Fat Joe isn’t shy about sharing his thoughts on the current state of rap music. Speaking candidly with Complex, the iconic rapper admitted that today’s hip hop leaves him feeling puzzled.

Fat Joe, famous for hits like “Lean Back,” has voiced his bewilderment with some of the music coming from the younger generation. While he cherishes and supports the youth, he confessed that certain tracks he heard while stuck in traffic felt like “devil music” to him. He was left questioning, “Yo, what the fuck? That’s Hip Hop?!” and noted that there’s “some weird shit going on.”

Despite his confusion, Fat Joe expressed his respect for the new artists. He still salutes them, though he remains uncertain about how they arrived at their current sound. Highlighting the diversity of hip hop, Joe recalled legends like Lauryn Hill, Biz Markie, Eric B. & Rakim, and Nas. According to him, the genre offered something different with each play, unlike the repetitive nature he perceives now.

Focusing on his hometown, New York, Joe described hearing identical beats and themes repeatedly, especially in music by younger artists. Recalling the past, he contrasted this with love songs of his era, like LL Cool J’s “I Need Love,” which had a softer touch compared to the aggressive themes he hears today.

Emphasizing further, Joe ruled out any possibility of him venturing into “sexy drill,” a more sensual subgenre made famous by Cash Cobain and Ice Spice. He humorously dismissed the idea, saying, “That’s definitely not in the works,” while sharing he has a love song with ’80s icon Babyface.

Fat Joe’s sentiments aren’t unique among hip hop veterans. LL Cool J echoed similar feelings last year when he expressed his concerns over contemporary songwriting in The New York Times. Meanwhile, Dr. Dre, speaking with Kevin Hart, acknowledged that while hip hop is evolving, much of today’s music isn’t to his taste. He mentioned, “Anybody that’s talking about the state of Hip Hop right now, when talking about it from a negative place, sounds like somebody’s fuckin’ grandfather.” Despite his reservations, Dre refrains from outright hate, choosing to appreciate the changing landscape.

Fat Joe’s candid comments spark a broader conversation about the evolution of hip hop. While some veterans struggle with the direction the genre is taking, they continue to respect the new voices shaping its future.

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