: Fat Joe ("Joe Crack"), Jadakiss ("Jada"), Lola Brooke

Overview

This episode brings together two hip hop legends, Fat Joe and Jadakiss, with rising star Lola Brooke. The conversation spotlights the evolution of hip hop over the past two decades, the grind behind the scenes, the impact of iconic female rappers from Brooklyn, and what it takes to break through and sustain a career in today’s music industry. The tone is candid, humorous, and heartfelt as the trio shares personal stories, industry challenges, inspirations, and the realities of achieving and maintaining success.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lola Brooke’s Rise and Brooklyn Roots

• Introduction & Early Hustle

  • Jada reflects on Lola's work ethic: “You was out there making your chops. So that's a salute to you.” (02:32)
  • Lola describes her journey—early performances, humility, and persistence.
  • Joe Crack stresses the importance of OGs and supportive teams for young artists:
    “A lot of these young dudes, if they ain't got, like, no unc, no real OGs, positive people... you gonna get yourself jammed up.” (03:02)

• The Significance of Team 80

  • Lola shares how she linked with Team 80 in 2016: “To be around people that I felt like was in love with the same thing, it made me want to lock in.” (13:38)

• Carrying the Brooklyn Torch

  • On the legacy of Kim and Foxy Brown:
    “At first it felt like pressure, but I'm from Brooklyn. Like, it's in me, not on me.” (15:43)
  • Influences of Foxy’s tone and Kim’s presence; Lola is often compared to both: “I'm lemonade and Ice T. I'm a half and half.” (16:10)

2. The Realities of “Making It” in Hip Hop

• On Achieving a Hit Song

  • Lola on the aftermath of “Don’t Play With It”:
    “Just recently I just started realizing like I had a hit. I didn't feel it... When you finally get it, it go over your head.” (07:34)
  • Fat Joe on the industry’s relentless pace:
    “When you get one, they're working you so much that you can't even go to your normal spot… You do not get to enjoy unless you one of them dudes.” (08:06)
  • “We've been in the game... it still don't change. You gotta adapt to enjoy your fruits of labors. That shit don't work like that.” (08:50)

• Generational Wealth & Section 8

  • Honest reflections on growing up:
    • Fat Joe: “I'm generational. I never had nobody before me make money like me...” (09:20)
    • Lola: “I dropped my section eight when I popped... My mom's passed down the section 8.” (09:32)
  • The group discusses the trap of welfare/Section 8 and the importance of breaking out for future opportunities.
    • Fat Joe: “That system is a trap… it's meant to be temporary because they put you to a limit.” (11:09)
    • “If you on section 8... you can't make enough money to do what you wanna do.” (11:59)

3. Brooklyn Culture & Community

• Navigating Neighborhoods

  • Extended and humorous breakdowns of Brooklyn’s geography—the size, diversity, and unique cultures within (19:12–25:28).
  • Lola on Bed-Stuy pride and growing up in proximity to legends like Biggie (19:32).

• Food Culture & Local Color

  • Playful banter over famous Brooklyn Chinese spots (“cum cow”), White Castle, and mambo sauce (21:38–22:05).

• Safety, Street Smarts, and Growing Up in NYC

  • Fat Joe: “I switch my shit up every day. You ain't timing me like that. It don't go like that.” (24:56)
  • Anxiety about safety and surviving the “Coliseum” projects (24:12–25:28).

4. Artist Process: Studio Life and Making Hits

• The Studio Grind & Inspirations

  • Lola on her process: “I don't be in the studio like, yo, I gotta make a hit. I be in the studio like, oh, I gotta get this shit off.” (37:21)
  • Essentials for Lola in the studio: “I need some water... honey and tea... tequila... hookah... a good engineer... and good vibes.” (44:09)

• Reflection on Classic Hits & Industry Talk

  • Fat Joe and Jada recount their hit-making moments ("Lean Back", "Why"), and talk about the music business’s pressure:

    • Fat Joe: “No matter what you do, if you put out a hit, they want the second one.” (36:37)
    • “One hit is a miracle. I always say they talk about one hit wonders… that's a dream come true.” (36:37)

  • Jada on the creation of “Why” with Anthony Hamilton:
    “Once he heard it, he had the hook and did that shit fast.” (38:55)

  • The changing definition of a “hit” song:
    Lola: “Now it's like, there's no such thing as, you know, what's the hit. It'd be like the random stuff being a hit now. So it's hard.” (42:21)

5. Mentorship, Growth, and Women in Hip Hop

• The Value of OGs and Family

  • The importance of “team” and wise advice to avoid pitfalls: “When you got the right people... they know how to get you out of trouble.” (03:03)

• Girls Breaking Through

  • Teyana Taylor’s influence and the importance of seizing opportunities:
    • “She was ready for her moment. You could tell that she... waited for her moment, and when it came, she was ready. A lot of people not ready for their moment.” (55:27–55:46)

6. Prayers, Faith, and Coping with Pressure

• On God & Anxiety:
  • Lola: “I pray, I pray last night. I always pray though. I pray everywhere. Let me tell you, surprise, I ain't praying here.” (32:21)
  • Fat Joe on anxiety when flying:
    “I see myself while I'm praying in a white suit talking to millions of God... If they taped my prayers in my mind on the plane... he'd never act tough in his life.” (32:28)

7. Recognition, Legacy, and Where To Next

• Achievements and Covers

  • Lola on making the XXL 2023 Freshman class:
    “I dreamed of it… but, you know, coming from a place of doubts... when I did get it, I'm like, nah, don't ever soak doubt.” (59:20)

• Not Comparing Your Journey

  • On others blowing up first:
    “When you watch somebody else blessings or somebody else pockets, then you ain't focus on yours.” (60:36)

• Vision for the Future

  • Lola: “Being on the movie screens, having my own show. That's what I want.” (54:13)
  • Fat Joe: “You gotta stay in the game. You never know.” (55:46)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Artistic Motivation:

  • Lola Brooke: “I don't be in the studio like, yo, I gotta make a hit. I be in the studio like, oh, I gotta get this shit off. Cause if I don't, I'm be going crazy.” (37:21)

• On Legacy:

  • Jadakiss: “Every show legendary, every show iconic. You know what I mean? At this point, he just crushes shit, we just fried.” (00:49)

• On Escaping Poverty:

  • Fat Joe: “That system is a trap... it's really not a flex. When you go to a building and you be like, yo, the Washington's been here for 40 years... that shit is meant to be temporary. If you on section 8... you can't make enough money to do what you wanna do.” (11:09–11:59)

• On Hit Records:

  • Fat Joe: “One hit is a miracle. I always say they talk about one hit wonders… that's a dream come true. But to consistently... you hit it. In our era, it's a Nelly, it's a 50 Cent, Ja Rule... you have to respect when you in the business of making hits.” (36:37)

• On Teyana Taylor’s Glow-Up:

  • Lola Brooke: “She was ready for her moment. You could tell that she patiently waited for her moment, and when it came, she was ready. A lot of people not ready for their moment.” (55:27)

• On the Importance of Staying Ready:

  • Fat Joe: “You gotta stay in the game. You never know.” (55:46)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:32] — Jada & Joe salute Lola’s early work and grind
• [03:02] — The value of OGs and mentorship in hip hop
• [07:34] — Lola on realizing she has a hit record
• [09:32] — Generational poverty and Section 8 discussion
• [13:38] — Joining Team 80, finding balance and family in music
• [15:43] — Conversation about Brooklyn’s legacy: Kim, Foxy, and female rappers
• [19:32] — Brooklyn neighborhoods, pride, and personal roots
• [37:21] — Inside the artist’s process: purpose over “finding a hit”
• [44:09] — Studio essentials for Lola Brooke
• [55:27] — Conversation about seizing the moment and Teyana Taylor
• [59:20] — Reflection on making the XXL Freshman class
• [60:36] — Advice on focusing on your own journey
• [54:13] — Lola’s vision for her future in entertainment

Exclusive Performance

• Lola Brooke performs a verse from “Pain” (feat. Mary J. Blige sample) and discusses its inspiration:

  “When you think of Mary J, pain is the first word that come to my mind... My mom’s made sure of that. It’s no more pain. We standing on that, as black women.” (48:57)

• Performance segues into a conversation about music as generational healing.

Closing Notes

The episode is a blend of hilarious stories, sharp industry critique, and openhearted advice—a testament to hip hop’s enduring family feel across generations. Lola Brooke’s humility and hunger is met by Fat Joe and Jadakiss’ wisdom and sincerity, as the trio builds a bridge between eras while staying true to the unapologetic, boisterous spirit of New York hip hop.

For listeners new and veteran, this episode offers an authentic and entertaining look at the realities, triumphs, and lessons of hip hop from those who’ve lived, shaped, and are now inheriting the culture.