Rap royalty was in the building as Jadakiss joined co-hosts Carl Lamarre and Bianca Gracie for another fiery episode of On the Block Tuesday afternoon (March 3). Kiss is gearing up to drop his Ignatius album, which he delayed a week to honor the late Pop Smoke, but also to pay respect to the Kobe and Gigi Bryant memorial.
Ignatius will now release on Friday and is dedicated to producer/A&R Jay “Ice Pick” Jackson, who died from cancer back in 2017. “I think I accomplished what I set out to accomplish for my homie,” he said. “I think he’s smiling down on us and I think he enjoyed the process of me making it. He was there in spirit, A&Ring the project from heaven. I think the overall outcome was a great body of work.”
Jada really enjoyed the time he got to spend around Pop Smoke during his rise. If 50 Cent ever calls, Kiss definitely wants to lay a verse on Smoke’s posthumous debut album. “I’d definitely be down to participate on that. It would be dope,” he said. The Yonkers native also removed his “Hunting Season” collaboration with Pusha T from streaming services out of respect for Pop Smoke and his loved ones.
“He had good energy and was always in good spirits. Whenever I spoke to him, he always paid homage. It was always love. It’s a sad thing to lose him at such a young age. That’s a hit for the culture. We got to protect the culture,” Kiss explained. “We got to protect the youth.”
Being a savvy hip-hop veteran with more than two decades of experience, Jadakiss has seen it all in the music business. When it comes to Megan Thee Stallion versus her label 1501 Certified Entertainment, Kiss is always siding with the artist, but he understands “business is business.”
“I encourage young artists to learn the business. Although I’m for Meg, because I’m always for the artist, on the same Tokyo Drift, you signed that contract. I’m sure he didn’t put his home run bat to her head and make her sign,” he quipped. “You don’t get what you ask for, you get what you negotiate in this business. Learn the business as much as you can before you sign anything.”
Watch the entire episode above, and look for Ignatius this Friday (March 6).
