Fat Joe brings five guests to NPR's Tiny Desk for a high-energy set
The Bronx rapper performed ten tracks from his career and his new album, Organized Rhyme, with appearances by Remy Ma, Jadakiss, and other longtime collaborators.
By Aaron Foster ·
Fat Joe performed ten songs at the NPR Tiny Desk in Washington, D.C., on November 5, 2026. The set included tracks from his latest album, Organized Rhyme, as well as hits from his thirty-year career.
Cartagena, who goes by the name Fat Joe, stated that he wanted the performance to be unpredictable. He described the show as an attempt to "touch the third rail," aiming for a level of spontaneity that differs from standard studio sessions.
The rapper invited five guests to join him on the small desk. Remy Ma appeared on four songs, including "Cocababy" and "All the Way Up." Jadakiss performed on "New York" and "The Aroma." Stevie Mackey, a member of the group The Game Boyz, contributed vocals to three tracks. Stove God Cooks and Dre from the production duo Cool and Dre also appeared.
This performance marks the second time Fat Joe has recorded for the series. His first appearance took place five years ago. In that time, he has continued to release music and co-host the Joe and Jada podcast with Jadakiss.
The band supporting the vocalists included Zo Harris on keys, Ricky Ramos on guitar, Keithan Foster on bass, Antwan Thompson on drums, and Ted Smooth as DJ.
The session was produced by Bobby Carter and directed by Joshua Bryant. The full set list ranged from "Million Dollar Intro" to "Lean Back." The performance concluded with "All the Way Up."
The video captures the interaction between the rapper and his guests in a compact studio space. The crew included photographers Maia Stern and Kara Frame, along with audio engineers Josephine Nyounai and Neil Tevault.
