The call for record labels to be held accountable for how they navigate artists’ careers is ongoing, and Jadakiss is speaking on how those executives move. There have been conversations about rappers being money-makers for labels after they’ve died. We’ve seen how bigwigs have capitalized on the deaths of our favorite artists. Contracts and deals have also been disparaged by entertainers stuck in loops of debt. Jadakiss recently visited the I Am Athlete podcast to share thoughts on labels taking a gamble on artists’ lives.
“[There was] a song about it, and it was able to get a lot of streams, and that became a thing with the whole Drill [scene],” the Rap icon said. “They actually going out, gettin’ active and doin’ stuff and then go into the studio and make a song about what they just did.” Drill music has been under a microscope from the public to politicians. Mayor Eric Adams even called for a ban on Drill as he lamented over the ongoing violence in New York City.
Labels Are Taking A Gamble
CLEVELAND, OH – FEBRUARY 20: Jadakiss attends All Star WKND Finale at Galleria at Erieview on February 20, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio.(Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
“That sh*t get nipped in the bud as soon as it got created,” Jadakiss added. “But nobody’s going to these labels saying they wrong for this. We just blaming it on the kids. So, like my brother [Styles P] said, he don’t like to just put all the blame on these young artists because the radio stations are making them the top songs of the playlist. And the labels are still signing them.”
“They even got it—they puttin’ out life insurance on these young kids now.” Others were surprised at the revelation, but it’s been common for some time. “The labels. ‘Cause they gamblin’ on you to do something dumb, so they can profit after you die. So, this is getting ridiculous.” Rappers have complained about how labels move after one of their artists dies. Posthumous albums are quickly put together, and special edition merchandise is sold.
It was around this time last year when Vince Staples shared similar thoughts during an interview with Hot 97. “It’s money in it and they gonna keep selling it and we gonna keep perpetuating it and we gon’ be hurt when somebody dies,” said the Long Beach star. “I don’t necessarily know if they care. If they did, man the album ready in four weeks once you die. You get more press on the album after you die.
“When it comes to these systems, they look at you like, ‘Oh, you’re dead, now we got something to move with.’ To the people that’s running music: just treat these people with humanity. You’re worth something before you die.”
Jadakiss and The LOX have been receiving their flowers from many over the past few years. The iconic New York rap trio has aged gracefully since their reign in the early 2000s. People have taken notice of that, including hip-hop stars of today’s era. One of the first instances of this was Kanye West. In 2021, he included the group on his “Jesus Lord” track off Donda. Including The LOX during such a huge moment of his career truly showed how much Ye loved the trio.
With all this love going around lately, an NYC painter found another opportunity to honor The LOX. On Thursday (Feb. 16), Andaluz The Artist debuted his LOX mural near a Whitecastle restaurant in The Bronx. This mural is the first piece of his collection that celebrates the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop. “First mural of 2023 is finally finished. In dedication of the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop. Wanted to give @sheeklouch @stylesp @jadakiss and @thelox their flowers. I grew up listening to these guys so I’m honored to have painted this wall,” he wrote on Instagram.
The next morning (Feb. 17), Jadakiss was able to get a look at the mural. Although it could only be on FaceTime because he is currently on tour, Jada was blown away. “That sh*t is mean!” you could hear Jada say about the neon-accented wall art. The tour Jada is out of town for includes the likes of Jeezy, T.I., Rick Ross, Gucci Mane2 Chainz and more. A “reloaded” version the “Legendz of the Streetz” tour that originally took place in late 2022, their latest stop was Feb. 18 in Birmingham, AL. So, whether it be on the road or in his neighborhood back home, Jada and his legendary rap group still have dedicated fans.
Some New York legends are teaming up for a special performance at the legendary Apollo Theater in January. Mase, Cam’Ron, and Jadakiss will only perform at the theater for one night.
The performance comes as part of the Apollo’s series, “The Next Movement,” which is curated to focus on “an exploration of what’s new, now and next in music, dance, art and ideas,” according to the venue’s website.
Back in September, Mase, Cam, and Kiss were scheduled to go on their “3-Headed Monster” tour, however, the tour was cancelled the following month.
While reasons for the cancellation were unclear, many pointed fingers at Diddy, whom Mase had previously called out for apparently cheating him out of money. Following the cancellation, Mase took to Instagram to share a cryptic post, which many thought was aimed at Diddy.
“It’s Time To Show Cowards What Fearless Looks Like,” he wrote. “‘No Matter What Happens, I’m Not Stopping Nothing That I’m Doing!’ So Y’all Can Cancel All of The Dates I will not apologize for what’s right! EITHER WAY I WILL BE PERFORMING SOMEWHERE!!!”
Uproxx has a new show and in honor of its first guest, New York rap icon Jadakiss, we’re taking a look at some of the mixtape legend’s finest contributions to hip-hop’s ever-grown canon of gritty street classics. In the debut episode of Fresh Pair, hosts Just Blaze and Katty Customs sit down with Kiss to discuss his one-of-a-kind rap legacy, get his top five best rap voices in hip-hop, and show off a unique pair of custom sneakers inspired by his influential 25-year career. From his 1994 debut as a member of The Lox to a successful solo career to his recent star showings on Verzuz, Jadakiss has become one of rap’s most revered figures for his humor, wit, and Yonkers-bred charisma, as well as some of the hardest verses ever to grace a DAT tape. Here are just 20 of his absolute best.
Have you seen Jadakiss on Uproxx’s Fresh Pair? Check it out below!
20. “You Make Me Wanna” Feat. Mariah Carey
Over the years, Jadakiss has become best known as a rugged spitter, but he can make songs “for the ladies,” too. As was the custom in his early 2000s heyday, Jada’s R&B collabs proved to be as effective as his battle raps.
19.”Jadakiss Interlude” With DJ Khaled
What better testament to the long shadow Jadakiss casts over the rap world than having his own interlude on DJ Khaled’s God Did in which all he does is rap his ass off, no chorus, no hook, no fancy concept — just bars?
18. “Why” Feat. Anthony Hamilton
Jada’s first — and to date, only — foray into so-called “conscious rap” helped bring down the wall that separated the mainstream from socially aware hip-hop in the early 2000s. Part of the reason is due to the smart framing of “Why.” Rather than preaching at listeners, he invited them into the conversation, simply asking questions — instead of a local organizers’ meeting, “Why” sounds more like a barbershop conversation. Still, even as he wonders at the various shortcomings of society, he finds time to remind listeners why they tuned in to begin with: “Why is Jadakiss as hard as it gets?”
17. “Hot Sauce To Go”
The perfect track to display Jada’s penchant for picking unconventional beats, this Kiss Of Death smooth groover might not be a universal favorite, but it’s hard to deny the salsa flair of its Neptunes-produced beat. Pharrell provides a signature falsetto hook, while Kiss loses his normally gruff demeanor to show he can two-step when it’s time to. While he’s usually mean-mugging and threatening on tracks, this time, he’s ready to party.
16. “Put Ya Hands Up”
Like “We Gonna Make It,” “Put Ya Hands Up” originates from his solo debut album, Kiss Tha Game Goodbye. The third single from the album, it’s a gritty showcase for his head-spinning wordplay, which at the time, was still mind-blowingly novel at the mainstream level. “And y’all scared I can tell,” he boasts. “And I’ma get Bucks like Milwaukee cause like Sam I Can-sell.” In the future, this sort of intricate double entendre would be commonplace, especially on the battle rap circuit, but in 2001, it was like poetry in motion, ahead of its time.
15. “By Your Side”
Although it’s more emotive than some of his earlier material, this standout from Jada’s 2004 album Kiss Of Death still matches with his rugged sensibilities courtesy of a hard-hitting beat by Baby Grand. Weaving a narrative ode to both friends and foes in the streets, Kiss also weaves his flow between the catchy vocal sample, as usual demonstrating that his lyrical talents are up to just about any challenge — even those he imposes on himself.
14. “F*** You” With The Lox
Sidebar: We Are The Streets, The Lox’s 1999 Ruff Ryders debut, has the most hilariously literal album cover of all time. That aside, Jada’s verse here sets things off with a bang as the crew declares the mission statement for the second phase of their careers. “Yo, everybody’s a snake / That’s why I try to keep the grass cut / So I can see ’em when they coming / Then I heat they ass up.”
13. “Knock Yourself Out”
Jada’s debut solo single, produced by The Neptunes, introduced him to the world at large — who until then, only really knew Jadakiss from his features and work with The Lox. Here was his chance to prove that he could offer up more than just fire 16s, one at a time. He passed that test with flying colors with “Knock Yourself Out.” He also, weirdly enough, wore a paper towel wrapped around his head like a bandana in the video, ensuring that rap fans would keep discussing it over twenty years later by memes struggling to decipher that inscrutable decision.
12. “Rite Where U Stand” With Gang Starr
Appearing on Gang Starr’s 2003 album The Ownerz, this track paired Jada with one of his greatest influences and proved he could hang with the pioneers as well as he could his contemporaries. He was also unafraid to use his music to speak on his various industry woes after getting stuck in a less-than-favorable contract with Interscope — another way he blazed a trail for future generations of artists.
11. “New York” With Ja Rule and Fat Joe
In the midst of Ja Rule’s ongoing feud with 50 Cent — which is still going, by the way — the beleaguered Ja released an absolute gem in 2004, recruiting two of New York City’s most respected voices for backup. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to save him in the court of public opinion, but “New York” was a blessed byproduct of the battle that remains an example of the power of a collaboration between icons. Also, “I’m in the hood like them little motorcycles” is still one of the greatest things anyone has ever said on a beat.
10. “John Blaze” With Fat Joe, Big Pun & Raekwon
One of a long line of posse cuts on which Jada has stolen the show, his achievement here is made all the more impressive by the lineup. Fat Joe is in full Diggin’ In The Crates mode on this track from 1998’s Don Cartagena, Big Pun packs his verse with dizzying multisyllabic rhyme patterns, Raekwon spits a cool verse, and Nas is Nas. But counting up the quote-ables? Jadakiss goes hard.
9. “Made You Look Remix”
Whatever they were smoking in the studio when they made this should be preserved and distributed to every rapper’s home address weekly. No one would ever drop a dud verse again. Jada came as close as he ever has to living up to his boast that he’s the “top five, dead or alive” with this verse from the remix of Nas’ 2003 megahit.
8. “Blackout” With DMX, Jay-Z & The Lox
An absolute monster of a track, “Blackout” landed on the rap scene like a mortar round. In late 1998, DMX was hot off his smash debut It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot and no one could have anticipated that he’d follow up with another one in Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood. Then, to throw gas on the fire, the Dark Man threw one of the hottest up-and-coming trios in the business on a track with Jay-Z. Naturally, Jadakiss is the match that lights the flame, opening the track with the boast that “n****s throw us on the album, try to boost they sales.” For what it’s worth, it looks like it worked; DMX legendarily became the first rapper to drop two No. 1 albums in the same calendar year.
7. “It’s All About The Benjamins” Feat. Puff Daddy & Lil Kim
Listen, totally aside from the fact that Jada comes in hot with one of the hardest verses on Puff Daddy and the Family’s 1997 album No Way Out, this is actually Jada’s track from the jump by virtue of the fact that he penned Puff’s verse, despite not being totally sure his new boss could pull it off. The rest was history.
6. “Money, Power & Respect” Feat. DMX & Lil Kim
The title track from The Lox’s 1998 debut album, it’s a surprisingly philosophical breakdown of life’s necessities — at least, by The Lox’s standards. I don’t know that they ever read Max Weber’s three-component theory of stratification, but even if they weren’t perusing the sociology section of their local library in their leisure time, they still manage to explain it pretty well to the layman. Jada’s anchor verse sums up exactly why he’s so beloved in the streets: “Nothin’ but the hotness whenever we drop this / Monotonous for y’all to keep hatin’ ’cause y’all never gon’ stop us.”
5. “Gov’t Cheese” Feat. Millyz, Nino Man & DeJ Loaf
A standout from Jada’s most recent album, 2020’s Ignatius, “Gov’t Cheese” depicts an older, wiser Jadakiss getting reflective about all the hard-won knowledge he’s gained from 20+ plus years in the streets and out of them. “Sneakers too tight, you had to wear ’em without soles,” he reminisces. “Sleepin’ with a sweatsuit on ’cause the house cold.” He doesn’t just bring problems, though; he also explains his solutions. “Had to open my mind for me to free it.”
4. “24 Hrs To Live” With Mase, The Lox, Black Rob & DMX
Mase’s 1997 Bad Boy Records debut Harlem World is criminally underrated and this posse cut is one of its highest highs. Asking a simple question, we get six different perspectives ranging from relatable (Jada, Styles) to absolutely unhinged (DMX). Who among us wouldn’t want to go out as fresh as Jada says he would?
3. “Time’s Up” Feat. Nate Dogg
The lead single from Kiss Of Death finds the Yonkers native eschewing clever concepts or heady themes for a straightforward, fist-clenching bar fest. Driven by a thundering, piano-centered loop devised by Scott Storch, “Time’s Up” is a showcase for some of Jada’s most memorable punchlines, including the fan-favorite: “F*ck riding the beat, n**** / I parallel park on the track.”
2. “Who Shot Ya Freestyle”
When The Lox went up against The Diplomats in a Verzuz hits battle last year, the Yonkers crew had already won handily by the time their DJ threw the instrumental to The Notorious B.I.G.’s controversial 1994 hit. Jada’s performance became the victory cigar. The response to the mixtape favorite was so immediate and powerful, the song won an official release on DSPs.
1. “We Gonna Make It” Feat. Styles P
A classic in every sense of the word, “We Gonna Make It” begins with one of the most beloved opening lines in hip-hop: “F*ck. The. Frail sh*t.” The Alchemist pulls out all the stops on the beat, which samples “My Music” by Samuel Jonathan Johnson. The instrumental has a controversial backstory as well, ending up in the hands of West Coast rapper Ras Kass after both Nas and Jay-Z passed on it, but Kiss has the most recognizable version, owing a great deal to the dynamic back-and-forth flows of Jada and his Lox bandmate Styles P. It wasn’t the first time they demonstrated this chemistry and it wasn’t the last, but for a generation of rap fans, it’s easily the best.
Uproxx’s new sneaker show, Fresh Pair, isn’t just about dope custom sneakers. It’s a deep dive into the careers, legacy, and the ambitions of its guests, reflected in wearable pieces of art that serve as both a celebration and a gift. In the premiere episode of the series, cohosts Katty Customs and Just Blaze were joined by iconic Yonkers rapper Jadakiss who was blown away by the attention to detail and deep research that went into his custom pair of Air Jordan 1s.
“This is ill man, ya’ll something else over here,” he says. “This is a mean pair, Fresh Pair made me a mean pair! I don’t know how ya’ll are going to top these… you’re going to need to make a hall or a wall of fame, these definitely going in there. Any other mean ones you make are going to be inspired somehow by these.”
Jadakiss’ custom AJ-1s tell a story of the raspy rapper’s rise from the streets to the stratosphere, while also paying tribute to the rappers who helped shaped his career and influence his unique style. Late legends Biggie and DMX are referenced on the sneaker’s heel wing logo and Jadakiss’ life spent with Styles P and Sheek Louch in The LOX is referenced at the tongue. It’s a poetic representation of a truly storied career and watching Kiss fall deeper in love with the sneaker as he unveils the details is a must-watch — if only to hear him say “this is crazy” so many times that he’s nearly breathless.
Check out the full episode above and be sure to catch the next episode of Fresh Pair on Wednesday, October 5th.
UPROXX, the youth culture & music destination, will launch Fresh Pair, on Wednesday, 9/28 at 12pm PT/ 3pm ET. This brand-new series stars hip-hop legend Just Blaze and sneaker customizer to the stars Katty Customs. In the series, the co-hosts sit down with some of the biggest names in culture, to talk about their careers and personal journeys through the prism of a 1-of-1 custom shoe, made just for them.
Season One guests include Jadakiss, The Game, T.I., Redman, EL-P, Jim Jones, Styles P, and will.i.am.
The fusion of streetwear and Hip Hop has existed since the inception of the culture. From those early days when Run-DMC was fully fitted in Adidas to Puff Daddy pushing Sean John to Kanye West dominating the fashion world with Yeezy, this merge is often seen as the very foundation of how Hip Hop is perceived by the masses.
This week, Uproxx premieres its new show Fresh Pair hosted by legendary producer Just Blaze and Katty Customs, a streetwear designer as well as sneakers restorer and customizer. Guests include The Game, T.I., Redman, EL-P, Jim Jones, Styles P, will.i.am, and Jadakiss.
(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for TIDAL)
On the show, Katty and Blaze sit down with these artists to talk about important moments in their careers and then based on those conversations, the hosts create a one-of-a-kind pair of kicks tailored to the artist, specifically.
During Jadakiss’s appearance, Katty asked him to name his Top 5 Voices that he likes in Hip Hop.
“This show is amazing because nobody ever asked me who I think got the Top 5, or Top 3, or any type of voices,” said Jada. “And it took me a while—that’s like, education in music, just to know the different, sonically of people’s voices… Just somebody’s voice to add on what they bring to the table.”
“Just unique voices for me, as I start learning about it, I think Guru, rest in peace, he had an ill voice,” the rapper continued. “[Method Man], you know, when the Wu came, Meth’s voice was deep and raspy and he has an ill voice. Big, with that nasal…it sounds like he’s having a hard time breathing but that’s making his cadence extra crazy. Tone Loc, gotta shout out Tone Loc. Tone Loc’s voice was ill.”
For his fifth choice, Jadakiss had to give his final pick to the clearly recognizable stylings of Nas. Check out the clip and the trailer for Fresh Pair below.
While Jadakiss has long been considered one of hip-hop’s most underrated figures, he’s also got one of the genre’s most recognizable voices. His gravely tone has graced some of rap’s most beloved hits for nearly three decades, as demonstrated by his standout performance in The Lox’s Verzuz battle with The Diplomats, and he’s still a favorite go-to for a feature verse for contemporary artists who need his signature sound to bring some New York grit to their own work.
In the upcoming debut episode of Uproxx’s newest show, Fresh Pair, Jadakiss breaks down his own top five voices in hip-hop with hosts Just Blaze and Katty Customs. It’s a fascinating look into one of the most underrated facets of rap success from one of the most successful but underrated artists in the business.
“Nobody never asked me who I think got the top five or top three or any kind of voices,” he exclaims before settling into deep thought. “It took me a while… [to learn] how somebody’s voice can add on to what they bring to the table.”
He cites a few classic MCs as influences to his own unmistakable tone, but we won’t spoil it here. You can check out his answers in the video above and catch the full episode of Fresh Pair on Wednesday 9/28 at 3 pm ET / 12 pm PT.
