Fat Joe has officially received the key to his hometown of New York City in a star-studded affair that included the likes of Funk Flex, Doug E. Fresh and more.
The ceremony took place at New York’s Orchard Beach on Tuesday (August 20), hosted by Rise Up NYC. In addition to Flex and Doug E., Chubb Rock, Wayne Wonder and DJ duo Bobby Konders and Jabba were also in attendance as Mayor Eric Adams presented the Terror Squad rapper with his key.
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“His music has unlocked our hearts for so many years,” Adams said to News 12. “Fat Joe is a real legend, and we’re just really thrilled about giving him the key to [the] city.”
Check out some pictures and video from the event below.
Fat Joe performs and is honored with the key to the city of New York 🔑 pic.twitter.com/iJzjAIchou
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) August 21, 2024
After posting the news he’d be receiving the key earlier this month, Fat Joe was seemingly met with some pushback, despite his status as a New York rap legend and philanthropist.
“I get the key to the city [on] the 20th and, boy, was that a hard one. Hip Hop got a black eye,” he said in a post. “The mayor and his crew, his right-hand girl, got me the key to the city. Everybody was a little upset.
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“But I don’t know another guy who keeps it realer with the streets of New York than Fat Joe, who feeds more people, opens more businesses. I don’t know what to tell you guys.”
The “Lean Back” rapper didn’t specify who was upset with him being awarded the key to the city.
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Joe isn’t the only Hip Hop figure who has ruffled feathers with a ceremonial key to New York City of late.
Mayor Eric Adams faced widespread calls earlier this summer to revoke Diddy’s key to the city, which he presented to him just last year, after a video of him brutally assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie in 2016 leaked.
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After condeming the attack and discussing the matter with his team, Adams rescinded the honor in June, making Puffy the first person to ever lose a key to NYC.
In a letter to the Bad Boy boss dated June 4, the mayor wrote: “Like many people, I was deeply disturbed by recent footage of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs assaulting his then partner.
“I strongly condemn these actions and stand in solidarity with all survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. Our city has worked tirelessly to make sure survivors are heard and seen by our administrators.”
He continued: “The Key to the City of New York is presented to individuals whose service to the public and the common good rises to the highest level of achievement, and who act as a model for fellow and future New Yorkers.
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“After internal deliberations, the Key to the City of New York committee recommend nullifying and rescinding Mr. Combs’ key.”
According to TMZ, Diddy returned said key six days later on June 10.
