Hip-hop runs on loyalty, and few rappers take that code more seriously than Fat Joe.
But on a recent episode of his podcast Joe and Jada, co-hosted with Jadakiss, the Bronx legend confessed to a conflict that’s left him torn: he loves Gunna’s new album … but refuses to stand behind the artist who made it.
“I can’t stop playing it. I didn’t skip a single track,” Joe admitted of The Last Wun, which dropped last week.
“But you know me—I don’t support no rats.”
The statement perfectly captures Joe’s dilemma: the music speaks to him, but his street code won’t allow him to endorse Gunna himself.
How Fat Joe Found Himself Hooked on Gunna’s Album
Joe explained how he stumbled onto Gunna’s project during a long flight. Out of curiosity, he pressed play—and before he knew it, he’d run through the album start to finish.
The project, fueled by heavy anticipation and controversy, quickly shot to No. 1 on the Billboard Rap Charts, proving that Gunna remains a dominant force despite being one of the most polarizing figures in hip-hop today.
At first, Joe avoided mentioning Gunna by name. But when Jadakiss pressed him on-air, Joe confirmed what fans had already guessed: he’s been riding to The Last Wun nonstop.
The Roots of Fat Joe’s Code
Joe’s refusal to support Gunna goes beyond music—it’s personal.
On the podcast, he recalled a painful chapter from his past involving a close friend who turned informant after catching federal charges.
Joe shared how the betrayal spilled into his own life, recounting a confrontation at a restaurant where Dominican dealers pressed him about his friend’s cooperation.
“They came at me like I was the one who told,” Joe explained. “I had to stand tall in that moment.”
The fallout left a scar that never healed. Joe said he cut ties with the friend permanently—even after hearing the man was struggling through New York winters without a jacket.
“Once you betray me like that, there’s no coming back.”
That experience hardened Joe’s stance: loyalty is everything, and rats get no passes.
Jadakiss Calls Out the Contradiction
During the podcast, Jadakiss couldn’t help but point out the contradiction in Joe’s stance.
“How you gon’ say you don’t rock with rats, but you blasting Gunna all day?” Kiss teased.
Joe didn’t flinch.
He admitted the music is great—but stressed that enjoying an album doesn’t mean he’s cosigning the artist behind it.
“The songs slap, no doubt. But my principles don’t change. I can appreciate the music without endorsing the man.”
Gunna’s Reputation in Hip-Hop: Still Divided
This all circles back to one of rap’s biggest ongoing debates: what does loyalty mean in the YSL RICO era?
- In 2022, Gunna shocked the culture when he took a plea deal in the YSL RICO trial, acknowledging in court that YSL functioned as a gang.
- His lawyers insisted this wasn’t cooperation with prosecutors, but in rap culture, the optics were enough to brand him a “snitch.”
- The fallout was immediate. Major artists like Young Thug, Lil Durk, Lil Baby, and Freddie Gibbs distanced themselves.
Yet despite the backlash, Gunna’s career hasn’t slowed down. His projects continue to chart at the top, his shows sell out, and his streaming numbers rival those of his biggest critics.
It’s a paradox: Gunna may be labeled a rat by the streets, but the music keeps winning.
Why This Debate Hits Different
Fat Joe’s internal struggle mirrors a bigger conversation happening across the culture:
- Can you separate the artist from their actions?
- Is “street code” still relevant in 2025’s rap industry?
- Do fans even care about authenticity anymore—or just the music?
For Joe, there’s no gray area. The scars from his own experience with betrayal won’t allow him to bend the rules. Even as he rides to Gunna’s music, he refuses to offer his public endorsement.
Final Thoughts
Fat Joe’s confession highlights a tension at the heart of modern hip-hop: the clash between street codes and commercial success.
Gunna’s rise shows that fans may not weigh loyalty the same way artists do. But for veterans like Fat Joe, those codes remain unshakable.
As Gunna continues to dominate the charts and Fat Joe continues to wrestle with his own code, one thing is clear: this debate isn’t going away anytime soon.
What do you think—should Fat Joe separate the music from the man, or is his loyalty code unbreakable? Drop your take below!
Keep it locked to The Pop Radar (TPR) for more on Fat Joe, Gunna, and hip-hop’s biggest debates.
