Fat Joe Is Bringing His Classics Back To Tiny Desk This Week

The first time Fat Joe appeared on NPR's Tiny Desk, he brought the concert to his own turf. Five years later, the Bronx rapper is preparing for another round, with a new performance set to premiere Thursday (Nov. 5). The announcement arrived Wednesday, giving listeners another chance to hear his catalog in the intimate concert format that has become a favorite among Hip Hop veterans.

NFR Podcast announced the upcoming performance on social media. A setlist and potential guest appearances haven't been revealed, leaving some questions about what Joe has prepared. However, the rapper has plenty of material to choose from, including music from his latest album, Organized Rhyme, which arrived in August.

Joe's original Tiny Desk (Home) performance premiered in June 2021, when NPR was still producing remote concerts because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than performing at the network's Washington, D.C., headquarters, he recorded his set inside his UP NYC sneaker boutique. Accompanied by a live band and DJ Ted Smooth, he ran through familiar records including "What's Luv?" and "Lean Back." Angelica Vila handled vocals on several selections, including the portions originally performed by Ashanti. The performance closed with "All the Way Up," his 2016 collaboration with Remy Ma.

His return comes a few months after releasing Organized Rhyme, a 12-track project produced with longtime collaborators Cool & Dre. The album features Jadakiss on "The Aroma," while Pusha T appears on "Set of Keys." Joe also reunited with Remy Ma for "Dead or Alive." Speaking with the Bronx Times ahead of its release, he explained that the project was intended for listeners who appreciate the Hip Hop culture he grew up in, rather than an attempt to follow trends.

That approach could make for an interesting Tiny Desk set, particularly if he incorporates his newer material alongside the hits that defined earlier periods of his career. The performance is expected to arrive Thursday through NPR Music's YouTube channel and Tiny Desk platform, where listeners can see what Joe has chosen for his second appearance.