Fat Joe Brings Bronx Crew to NPR Desk

Fat Joe entered the NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C., with a specific goal. He wanted to shake things up. The rapper described the session as an attempt to touch the third rail, promising a level of spontaneity that moved beyond the standard Tiny Desk concert format.

The show reflects a career that has lasted more than 30 years. Joe Cartagena, known professionally as Fat Joe, has continued to reinvent himself since his first Tiny Desk (home) concert five years ago. He has leaned into his role as an internet personality, written a book, and co-hosted the Joe and Jada podcast with Jadakiss.

His music remains the central focus of his work. He has maintained consistent album output and released hit records. The recent performance featured songs from his latest album, Organized Rhyme, alongside tracks from across his career.

Joe brought a group of collaborators to the desk. Guests included Remy Ma, Stove God Cooks, Stevie Mackey, Dre from the production duo Cool & Dre, and Jadakiss. They joined him for a set list that highlighted the loyalty and longevity of his professional relationships.

The performance included ten songs. The set opened with Million Dollar Intro featuring Stevie Mackey. Other tracks included Cocababy featuring Remy Ma, I Shot Ya, and New York featuring Jadakiss. The group also performed The Aroma, which featured Jadakiss, Stove God Cooks, and Remy Ma.

Additional songs from the set list were Feelin a Way and I Won't Tell, both featuring Stevie Mackey. The performance concluded with Lean Back and All the Way Up, both featuring Remy Ma. The lineup for the session included Zo Harris on keys and music direction, Ricky Strings Ramos on guitar, Keithan Foster on bass, and Antwan Amadeaus Thompson on drums. Ted Smooth served as the DJ.

The production team for the concert included producer Bobby Carter and director Joshua Bryant. Josephine Nyounai handled audio engineering and mixing. The video was shot by Joshua Bryant, Maia Stern, and Kara Frame. Elizabeth Gillis served as the photographer for the event.