Fat Joe is giving Kendrick Lamar his flowers—big time.
During the premiere episode of “Joe and Jada,” a brand-new podcast hosted by Fat Joe and Jadakiss, the Bronx rapper praised Kendrick for his monumental impact over the past year, especially in the wake of his lyrical battle with Drake.
Jadakiss opened the conversation by reflecting on the one-year anniversary of the Kendrick vs. Drake beef, saying:
“One year since the Kendrick and Drake discrepancy—what they like to call ‘beef’ in the media world. Thank God nothing really happened to anybody physically. Personally, I thought it was about four or five months ago. I can’t believe it’s already been a year.”
Fat Joe chimed in with amazement at Kendrick’s lasting impact:
“How is it a year? But what I can tell you is, boy, that Kendrick Lamar gets some spins on LA radio…”
Fat Joe: “Not Even Snoop or Tupac Dominated Like This”
Jadakiss noted that many Los Angeles artists get local airplay, but Joe pushed back, asserting that Kendrick’s dominance is unlike anything he’s ever witnessed—even when compared to legends like Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur.
“I was there last week. I’ve never seen nothing like that. Every single song, ‘Turn his TV off…’ What? It’s a fact. Kendrick Lamar gets played nine out of every 10 songs in L.A. right now,” he said.
“Not even Snoop, not even Tupac—nobody from L.A. has dominated the paint like this guy. If you’re from L.A., you probably think there’s only one guy on Earth: Kendrick Lamar. I’m just keeping it a buck with you.”
Jadakiss On Modern Rap Beefs: “It Got a Little Wacky”
While agreeing that Kendrick’s had a “helluva career,” Jadakiss admitted that today’s rap beefs feel different from those of past eras.
“It’s always good as long as it stays on wax,” he explained. “Now, when it first started, somebody says something about you, you gotta go to the studio immediately… Now it turns into movie skits, animations, retrieving fake information—it got a little wacky for me. I like it to be beats and rhymes and keep it like that.”
He added that once the lyrical battles evolved into elaborate internet theatrics, it became less interesting to him.
Kendrick’s Reign Still Strong a Year Later
Kendrick Lamar’s beef with Drake may be a year behind him, but his grip on the culture—especially in L.A.—remains unshaken. With co-signs like this from industry icons like Fat Joe and Jadakiss, it’s clear that Kendrick’s recent run is being viewed as one of the most impactful in hip-hop history.
