Friends, former Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and Hip Hop legend Fat Joe, gathered at Lehman College on March 26 to discuss their respective professional lives, as well as their upbringing and their ongoing commitment to improving The Bronx. The annual event at Lehman, ordinarily held in the form of a lecture, was this year called, “Hip Hop with a Heart: The Civic Mind of The Bronx.” The lecture series itself dates back to 1970.

 

Fat Joe is a Grammy-nominated recording artist, author, businessman, and entrepreneur whose real name is Joseph Cartegena. Acknowledging the chosen venue for the event, the rapper said his first paid gig as an artist took place at Lehman, while Diaz Jr. is a Lehman College alum who, as reported, was honored in 2021 with the College’s presidential medal.

 

After serving as Bronx borough president for 12 years, Diaz Jr. now works as senior vice president of strategic initiatives at Montefiore. In April 2022, as reported, almost all 2,276 seats at the nearby Lehman Center for the Performing Arts were filled for “Hip-Hop Fever,” a hip-hop show dedicated to the former Bronx borough president.

 

The event highlighted how the two notable Bronxites had very different career paths, but despite this had maintained their friendship over the years because of their commitment to improving the lives of Bronx residents, both known for giving back to their communities and using their platforms to bring about opportunities for Bronxites. Díaz Jr., along with Fat Joe and others, has long championed the opening of the Universal Hip Hop Museum in The Bronx, expected to open in 2025.

“I believe that in the City of New York, the talent is abundant,” Diaz Jr. said. “The question is: are you offering the opportunities in order to make sure that you can seek your passion, that you can maximize your talent? And quite often, unfortunately, in many communities of color, many communities that are challenged financially, we don’t see those opportunities, but we certainly see a lot of talent.”

 

Fat Joe then spoke on some of his philanthropic contributions like providing essential items to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria, giving out food in The Bronx during Thanksgiving, and giving away sneakers to students at I.S. 217, School of Performing Arts, located at 977 Fox Street in the Longwood section. The rapper said that he is also working on assisting in Haiti, and has teamed up with Diaz Jr. in the past to provide computers to students at P.S. 146 Edward Collins, which Fat Joe attended as a kid and which is located near Williams McKinley Houses.

 

“That’s the stuff that really touches me, that’s the stuff where that night, I go to sleep real happy,” said Fat Joe. “That’s the accolades or the legacy that Fat Joe wants to leave behind one day so when they tally it up, they’ll be like, ‘Man! This guy, he was out there really looking out for the people.’ That’s one of the top things I want to be known for.”

“While we are breaking from format today, we will not break from the tradition of what this lecture series is supposed to be,” said Diaz Jr. referring to the fact that the event was not a lecture this year. “This is supposed to be about civic-mindedness. This lecture series is supposed to be about how is it that, no matter where you are, no matter what opportunities, no matter what your talents are, no matter where life takes you, how do you come and give back?”

 

Lehman College students in attendance were given the opportunity at the end of the discussion to ask some questions, and one of the overarching themes of the event was for students to identify their dreams and subsequently take appropriate steps to make them a reality.

 

On Feb. 26, in an Instagram post to his 5.7 million followers, Fat Joe announced he owned a pair of Trump sneakers. “I don’t know how you feel about this… but I got the Trump sneakers,” he said. “I got them. I’m one of the biggest sneaker collectors in the world and you know I don’t rock with Trump. You know I’m a diehard Democrat. You know I’m a loyal Democrat to a fault.” He then added, “Now, as a sneaker collector, I had to get my hands on the Trumps.”

 

ABC News reported that former U.S. President Donald Trump, now the Republican presidential nominee, unveiled his Trump Sneakers at a Sneaker Con held at the Philadelphia Convention Center on Feb. 17, and that the “Never Surrender Hightops” sold at $399 per pair, were limited to 1,000 pairs, and the “Trump Red Wave Sneakers” were selling at $199. The launch came as the former president faces serious financial woes arising from recent high profile court case losses.

 

On the same Instagram post, Fat Joe added, “Once again, I’m not a Trumper. I dislike Trump. I’m not voting for him – not now, not ever, but I’m a sneaker collector, into the art so I had to find these. Now the mayor’s going to call me, everybody’s gonna call me.” Fat Joe alleged he didn’t pay for the sneakers, adding, “They knew I had to have them,” and seemingly implying they were a gift.

The post received some backlash and some support from his fans. Paco Bell wrote, ”I would (have) kept that to myself.” Sachamo, aka Sachboogie, wrote, “100 Sell out! Wack.” Meanwhile, Justin Jacob wrote, “True collectors separate the art from the artist or seller. Now he will be cancelled.” Frankiediamonds718 wrote, “No way Jose, you’re buggin.” Big Stan added, “Negative. You wrong for this, Joe.” Later, Midnite wrote, “Just proved what they think about us.” Lamjay wrote, “Joe, you ain’t gotta apologize. We all know you sold out years ago.”

 

The sneakers are reportedly trademarked by CIC Ventures, LLC who said, “Trump sneakers are not designed, manufactured, distributed or sold by Donald J. Trump, the Trump Organization, or any of their respective affiliates or principals.” They added, “45 Footmaker, LLC uses the Trump name, image and likeness under a license agreement.”

 

According to reporting by AP, the shoes, shiny, gold, high tops with an American flag detail on the back, are being sold on a new website that also sells other Trump-branded shoes and products. The outlet reported that the website says it has no connection to Trump’s campaign, though Trump campaign officials promoted the appearance in online posts.

 

Later, on March 15, Fat Joe attended The White House and met with Democratic U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Governor of Kentucky Andy Beshear, and various individuals who had received pardons for prior marijuana convictions as part of a roundtable conversation on marijuana reform. “I thank you, Fat Joe, for being here and taking the time, but really for your voice, on so many critical issues in addition to [..] the gift of your artistry,” said Harris who, as reported, visited The Bronx in November 2021. “I thank you for being here,” she added.

Back at Lehman College, Fat Joe also shared stories of his childhood, explaining how even though his family lived in poverty, they found a way to survive and thrive. “We were really dirt poor; we were on welfare,” he said. “My mom had four kids and had to work three jobs at the same time, and even though we were very poor, we always had love.”

 

The Herbert H. Lehman Lecture Series is held every year to celebrate the school’s namesake and his contributions. Past speakers have included New York Attorney General Letitia James, Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and climate activist and former U.S. Vice President during the Clinton administration, Vice President Al Gore.

 

To read some of our other previous Hip Hop coverage, click here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.