In episode one in all Fats Joe Talks, the Bronx rapper and Methodology Man focus on the boundaries that had been positioned on them as hip-hop artists within the ‘90s and 2000s, how they couldn’t present their true personalities and all the time needed to seem robust for the cameras. However these days are lengthy gone, says host Fats Joe.
“Not in 2024,” he tells The Hollywood Reporter, “2024 is all about displaying who you’re and what your persona is.”
Positivity is the side of his id Fats Joe is most keen on displaying today. It’s why he labored with Starz to launch his new interview collection, which has been airing weekly since its Oct. 4 debut. Thus far he’s chatted with Omari Hardwick, Mary J. Blige, LL Cool J and Home minority chief Hakeem Jeffries about their affect on popular culture.
“Every thing you see in Fats Joe Talks is positivity and uplifting the folks and giving them inspiration and motivation,” Fats Joe tells THR. “This ain’t the present the place you’re going to see clickbait or drama and issues of that nature.”
It’s additionally why he declines to touch upon the present allegations towards Diddy and their potential affect on the music business and hip-hop tradition when requested — an unsurprising choice when you think about his stance on the connection between the media and entertainers.
“You bought to consider it. You’re an artist, you took the day trip to go do an interview with a journalist. The very last thing you wish to do is go sit down in entrance of them and so they jam you up and begin with clickbait and rumors about you,” he explains. “You bought to consider what’s been taking place to artists for years and years.”
Under, Fats Joe shares additional ideas on hip-hop journalism, presidential candidates tapping rap artists for his or her campaigns and rappers endorsing Trump, in addition to his plans for brand spanking new music and the realities of getting older within the rap business.
What made you create Fats Joe Talks and what do you wish to carry to this present that’s totally different from different reveals on the market?
It began in COVID on my Instagram. My daughter advised me to go dwell. So I went on dwell and talked to the folks, after which the subsequent day she advised me to do the identical factor. The subsequent factor I had a TV present on Instagram. Whoever you title, Dr. [Anthony] Fauci, Mike Tyson, Floyd Mayweather, I had all of them on the present and Starz contacted me and stated, this may very well be an actual TV present, and we began negotiating since then. The entire idea of Fats Joe Talks is popping the unfavorable right into a constructive, like Biggie used to say. That is all about everyone’s real-life expertise. It’s how they grew up, what they went by way of. How did they develop into icons? How do they shift the tradition? That is all upliftment. This ain’t no shock jock. That’s the largest distinction between this present and some other present on TV, particularly that’s hip-hop oriented.
Plenty of former rappers are discovering success with podcasts and interview reveals, Joe Budden and Noreaga, for instance. Why do you assume that’s on this second?
It’s time that we grew up into the commentating position. In the event you take a look at basketball, you’ll see Charles Barkley, Corridor of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith these are all of the well-known gamers who did it, put time within the recreation and perceive the sport from each lens. So it’s solely proper that Cam’ron and Mase have a present, N.O.R.E has the No. 1 present, and Joe Budden has a present. These are individuals who lived by way of it. Folks know them and belief them, so that they tune in.
Did you discuss to any of them for ideas?
Nah, I do know what to do. I’m going for Oprah, man. That’s the one one that can provide me a tip.
There’s a big dialog being had in regards to the present state of hip-hop journalism — and leisure journalism on the whole — the sentiment being that artists would fairly create content material with influencers and streamers than be interviewed by journalists. Is that true?
I consider it’s true. I additionally consider that the outdated guard of hip-hop journalists created quite a lot of battle and may even have blood on their palms. While you discuss East Coast-West Coast, Biggie-Tupac, that factor was amplified, and so they each ended up lifeless. And once I take a look at the so-called journalists that had been right here from day one, since Vibe and The Supply and all that, nonetheless to today once they interview folks and so they do podcasts themselves, it’s all the time a unfavorable route. These had been the folks after we didn’t have social media or podcasts, they had been controlling the sport, and it was all the time a unfavorable narrative. Again within the day, in the event you didn’t get shot 9 occasions or went to jail for 10 years, they wouldn’t think about you a great rapper. It was horrible. So I form of agree with the younger boys and younger ladies. They’re saying get your message on the market nonetheless you need and the place you are feeling comfy, the place folks ain’t out right here to jam you up. That’s why I did Fats Joe Talks. So we might discuss precisely what the artist desires to speak about in a constructive gentle. I used to go to interviews, and so they’d be like, “Joe, what’s up with Rapper X?” I by no means even met the brother. After which subsequent factor you realize you bought beef with Rapper X over a journalist who wished to create a hype.
You latterly interviewed Kamala Harris for the BET Hip Hop Awards.
Yeah, that was cool.
Have been you intimidated in any respect?
Nah, I do know her, so I wasn’t. I believe the primary or second time I ever frolicked with Madam Vice President I used to be a little bit nervous, however I see her on a regular basis now. I’m not taking it with no consideration. I do know she’s the vice chairman, however I’ve seen her a bunch of occasions to the purpose the place the butterflies wore off. Now I see her, and I am going, “hey, Ms. Vice President. Heeey, owww.” We chop it up. It’s a little bit bit totally different.
Either side of the marketing campaign have referred to as on hip-hop stars to assist get the phrase out. Why do you assume rappers have develop into so coveted all through this election interval?
Hip-hop is the voice of the folks. It’s all the time been the reality. You bought to grasp this artwork kind began by oppressed people who had nothing and, in a way, grew to become the CNN of the streets. Who are you able to belief greater than a rapper? The issue is rappers, a few of them are interested by themselves individually. “Yo, I make some huge cash, let me save with Republicans with Trump, with taxes.” However they don’t notice they’re talking for a nation of individuals. You assume you’re saving taxes, however what in regards to the little man the place we come from? What about ladies’s reproductive rights? What about Social Safety and Medicare? So there’s two methods to take a look at it. Generally once I see rappers stand up there like, “Yeah, Trump is the most effective!” [I think], yeah Trump will prevent some taxes in the event you’re a millionaire and also you’re wealthy.
Black males have stated they really feel nobody caters to their particular issues through the election cycle. Is there an analogous sentiment amongst Latino males?
Latino males, they’ve a complete totally different algorithm. I want we had been rather more aligned as a result of in the event you acquired the Latinos and the Black folks voting the identical approach and looking out on the world the identical approach, then we’d be essentially the most highly effective drive in America. However there’s totally different issues for them. Plenty of Latinos, they’re into the immigration dialog. It’s totally different.
You started this season of Fats Joe Talks with a chat with Methodology Man. Fellow Wu-Tang rapper RZA not too long ago stated New York rappers have misplaced their creativity. Do you agree?
I haven’t seen that interview, however what I can say is there’s all the time hope that New York Metropolis hip-hop will come again. I’m dropping a mission in one other month; it’s referred to as The World Modified On Me. I really feel like I’m the final man with a bodega and the neighborhood is gentrifying. In order that’s the place I’m at with hip-hop proper now. I do know my album doesn’t lack creativity, however RZA, he’s a legend, he’s an icon, and if he says it, it’s acquired some fact to it.
On the BMAC Gala in September LL Cool J talked about releasing his new album at 56 and he stated he did it for a pair causes. One, he was uninterested in folks feeling like hip-hop tradition and the music is disposable. And two, we’ve been skilled to assume that if an artist doesn’t put out a mission shortly, their profession is over. Do you establish with that feeling in any respect?
I see that within the side of making and placing out music. Like Rob Base is performing tonight someplace. Sugarhill Gang is performing someplace. This world is so huge and hip-hop music is so common that your favourite artists from again within the day, they’re performing. And so in that side, it retains going. I had the privilege of interviewing LL. I see what he’s saying. He’s saying, hear, again within the day after we had been actual, actual younger, we’d be like, “Yo, you’re 40 years outdated and rapping?” Now you get that age, what do you do? A baker doesn’t cease baking, a mechanic doesn’t cease fixing vehicles. That’s what you like to do. So that you create music. And so I really feel the identical actual approach in my sentiments on the subject of creating. God gave us a present. Why cease? Why put limitations to the present? I completely consider artists ought to have the ability to put out initiatives so long as they need.
Who’s your dream visitor for Fats Joe Talks?
My dream visitor can be Jay-Z and Beyoncé — or Obama. Not simply Jay-Z, not simply Beyoncé, I’m speaking about Jay-Z and Beyoncé. America’s favourite couple on this present collectively. If not, I’ll take Obama as a detailed second.
What do you wish to ask them?
I don’t know, it will be rather more about household life: juggling careers with household life and elevating children in the course of touring. Beyoncé’s a complete firm. Jay-Z’s a complete firm. So how fascinating that dynamic is to proceed to work and lift children and keep out the bs on this second in time.
