Fat Joe expressed his frustration after BET indefinitely suspended the Hip Hop and Soul Train Awards. Speaking on his Joe & Jada podcast with Jadakiss, the rapper—who hosted the Hip Hop Awards for the past three years—suggested the decision was part of a broader issue.
“This is gentrification,” Joe said, noting BET’s roots in Black culture and how things changed after founder Bob Johnson sold the network to Viacom. According to Joe, BET has since seen gradual budget cuts and staff firings, especially among those who spoke out.
He also tied the issue to recent corporate changes, including Paramount’s merger with Skydance. Joe claimed networks like MTV still receive strong financial backing, while BET has been left underfunded—limiting creativity and leading to what he called the “Ratchet Awards.”