The first time Fat Joe took the stage for NPR’s Tiny Desk, he brought the performance to his hometown. Now, five years later, the Bronx rapper is gearing up for another appearance, with his latest set scheduled to premiere Thursday (Nov. 5). The announcement was made Wednesday, giving fans another opportunity to enjoy his music catalog in the intimate concert setting that has become a popular platform for Hip Hop veterans.
NFR Podcast shared news of the upcoming performance on social media. While the setlist and possible guest appearances remain under wraps, Fat Joe has an extensive catalog to pull from. This includes tracks from his latest album, Organized Rhyme, which was released in August.
Fat Joe’s first Tiny Desk (Home) performance debuted in June 2021, when NPR was still hosting virtual concerts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead of taking the stage at the network’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., the Bronx rapper recorded his performance inside his UP NYC sneaker boutique. Joined by a live band and DJ Ted Smooth, he performed several of his well-known hits, including “What’s Luv?” and “Lean Back.” Angelica Vila provided vocals on multiple tracks, including parts originally performed by Ashanti. He wrapped up the set with “All the Way Up,” his 2016 collaboration with Remy Ma.
His upcoming appearance follows the release of Organized Rhyme, a 12-track album he worked on with longtime collaborators Cool & Dre. The project features Jadakiss on “The Aroma” and Pusha T on “Set of Keys.” Joe also joined forces with Remy Ma again on “Dead or Alive.” In an interview with the Bronx Times ahead of the album’s release, he explained that the project was created for fans who value the Hip Hop culture he grew up with, rather than to chase current trends.
That creative direction could make his next Tiny Desk performance particularly exciting, especially if he mixes newer tracks with the classics that helped establish his career. The performance is expected to premiere Thursday on NPR Music’s YouTube channel and Tiny Desk platform.
