There's a simple charm in hearing Fat Joe reflect on hip-hop culture, as the Terror Squad emcee's love for the craft is as wholesome as they come. Most recently, Joe has opened up and shared a few stories about his experience navigating the game, and he recently connected with the Drink Champs crew to reflect on the possibility of an Eminem Vezuz battle -- as well as his predicted outcome.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
"I don't know who want to battle Eminem," warns Joe, after EFN suggests Busta Rhymes would be a worthy opponent. "I don't think nobody can fuck with Eminem." When NORE counters with DMX, who was recently offered that exact battle by Swizz Beatz, Joe doubles down. "DMX got the biggest hits in the world, one of the greatest rappers of all time. Legendary, iconic, superhero. And everything I'm saying is understating, he's bigger than that. But there's something about that white boy and his fans -- nah bro, you want to see something cracking the internet? That n***a David Koresh, that n***a different!"
"Eminem was hot when we came out," continues Joe. "His fans from day one are forty, forty-five years old. These white people teach their kids that Eminem is the greatest. You go to the airports and ten-year-olds are playing his shit...There's a big difference with his boy. When you say generational wealth, they keep teaching their kids that he's the man to the ultimate science."
He also takes a moment to marvel at Em's work ethic, which he experienced first hand. "Eminem's the only guy that sent me the 'Lean Back' remix, he sent me that same verse thirty times. Saying it with a different tone, a lighter tone. He wouldn't make up his mind -- thirty different takes and verses! The same verse! Different flows, different highs, lows. I don't know what to tell you, this guy is such a perfectionist!"