Fat Joe Says 2024 Is the “Worst Year in Hip Hop History”

Fat Joe isn’t sugarcoating his thoughts on 2024, calling it the “worst year ever in hip hop history.”

The iconic “Lean Back” rapper shared his blunt assessment during a recent appearance on Math Hoffa’s My Expert Opinion podcast, where he opened up about his frustrations with the genre’s current state and its shifting cultural impact.

“I woke up 2024 feeling like [God dammit!] It’s been a horrible year,” Fat Joe said, pulling no punches. “I was just having a heated discussion with my people [about this].” While acknowledging his own personal milestones this year—including dropping The World Changed on Me and hosting the BET Awards—Joe didn’t hold back on his disappointment with the year’s musical output.

But his critique isn’t just about the music. Fat Joe pointed to the scrutiny surrounding hip hop’s legends, like Diddy and Jay-Z, as another sign of the genre’s decline. “All our legends. All our mentors getting scrutinized,” Joe shared. “This is the worst time to be a celebrity in history. I’m not sure you guys wanna be celebrities.”

Reflecting on his early years in the industry alongside Diddy and Jay-Z, Joe noted how their controversies have overshadowed their contributions. “This might be the worst year ever in hip hop history type sht,” he continued. “This sht bad.”

In an interview on The Breakfast Club, Joe opened up about his own adjustments to the new music landscape, describing how his circle has become smaller. “My circle gets smaller and smaller and smaller,” he explained. “You know, unfortunately, sometimes people we love, we catch them doing things they ain’t supposed to do. So we got to get them up out the way. And that’s hard.”

Despite his criticisms, Fat Joe remains hopeful that change is possible. His commitment to the culture, as shown through his own album and public appearances, suggests he’s ready to lead by example.