Fat Joe, having vacated the apparently hot dogless environment of San Antonio, gave New York something to remember with his contributions to the Knicks Championship Parade on Thursday.
Joe, a fervent supporter of the Mike Brown-led champions, had a float in the proceedings that featured a performance of the Terror Squad classic “Lean Back” with Remy Ma.
Ja Rule was also in the mix, giving fans a performance of “New York.”
At one point, Karl-Anthony Towns and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani were seen hitting the “Lean Back” dance on a nearby float.
According to remarks Joe provided in a SportsCenter interview on Wednesday, he was tapped by Knicks leadership to “run the hip-hop division” for the parade. He also welcomed Wu-Tang Clan, Mary J. Blige, Jadakiss, Fabolous, and more.
Wu-Tang, notably, performed at halftime during Game 4 of the NBA Finals, with Joe’s fellow Knicks superfan Ben Stiller later pointing to the group’s set as “the start” of a comeback that ultimately led to the team making history.
New York Knicks Championship Parade highlights
The parade kicked off at 10 a.m. local time on Thursday, June 18. The route started near Bowling Green in Lower Manhattan, then worked its way to City Hall. Those hoping to catch a glimpse at the proceedings didn’t have to worry about admission, as tickets weren’t required for the parade. Early arrival, however, was strongly encouraged, leading to many New Yorkers showing up hours before the festivities were underway.
For a full rundown of highlights, including Mamdani hitting the “Lean Back” dance, see here.
