Fat Joe is grappling with an inner conflict that cuts to the core of hip-hop loyalty.
The Bronx veteran admits Gunna’s latest album, The Last Wun, has been in constant rotation for him, yet he refuses to embrace the artist behind it. For Joe, the reason is simple: he cannot condone “rats,” a word that continues to carry weight in rap’s unforgiving code.
On the newest episode of his podcast Joe and Jada, co-hosted with Jadakiss, Joe revealed how he discovered the album during a long flight. He admitted playing the project from start to finish without skipping a single track.
At first, Joe avoided naming Gunna, but Jadakiss pressed the issue and confirmed what many listeners suspected. The project, released last week, has already surged to No. 1 on the Billboard Rap Charts, cementing Gunna’s continued dominance despite controversy.
The dilemma is not purely about music for Joe—it is rooted in personal experience. He recalled a moment from his past when a close friend turned informant after facing federal charges.
According to Joe, Dominican dealers confronted him inside a restaurant over his friend’s betrayal, forcing him to stand his ground. That episode left a permanent scar.
Joe says he never spoke to that friend again, even after hearing the man struggled through New York winters without a jacket. For him, betrayal carries no second chances.
Jadakiss challenged Joe during the podcast, pointing out the contradiction of enjoying an album created by an artist he refuses to fully support. Joe, however, insists his principles remain intact. While the music may resonate, he draws a hard line between appreciation and endorsement.
Gunna’s standing in hip-hop remains divisive. His testimony during the YSL RICO trial, where he acknowledged Young Thug’s label also functioned as a gang, left fans split. His lawyers maintained it was not cooperation with prosecutors, yet in rap culture, the distinction means little.
Despite criticism from figures like Young Thug, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, and Freddie Gibbs, Gunna’s momentum shows no signs of slowing. His chart-topping success continues to fuel debate across the industry.
For Fat Joe, the contradiction lingers. He may ride to Gunna’s music, but his code refuses to bend.
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