Fat Joe surprised the industry with his 2017 jump to Roc Nation, but a story behind the scenes shows why it was a no-brainer. His deal, originally valued at $1 million, magically morphed into $3.5 million before he even signed the dotted line.
On the Club Shay Shay podcast, Fat Joe shed light on the lucrative maneuver orchestrated by Desiree Perez. She called him to discuss joining Roc Nation, while already having Jay-Z on the ‘All the Way Up (Remix).’ Fat Joe was negotiating a $1 million deal at the time.
Perez suggested calling the dealmaker to renegotiate. Her astonishing proposal led to a cool $3.5 million on the spot. Joe was amazed at the power move, saying, ‘I come from nothing. When I seen that type of power, I was like, ‘Oh I need that!’ Hence, the partnership commenced.
Joe’s Roc Nation chapter has been golden. Hosting the BET Hip Hop Awards and his own show on STARZ, he truly hit new heights. A testimony to his status, Joe even received the key to New York City from Mayor Eric Adams.
The ceremony sparkled with stars like Funk Flex and Doug E. Fresh. However, Joe admitted to facing some backlash. ‘I get the key to the city [on] the 20th and, boy, was that a hard one,’ he expressed.
Despite the criticism, Joe emphasized his unshakable bond with the streets of New York, asserting nobody else keeps it realer or does more for the community.
Fat Joe’s transition to Roc Nation marked a pivotal turn in his career, and with the backing of such powerful figures, he’s only continued to soar higher. His journey speaks volumes about leveraging the right opportunities at the right time.
