Fat Joe Reveals How Michael Jordan Helped His Sneaker Store

BYAlexander Cole1.9K Views
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BET Awards 2023 - Show
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 25: (L-R) Guest, Fat Joe, and Diamond D attend the BET Awards 2023 at Microsoft Theater on June 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/Getty Images for BET)

Fat Joe's Up NYC continues to be successful.

If you are a fan of Fat Joe, then you know just how big of a sneakerhead he truly is. Overall, he has a massive collection that is truly impressive. Moreover, he even has his own chain of sneaker stores called Up NYC. These stores are all over New York, and they offer the best in new sneakers and streetwear. The store continues to be a success, and the artist loves being in charge of it. But as it turns out, the road to starting the store wasn't always easy.

Recently, the legendary artist was on The Eli Manning Show. During Fat Joe's appearance, he spoke on how he got Up NYC up and running. As it turns out, Nike wasn't going to let him sell their sneakers at first. In order to have a Nike contract, you need to be vetted. However, Fat Joe was able to seek out Michael Jordan, who ultimately gave him the go-ahead. Needless to say, it's good to have connections at your disposal.

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Fat Joe Thanks MJ

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 25: Fat Joe attends the BET Awards 2023 at Microsoft Theater on June 25, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)

"He was like, ‘Yo, you got permission?’ I said, ‘What permission?’ He was like, ‘Nah, you gotta get sanctioned you gotta get vetted.’ I was like, ‘Nah, I thought we was cool,'" Fat Joe recounted. “That night Jordan had a party in New York. I’m up in the party and you hear this just big voice, ‘Big Joe, Big Joe.’ And I turned around and everybody looks and it’s Michael Jordan. He said, ‘Your grand opening, I’ll be there. Your grand opening, I’m there.’ The same guys that told me no ran over, ‘I guess you got a store.'”

This was great timing and it was also quite a bit of luck. However, sometimes that is necessary on your way to success. If you want to catch the whole episode of Fat Joe on Eli Manning's show, you can check it out at the via link below. Let us know what you think of this story, in the comments section below.

Read More: Fat Joe Credits DaBaby For His Comeback After Being “Canceled”

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About The Author
Alexander Cole is the current Managing Editor of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. During this time, he has shown an expertise in Air Jordans, Yeezys, and all things that have to do with Nike. His favorite kicks are the Air Jordan 1 High OG, the Air Jordan 4, the Air Jordan 6, and the Adidas Yeezy Boost 350 V2 in the "Beluga 2.0" colorway. Although his collection might not be the biggest, he is always looking to add new styles to it. When it comes to sports, Alex has a particular interest in the NBA and the NFL. His favorite teams are anywhere LeBron goes, and the Kansas City Chiefs. As a Montrealer, the Montreal Canadiens hold a special place in his heart, even if they haven't won the Stanley Cup in his lifetime. Alex also works for the Concordia Stingers, where he provides play-by-play and color commentary for the football, hockey, and basketball teams His favorite hip-hop artists are Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti, Travis Scott, and Lil Uzi Vert.