Fat Joe and Jadakiss are never shy when it comes to voicing their thoughts on hip-hop’s changing culture—and in a recent conversation on their podcast, the two veterans tackled one of the most controversial topics in the game: snitching. For decades, the unspoken “no-snitch code” defined street credibility and authenticity in rap. But according to Joe and Jadakiss, that code is gone.
“What was the event in hip-hop that broke the camel’s back?” Fat Joe asked. “Where we had a code, and now there just isn’t no code no more?” He compared the rise of accepted informants in rap to an infestation, saying, “They everywhere—like New York City rats.”
For Joe, the shift was undeniable the moment Tekashi 6ix9ine took the stand in his federal racketeering case, sent multiple men to prison, and then returned home to millions of viewers on Instagram Live. “Two million people tuned in to see a rat,” Joe said, adding that it signaled to an entire generation that you could cooperate with the feds, come home, and still be a star.
Jadakiss chimed in, agreeing that the culture has changed in ways that once seemed unthinkable. The conversation soon veered toward Gunna, whose Alford plea in the sweeping YSL RICO case has been criticized by some fans and peers. Fat Joe admitted he listened to Gunna’s album and thought it was “fire,” but said he felt guilty enjoying it. “Ever since I assume you a rat, I’m off you no matter what you do,” he explained, before confessing that even he got caught up in how good the music was.
To drive his point home, Joe shared a personal story about losing one of his best friends after the man cooperated with federal authorities. Despite years of loyalty and love, Joe said he cut ties completely once his friend “violated the code.” That, to him, is what makes today’s climate so hard to accept. “I loved him like a best friend,” Joe admitted, “but because of the code, I can’t f*** with him.”
For both rappers, the bigger issue isn’t just who’s cooperating—it’s how easily fans and the industry have decided it doesn’t matter. “It’s almost like people want to separate the art from the street,” Joe said. “But for me, there’s no separating it. The code is the code.”
Source: YouTube
