Music

Punch Reacts to Fat Joe's Theory That Kendrick and SZA Want to Dethrone Ja Rule and Ashanti

The Bronx rapper believes Kendrick and SZA want to replace Ja and Ashanti as best hip-hop and R&B duo.

NEW ORLEANS, LA - FEBRUARY 09: SZA and Kendrick Lamar performs during the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show on February 9, 2025 at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA.
David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Punch was confused at Fat Joe's assumption that Kendrick Lamar and SZA want to take on Ja Rule and Ashanti's early 2000s run.

The Top Dawg Entertainment president reacted to a clip from the Joe and Jada podcast on Tuesday (May 20), where Joey Crack theorized about Kendrick and SZA's chart-topping reign. Their "Luther" collaboration is currently in its thirteenth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Are Kendrick and SZA positioned to take that number one spot on the duo tip?" Jadakiss asked his co-host.

"What you got to understand is we don't know if they're going to still be best friends and all that forever, you know what I'm saying?" Joe replied.

"Right now they got about six, seven songs–they are number one. Yes, they could take the slot," he continued, calling Kendrick and SZA collaborations "phenomenal."

Joe added that the two are "fire together" but shared concerns that their professional relationship could get "rocky" as time goes on.

"It's not gonna get rocky, man," Jada interjected. "Well, then they're gonna take the slot," Joe said.

Elsewhere, Joe said that Ja Rule and Ashanti are considered the "greatest" rap and R&B duo.

"I'm telling you that SZA is a solo artist, Kendrick...They're probably like, 'Alright, they have fifteen number ones. We already got eight. Let's bust this down to two years and we have eighteen."

But Jada doubted the theory, guessing that Kendrick and SZA "aren't looking at the numbers" and are just "making good music." Joe's explanation also confused Punch, who wrote, "... what??" as a reaction on X, formerly Twitter.

Ja and Ashanti share a single number one hit, their 2001 collab "Always On Time."

Related Stories

Snoop Dogg and Kendrick Lamar will always have respect for one another, according to Tha Doggfather.
music

Snoop Dogg Says Kendrick Lamar Was the 'Right Person' to Check Him Over Drake Post

The legendary rapper's comments come after K.Dot called him out on "wacced out murals" for sharing Drake's AI-assisted diss track, "Taylor Made Freestyle."

Will Lavin354 days ago
Kendrick Lamar speaking into a microphone, wearing glasses and a dark jacket, seated against a backdrop with blurred text.
music

TDE’s Punch Confirms Kendrick Lamar Made Longer Version of “Euphoria” With More Drake Disses

He said K Dot's diss track was originally intended to be longer and more vicious.

Joe Price381 days ago
Kendrick Lamar in casual clothing sits on the floor, eyes closed, with a woman resting her head on his lap in a cozy room.
music

Kendrick Lamar and SZA Share Karena Evans-Directed Music Video for 'GNX' Track "Luther"

The music video for Kendrick Lamar and SZA's "Luther," which was directed by Karena Evans, is out now.

Joe Price388 days ago

Stay ahead on Exclusives

Download the Complex App