Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Joe and Jada: Monie Love on Queen Latifah's Genius, Cardi B's Star Power & Fat Joe's Native Tongues Connection

Date: February 10, 2026
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd (iHeartPodcasts and The Volume)
Guests: Monie Love, Fat Joe, Jadakiss

Overview

In this deeply personal and nostalgic episode, hip hop icons Fat Joe and Jadakiss sit down with trailblazing rapper and radio personality Monie Love to discuss her storied career, the impact of Queen Latifah, the rise and relatability of Cardi B, and Fat Joe’s longstanding link to the Native Tongues collective. Their conversation is rich with hip hop history, industry insights, tributes to legendary figures, and candid reflections on the evolution of music, radio, and female empowerment in the genre. The trio also share personal anecdotes, highlight underappreciated voices, and offer sharp commentary on social media and music industry politics—all delivered with warmth, humor, and authenticity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Monie in the Middle: Origin and Legacy

• Monie describes the origins of her hit "Monie in the Middle," explaining it was not intended as a personal brand but took on a life of its own.
  • “I had no intention of it becoming a thing... I really didn’t think that it was gonna grow legs of its own.” (Monie Love, 03:05)
• She reflects on how being “in the middle” became synonymous with her – even outlasting her typical name recognition.

Crossing the Atlantic: Monie’s British Roots and Hip Hop’s International Rise

• Monie shares her journey from London to the United States, discussing how British youth built their own hip hop scene after absorbing U.S. culture through movies and cassette tapes.
  • “We watched Wild Style… Breakdance… Beach Street… we were enthralled and totally absorbed into the culture.” (Monie Love, 05:14)
• She talks about how, despite early exposure, British fans didn’t realize stars like Slick Rick had UK origins until later.

Breaking Through: Getting Discovered & Early Record Deals

• Monie recounts securing her first record deal at 16 in England, and the skepticism and protectiveness from her Jamaican father over contract negotiations.
• The group discusses the widespread financial exploitation in the industry in their early days, noting, “everybody got robbed and robbed and robbed.” (Fat Joe, 08:11)

Joining Native Tongues: The Queen Latifah Connection

• Monie details her introduction to the Native Tongues crew through a mini-touring event brought over by ambassador Dave Klein.
  • Her first meeting with Queen Latifah and the Jungle Brothers led to her being inducted into the collective and eventually collaborating on “Ladies First.”
  • “Latifah had a bigger plan... She wanted to do something that... spoke to women—big ups, strengthening women, fist in the air.” (Monie Love, 12:22)
• Monie describes the high-energy, collaborative recording process of “Ladies First,” writing verses in real time and running between studio corners to share them.

The Evolution of Female MCs & Industry Dynamics

• The hosts and Monie compare the earlier sense of “family rolling” among crews—male and female solidarity—to the current era’s more individualistic approach among top female artists.
  • “I think it’s more independent individualism, entities like that.” (Monie Love, 20:45)
• There’s pointed commentary on gatekeeping in hip hop, preservation of legacy, and industry politics—especially for women who became pregnant during their careers and the pressure to hide it.
  • “They shamed us. Especially in my time, they shamed us... I was three months pregnant... And the label reps were like, ‘What are you gonna do?’” (Monie Love, 36:23)

Cardi B, Social Media, and Star Power

• The hosts unanimously agree that Cardi B is a master of social media, attributing her enduring popularity to authenticity and relatability rather than just hits.
  • “She could wake up... not even be in one of her outfits yet, and it's a top post because there's always a level of relatability... She just. Without even trying.” (Monie Love, 33:34)
• Monie draws parallels between her own public pregnancy during her prime and Cardi’s, both facing and pushing back against industry pushback.

Radio Wars: Hot 97 vs. Power 105 – The Artist’s Struggle

• Monie details her unexpected transition to radio, from training for her FCC license to 10 years at Hot 97 and later Power 105, sharing inside perspective on the intense, often cutthroat radio politics.
• Fat Joe and Monie reflect on the dilemmas artists faced navigating loyalty between major stations, market politics, and the pressure to “pick a side.”
  • “We just wanna make this music... as an artist you shouldn’t have to worry about that… You should be creating, you know, the art and then let that rock.” (Monie Love, 49:03)

Paying Homage: Influential Female MCs and Hip Hop Legends

• Monie Love names women who “gave her the gusto” to pursue rapping:
  • Pebbly Poo – “She instantly was like one of my favorites.”
  • Roxanne Shante – “She was fearless. She'd take on anyone, anywhere, anytime.”
  • Salt-N-Pepa – “Everybody that embraces their body in their image today took a page out of Salt-N-Pepa's book.”
  • MC Lyte – “Her superstar presence even in high school inspired me.”
• Personal stories are told about running into legends at pivotal moments, from Guru to Chubb Rock, underscoring hip hop’s interconnected lineage and the importance of acknowledging influence.
  • “As men... we don’t really sit people down and tell them how much they influenced us...” (Fat Joe, 69:33)

Wisdom, Research, and Preservation of Hip Hop Culture

• The trio discuss the vital importance of younger artists knowing their history and researching those who came before.
  • “It behooves a person to know what came before them because it helps them do what they do even better... That's why it's called research.” (Monie Love, 22:22)
• Analogies to boxing (“Floyd Mayweather switched his style mid-fight after studying tape”) reinforce the need for legacy awareness in every field.

Interpersonal Stories & Social Media Realities

• Monie recounts a misunderstanding stemming from an online comment by Fat Joe, turning it into a lesson on social media entitlement and the behind-the-scenes bonds among hip hop artists.
  • “Relax on social media, okay? ... You don’t get to tell me how I speak to Joey, because that’s my little brother.” (Monie Love, 60:39–63:53)
  • She highlights Joe's support of her family during hard times as an example of real-life connections unseen by online observers.

Hip Hop Consciousness

• The group discusses the role of conscious lyrics and messages, citing artists like KRS-One and Nas, and regrets the diminishing presence of socially aware music today.
  • “You missing that in hip hop today, people dropping them type of jewels where the next generation could feel proud and know where they came from.” (Fat Joe, 73:06)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Monie Love on Queen Latifah’s leadership:
  “Latifah always seems to have this, like, science, this mad scientist mindset... She knew what she was doing. I’m just the rowdy one... But she knew she wanted to do something that made sense, that spoke to women.” (12:02)

• On hip hop research:
  “The study of what comes before you is what helps to make you great at what you do in any field.” (Monie Love, 27:16)

• On Cardi B's appeal:
  “We still like her first. Thank you for saying that. I did like her first before anything.” (Monie Love, 34:02)

• On industry sexism:
  “They shamed us... The label reps were like, ‘What are you gonna do?’ And I was like... it means I’m having a baby. What you think it means?” (Monie Love, 36:23)

• On social media and real-life bonds:
  “Relax on social media, okay? ... You don’t get to tell me how I speak to Joey, because that’s my little brother.” (Monie Love, 60:39–63:53)

Key Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment/Key Topic | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 03:05 | Monie on “Monie in the Middle” and its legacy | | 05:14 | UK hip hop scene and Slick Rick’s origins | | 06:34 | Monie’s first record deal at 16; father’s skepticism | | 10:00–11:09| Native Tongues: Meeting Queen Latifah & Jungle Bros | | 12:22 | “Ladies First” recording session | | 20:45 | The shift from hip hop crews to individualism | | 33:34 | Cardi B’s star power through social media | | 36:23 | Industry pressure on pregnant female artists | | 49:03 | Radio politics and impact on artists | | 51:02–55:00| Female MCs who inspired Monie Love | | 63:22 | Monie on her real-life bond with Fat Joe | | 73:06 | The lost art of conscious rap in current hip hop |

Conclusion

The episode is a heartfelt, entertaining, and enlightening deep dive into hip hop culture and history. Monie Love’s memories and analysis provide crucial context for younger listeners and fans. The chemistry and camaraderie between the hosts and their guest give the conversation humor, heart, and substance, skillfully linking hip hop’s past, present, and future.