Hip-hop veteran Jadakiss recently sat down with Fat Joe for a candid conversation about misconceptions surrounding his upbringing. While many rappers come from poverty and broken homes, Jadakiss made it clear that having both parents in the household didn’t mean he grew up privileged—or that his struggles were any less real.
“Some [people] in the comments think I grew up like the Huxtables,” Jadakiss said. “I don’t know what’s wrong with these people… Coming from where we come from, it’s a beautiful thing to have both of your parents.”
The Yonkers native broke down the reality of his childhood: his mother worked hard, his father battled and eventually overcame drug addiction, and despite being smart and athletic, Jadakiss still spent plenty of time in the streets. “Do that mean we wasn’t in the street? No. Do that mean our household [had] gold spoons? No,” he explained. “Just ask the people, just ask the cops.”
Jadakiss also touched on a larger stigma in hip-hop—that rappers who had both parents are somehow less authentic. “It’s a blessing to have both of your parents. If you can have both, that’s a beautiful thing,” he said, calling out what he described as an “illusion” in rap culture that equates dysfunction with credibility.
Fat Joe cosigned the message, adding his own perspective on family and the challenges of helping loved ones while navigating fame and success. He shared personal stories about supporting his parents, dealing with relatives who took advantage of him, and the heartbreak of family members threatening to exploit his name.
The conversation shifted toward the importance of maintaining ties with parents, no matter the circumstances. Fat Joe cautioned against cutting off one’s mother or father, saying: “I never respected men who get a wife and get so in love with them that they forget their mother… It should never be no reason for you to cut off your moms or your parents.”
Together, Jadakiss and Fat Joe used the moment to push back on stereotypes in hip-hop and to emphasize the value of family—even when it’s complicated. For Jadakiss, the message was simple: having two parents wasn’t a sign of privilege, but rather a blessing he refuses to downplay.
Source: YouTube
