The Joe and Jada Show: Wale Tells Wild Kanye West Story, Talks Rihanna & Usher Collabs & New Album

Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd (iHeartPodcasts & The Volume)
Date: November 6, 2025
Main Guests: Fat Joe, Jadakiss (Jada), Wale

Overview

This episode of The Joe and Jada Show is centered around an in-depth conversation with DMV rapper Wale. The hosts, Fat Joe and Jada, cover a wide range of topics, including Wale’s musical journey, sneaker culture, the story behind his new album "Everything is a Lot," notable collaborations (Rihanna, Usher), the difficulties of music clearances (including a wild Kanye West experience), sports passion, and reflections on the current state of the music industry. The episode is a lively, candid, and often humorous glimpse into hip-hop culture, guided by three charismatic and insightful voices.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Welcoming Wale & DMV Roots

[03:21–04:58]

• Wale gets a hyped intro from Joe and Jada.
• Talks about the influence of the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia’) on his life and career.
• Fat Joe reminisces on learning DMV culture while attending BET-oriented events in D.C.
• Wale appreciates being recognized but jokes about people thinking his stories sound like lies:
  • “A lot of niggas grew up listening to me... I know my shit be sounding like lies, too.” (Wale, [04:58])

2. Sneakerhead Culture

[06:03–06:59]

• Wale shares origins of his sneaker passion, which started young but blossomed in high school.
• Observes the sneaker game is “burnt out,” and he now focuses more on what he likes rather than hype releases:
  • “Now I get clearance rack shit and just pop it off... I wear whatever I like.” (Wale, [06:44])
• Fat Joe and Wale riff about nostalgia and hoop shoes.

3. The Legacy of D’Angelo & Angie Stone

[07:10–09:08]

• Mourning D’Angelo’s impact, especially on hip-hop and Go-Go scenes.
• Interesting aside about Angie Stone's early rap career and her influence on the genre’s beginnings.

4. Wale’s New Album: “Everything Is A Lot”

[09:17–14:14]

• Album marks Wale’s return after a four-year hiatus due to label, management changes, and industry layoffs.
• Record reflects personal and professional developments and struggles:
  • “It’s really about everything that’s been happening from my last album to now, like, with me, like in my mind and my surroundings.” (Wale, [09:23])
• Fat Joe praises the album’s authenticity and “Afrobeats conundrum” sound, noting Wale’s Nigerian heritage comes through musically.

5. Notable Features and Songwriting Stories

[15:22–19:58]

• The making of “Conundrum” and how features are kept secret for fans to “absorb” the music.
• Discussion of LL Cool J’s habit of not giving feature credits, with Wale and Fat Joe reflecting on uncredited artists in hip-hop classics.
• Wale reflects on how streaming culture has changed how artists are recognized.

6. Wild Kanye West Collaboration Story

[27:34–28:55]

• Wale details working with Kanye in Paris, writing for him, and trying to get Kanye to guest on “Girls on Drugs.”
• Kanye insists a track is “go-go,” disagrees with Wale, and ultimately does not clear the feature:
  • “He gave me like, one of your biggest songs ever. And I’m like, damn, I ain’t even cleared it.” (Wale, [28:31])
• Fat Joe and Wale agree, clearances are perilous; “shit ain’t over till it’s over.”

7. The Rihanna, Usher, & Other Collaborations

[25:11–27:45]; [29:44–31:19]

• Rihanna:
  • Wale met her before his breakthrough, connected through Roc Nation, and snagged her rare studio time:
    “One day, she was ready, I said, bro, everybody get the fuck out... And she just did it.” (Wale, [26:00])
• Usher:
  • Accidental, effortless—producers thought he’d sound great, and he delivered and cleared the song quickly.
  • Fat Joe and Wale joke about how hard it is to get favors (or sneakers) from Usher.

8. Sports: Hip-Hop, Rivalries & Fan Talk

[41:10–46:52]

• Wale reminisces about his football days, almost making it to the NFL, and learning the game in Miami and college.
• Extended riffing among all three on their favorite NFL/NBA teams, New York vs. Miami culture, and the perpetual heartbreak of fandom.
• Fat Joe, ever optimistic about the New York Knicks:
  • “No, we’re winning the chip this year. That’s what I’m trying to tell you. Basketball’s my life.” (Fat Joe, [46:45])

9. The State of the Music Industry

[51:07–55:57]

• Major changes in industry landscape since Wale’s previous album: layoffs, new staff, fast changes in taste.
• Both artists lament a lack of passion among new gatekeepers and the pressures on older industry folk.
• Discussion about age in hip-hop, youth culture taking over, and the challenge for established artists and execs.
• Fat Joe uses Kanye West as an example of big artists joining brands and being managed by much younger staff:
  • “He a fucking billionaire and they put him to talk to somebody’s son when he’s discussing his sneakers... I’m keeping the lights on in Adidas.” (Fat Joe, [55:00])

10. Mental Health, Trauma, and Vices in the Industry

[62:12–63:41]

• Fat Joe asks about struggles with drinking and addiction among artists.
• Wale shares the universal trauma in a long-term rap career and how vices factor in:
  • “If you’ve been in this gym longer than like six years, you’ve been through some traumatic shit.” (Wale, [62:20])
  • “We all have indulged in vices at particular moments... cuz this shit wasn’t made for all this.”
• Fat Joe echoes how hard it is to “stay perfect” under pressure:
  • “Sometimes they try to kill me, Wale. I’m not even lying.” (Fat Joe, [63:01])

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the authenticity of the album:
  “You did what you love to do. And the fire.” — Fat Joe ([14:46])

• On features:
  “That’s the new thing. You don’t put the feature a day after. Let people absorb me.” — Wale ([19:00])

• On music industry change:
  “It’s the wild, wild west right now.” — Wale ([51:29])

• On negotiating in business:
  “You don’t get what you ask for. You get what you negotiate.” — Jada ([56:08])

• On the music life:
  “Everything’s a lot.” — Wale (Repeated as the album/episode theme, e.g. [63:34])

Notable Timestamps

• 03:21 – Official intro and Wale’s welcome
• 06:03 – Sneaker passion & culture
• 07:10 – Legacy of D’Angelo
• 09:23 – Wale on new album & industry layoffs
• 15:22 – Breakdown of album, “Afrobeats conundrum”
• 25:11 – Rihanna story
• 27:34 – Kanye story: writing, not getting cleared
• 29:44 – Usher collaboration story
• 41:10 – Wale’s football past
• 51:07 – Reflections on music industry changes, Def Jam
• 62:12 – Mental health in hip-hop
• 63:34 – The meaning behind "Belly" and “Everything’s a Lot”
• 67:54 – Show closes with album promo and gratitude

Standout Segments

The Kanye West Collaboration Gone Wrong

[27:34–28:55]
Wale recounts the confusion and frustration when writing for Kanye in Paris, trying unsuccessfully to clear a Kanye feature after being told it was one of his “biggest songs ever.” Demonstrates the unpredictable and sometimes ego-driven politics of high-level collaboration.

The Rihanna Studio Session

[25:11–26:00]
Wale nostalgically remembers getting rare studio time with Rihanna after much persistence. The story underlines how much timing, networking, and a bit of serendipity matter in grabbing superstar features.

The Album’s Emotional and Cultural Roots

[14:14–16:08]
Fat Joe praises Wale’s embrace of Nigerian heritage and authenticity on the new album, with both reflecting on avoiding genre hopping for clout:
“You sounded African on this… You did it right.” — Fat Joe

Tone & Style

The episode is energetic, occasionally chaotic, and filled with the kind of ribbing, camaraderie, and real talk that only happens between true insiders. The hosts and guest are candid about struggles, the industry’s evolution, and the highs and lows of the spotlight, always maintaining a playful and authentic vibe.

In Summary

Wale sits down for a raw, insightful, and often hilarious conversation with Fat Joe and Jada. Together, they cover the intersections of music, culture, sports, and personal evolution, highlighting everything from failed collabs with Kanye, bagging Rihanna and Usher features, to the emotional toll of hip-hop life. Wale’s new album, "Everything is a Lot" (out Nov 14), stands as both a personal statement and cultural commentary, reflecting the challenges of staying true to oneself in a rapidly changing industry.

Key Takeaway:
If you want unfiltered stories from one of hip-hop’s most enduring artists, deep dives into culture, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and some of the best sports trash talk in the game, this episode is not to be missed.