The inaugural Fanatics Fest had been held with sports and entertainment fans putting up large numbers at the Javits Center from August 16 to 18, 2024. The star-studded list of people included all A-listers: Derek Jeter, Tom Brady, and Jay-Z. One person who was missing, though, was standout rapper Jadakiss. His absence didn’t go unnoticed. In an exemplary gesture of how much he cared about family and fans, Jadakiss sent his son to represent, thus personalizing the event, and again, fans embraced the deed.
Jadakiss was unable to attend Fanatics Fest, so he sent his son in his place PIC.TWITTER.COM/F3CAM6EIY8
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) AUGUST 20, 2024
The powerful lyricist and influential man of the hip-hop world, Jadakiss, will not be able to attend the Fanatics Fest due to other commitments in the music industry that he is still fulfilling. Having grown in the late 1990s, Jadakiss burst onto the scene with popular albums such as the critically successful “Kiss Tha Game Goodbye” and the instant hit “Kiss of Death”.
His powerful music often touches on important issues of society, its questions, and dialogues exchanged—just like in one of his most famous tracks, “Why?”. No wonder he could not make it personally to this event, but instead, he sent his blessings through this message.
However, true to Jadakiss, he found a way to reach out to his fans and participate as much as possible in the broader entertainment culture. Jadakiss ensured that by sending his son, he was represented by people who cared about what he did as an artist. That decision speaks volumes on one’s appreciation for family and fan engagement.
He shared a post on Instagram and wrote
I couldn’t be at the @fanaticsfest so i sent my son josh to rep me and he definitely did a great job 👍🏾❤️
Fanatics Fest isn’t just another event. It’s an experience that joins the realms of sport, entertainment, and fandom. As one of the world’s most distinguished Icons of Music, Jadakiss wielded any influence he desired through music, fashion, and sports. While his father was off fighting for their pun, it would be one of those rare moments when Jadakiss’s son gained access to being there at that very moment in history; besides representing his dad, seeing for himself first-hand how momentous such gatherings could be in the world of networking and culture.
Jadakiss‘s choice in sending him was likely that he wanted to give his son experiences that would shape his life. In a society where connections and exposure can be important, this was the perfect setting for him to learn and grow with influential figures. It was a move that revealed Jadakiss’s fatherly role—the desire to equip his son with tools and allow experiences that might be useful at every step of life.
They reacted great. Sure, some of them have been waiting to witness Jadakiss in the flesh for a while, as his son managed to add a new vibe to the festival. Fans perceived a great commitment to the show coming from him, even though he was miles away, and the addition of his son brought a particular sense of personal connection to many.
The event was not without its faults, though. The endless queues for autographs and photos were almost enough to test the patience of its audience members. In the end, though, the opportunity to come out to the entrance music of one’s favorite wrestler and to be able to interact with sporting and performing icons was priceless.
