Fat Joe Hits Back At Critics Over BET Hip Hop Awards Hosting: "This Black & Brown Unity"

BY Erika Marie 4.6K Views
Link Copied to Clipboard!
Paras Griffin / Stringer / Getty Images
Fat Joe
Naysayers complained about a non-Black host, but Fat Joe emphasized that throughout his career, he's always been about "Black and Brown together."

This October, we'll once again be celebrating the culture at the BET Hip Hop Awards. It was recently announced that Fat Joe would be this year's host at the coveted event, making this one a ceremony that fans won't want to miss. However, there has been a little bit of pushback over the Bronx emcee acting as the award show's master of ceremonies, and it is something that Joe doesn't want to entertain.

Some social media users took to their favorite platforms to complain about a non-Black person being hired for the gig, but to Fat Joe, Hip Hop has always been about uniting people together.


The Rap icon reportedly caught up Jazmyn Summers of iHeart Radio and EURWeb Spotlight to address his upcoming hosting opportunity as well as the buzzing controversy.

“It finally happened and I am so honored and excited,” said Joe. “As far as me, it’s always been about Black and Brown unity. As soon as we realize that we all are one, that’s when we’ll become stronger in numbers. So when you hear Big Pun‘s first single 'Boricua Morena,' we been steady preaching this Black and Brown unity. Support Black-owned businesses, and Brown-owned businesses. Support your kids. Support your people out there."

“Go out there and influence them. Go out there and inspire them because our people – Black and Brown together – need that little push.”

Amid his BET Hip Hop Awards news, it was also announced that Joe and Sean "Diddy" Combs were slated to develop a new series that may find the "Lean Back" rapper interviewing his peers—this time, away from Livestream. 

Do you think Fat Joe was a good choice as a host?

[via]


About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.