Sep 21, 2026 · 2h 12m
Fat Joe traces Terror Squad’s rise from Bronx hustle to hip-hop institution
The Real Report - Fat Joe on beefing with 50 Cent & Jay-Z, Terror Squad TS sneaker release, Big Pun’s legacy, & Organized Rhyme
Fat Joe connects personal loyalty, artist development, business instincts, and community service to the staying power of Terror Squad.
- 1Fat Joe frames Terror Squad’s legacy through his discovery of Big Pun, support for Remy Ma, and commitment to artist development.
- 2The conversation revisits the rivalries and collaborations surrounding “Lean Back,” 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Ja Rule, and “Candy Shop.”
- 3Sneakers, fashion, charity, and entrepreneurship emerge as extensions of the same relentless work ethic that shaped Joe’s music career.
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Fat Joe explains how he recognized Big Pun’s rare talent and positioned him as a Spanish counterpart to Biggie Smalls.
The brief
Fat Joe, Uncle Murda, and Tony Yayo place Joe’s career in the Bronx’s DJ-driven culture, where local influence, touring, and street credibility shaped his early rise.
Joe describes building Terror Squad by recognizing talent, especially Big Pun and Remy Ma, while treating loyalty and financial support as part of leadership.
The episode revisits the tensions around “Lean Back,” 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Ja Rule, and “Candy Shop,” showing how rivalry and collaboration fed rap’s commercial engine.
Joe’s stories about Dapper Dan, sneaker releases, Michael Jordan, and Nike extend the music narrative into fashion and entrepreneurship without leaving New York street culture.
The conversation closes on Organized Rhyme, missed opportunities, charitable work, and the discipline of staying useful across multiple generations of hip-hop.