Fat Joe talks about rappers endorsing Trump and the state of hip-hop journalism

In episode one of Fat Joe Conversationsthe Bronx rapper and Method man discuss the limits placed on them as hip-hop artists in the ’90s and 2000s, how they couldn’t show their true personalities and always had to look tough for the cameras. But those days are long gone, says presenter Fat Joe.

“Not in 2024,” he says The Hollywood Reporter“2024 is about showing who you are and what your personality is.”

Positivity is the aspect of his identity that Fat Joe wants to show the most these days. That’s why he cooperated Starz to launch his new interview series, which has been airing weekly since its October 4 debut. So far, he’s spoken with Omari Hardwick, Mary J. Blige, LL Cool J and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries about their influence on pop culture.

“Everything you see in it Fat Joe talks is positivity and uplifting people and providing inspiration and motivation,” says Fat Joe THR. “This isn’t the show where you’re going to see clickbait or drama and stuff like that.”

That is also why he refuses to comment on the case current allegations against Diddy and their potential impact on the music industry and hip-hop culture when asked – an unsurprising decision considering his stance on the relationship between the media and entertainers.

‘You have to think about it. You are an artist, you took the time to do an interview with a journalist. The last thing you want is to sit in front of them and have them harass you and start spreading clickbait and rumors about you,” he explains. “You have to think about what has been happening to artists for years.”

Below, Fat Joe shares further thoughts on hip-hop journalism, presidential candidates tapping rap artists for their campaigns and rappers endorsing Trump, as well as his plans for new music and the realities of aging in the rap industry.

What made you create Fat Joe talks and what do you want to bring to this show that is different from other shows out there?

It started in COVID on my Instagram. My daughter told me to start living. So I went live and talked to the people, and the next day they told me to do the same. The next thing I had was a TV show on Instagram. Whoever you call it, Dr. (Anthony) Fauci, Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather, I had them all on the show and Starz contacted me and said, this could be a real TV show, and we started negotiating ever since. The whole concept of Fat Joe talks is turning the negative into something positive, as Piggy used to say. This is all about everyone’s practical experience. It’s how they grew up, what they went through. How did they become icons? How do they change the culture? This is all elevation. This is not a shock jock. That’s the biggest difference between this show and every other show on TV, especially those focused on hip-hop.

Many former rappers are finding success with podcasts and interview shows, for example Joe Budden and Noreaga. Why do you think that is at this point?

It’s time we grew up in the role of commentary. When you watch basketball, you see Charles Barkley, Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith. These are all famous players who have done it, put in the time and understand the game from every lens. So it’s only right that Cam’ron and Mase have a show, NORE has the #1 show and Joe Budden has a show. These are people who have experienced it. People know them and trust them, so they tune in.

Have you spoken to any of them for tips?

No, I know what to do. I’m rooting for Oprah, man. That’s the only person who can give me a tip.

There’s a wide-ranging conversation about the current state of hip-hop journalism – and entertainment journalism in general – with the sentiment being that artists would rather create content with influencers and streamers than be interviewed by journalists. Is that true?

I believe it’s true. I also believe that the old guard of hip-hop journalists have caused a lot of conflict and may even have blood on their hands. If you’re talking East Coast-West Coast, Biggie-Tupac, that thing got amped up and they both ended up dead. And when I look at the so-called journalists who have been here from day one, ever since Mood And The Source and all that, to this day, when they interview people and do podcasts themselves, it’s always a negative route. These were the people when we didn’t have social media or podcasts, they controlled the game and it was always a negative story. Back in the day, if you didn’t get shot nine times or spend ten years in prison, they wouldn’t consider you a good rapper. It was terrible. So I kind of agree with the young boys and young girls. They say you should spread your message the way you want and where you feel comfortable, where people aren’t here to bother you. That’s why I did that Fat Joe talks. This way we can discuss exactly what the artist wants to talk about in a positive light. I used to go to interviews and they’d be like, “Joe, what’s going on with Rapper X?” I never even met the brother. And before you know it you got into an argument with Rapper

You recently interviewed Kamala Harris for the BET Hip Hop Awards.

Yeah, that was cool.

Were you intimidated at all?

No, I know her, so I wasn’t. I think I was a little nervous the first or second time I hung out with Madam Vice President, but I see her all the time now. I don’t take it for granted. I know she’s the vice president, but I’ve seen her a number of times to the point where the butterflies disappeared. Now I see her, and I say, ‘Hey, Madam Vice President. Hey, owww.” We chop it into pieces. It’s a little different.

Both sides of the campaign have called on hip-hop stars to help get the message out. Why do you think rappers have become so coveted during this election season?

Hip-hop is the voice of the people. It has always been the truth. You have to understand this art form, started by oppressed people who had nothing and in a sense became the CNN of the streets. Who can you trust more than a rapper? The problem is that some rappers think of themselves individually. “Yo, I make a lot of money, let me save with the Republicans with Trump, with taxes.” But they don’t realize that they speak for a people. You think you’re saving taxes, but what about the little guy we come from? What about women’s reproductive rights? What about Social Security and Medicare? So there are two ways to look at it. Sometimes when I see rappers come up there and say, “Yes, Trump is the best!” (I think), yes, Trump will save you some taxes if you are a millionaire and rich.

Black men have said they feel like no one is taking their specific concerns into account during the election cycle. Is there a similar sentiment among Latino men?

Latino men have very different rules. I wish we were much more aligned, because if you had Latinos and Black people voting the same way and seeing the world the same way, we would be the most powerful force in America. But there are other concerns for them. Many Latinos are engaged in the immigration conversation. It’s different.

You started this season of Fat Joe talks with a conversation with Method Man. Fellow Wu-Tang rapper RZA recently said that New York rappers have lost their creativity. Do you agree?

I haven’t seen that interview, but what I can say is that there is always hope for hip-hop to come back from New York City. I’m dropping a project in a month; it’s called The world has changed on me. I feel like I’m the last guy with a bodega and the neighborhood is gentrifying. So that’s where I am now with hip hop. I know my album doesn’t lack creativity, but RZA, he’s a legend, he’s an icon, and when he says it, there’s some truth to it.

At the BMAC gala in September LL Cool J talked about releasing his new album at the age of 56 and he said he did it for a few reasons. First, he was tired of people liking hip-hop culture and the music being disposable. And second, we’re trained to think that if an artist doesn’t release a project for a while, their career is over. Do you recognize yourself at all with that feeling?

I see that in the aspect of creating and releasing music. As if Rob Base is performing somewhere tonight. Sugarhill Gang is performing somewhere. This world is so big and hip hop music is so universal that your favorite artists from the past are performing. And so on that level it continues. I had the privilege of meeting LL. I see what he says. He says, listen, back in the day, when we were really, really young, we were like, “Yo, you’re 40 years old and rapping?” Now that you’re that age, what do you do? A baker doesn’t stop baking, a mechanic doesn’t stop repairing cars. That’s what you like to do. So you make music. And so I feel exactly the same in my feelings when it comes to creating. God gave us a gift. Why stop? Why put restrictions on the gift? I am convinced that artists should be able to release projects for as long as they want.

Who is your dream guest for? Fat Joe talks?

My dream guest would be Jay-Z and Beyoncé – or Obama. Not just Jay-Z, not just Beyoncé, I’m talking about Jay-Z And Beyonce. America’s favorite couple in this show together. If not, I’ll take Obama as a close second.

What do you want to ask them?

I don’t know, it would be much more about family life: balancing careers with family life and raising children while traveling. Beyoncé is quite a company. Jay-Z is a whole company. So how interesting is that dynamic to continue working and raising kids and staying out of BS at this point.