Bronx rapper Fat Joe has recounted a startling episode from his past in which he says he was approached by men he identified as members of the Taliban who invited him to “shoot rockets” during a trip to Lebanon. The story emerged on the December 2 episode of his Joe and Jada podcast, co-hosted with Jadakiss and featuring comedian Bill Bellamy, where Joe described what he called “one of the most surreal moments” of his career.

According to Joe’s account, after performing a show in Lebanon he returned to his hotel only to be confronted by three men who relayed a message that “the guys … wanna shoot rockets with you,” later identifying themselves as the Taliban. He recalled being taken aback, immediately retreating to pack his bags and heading to the airport in the early hours of the morning, where he and his party waited overnight for a flight out. Joe did not specify the exact year of the incident, though he has performed in Lebanon multiple times, including at Beirut’s Pier 7 nightclub in 2011 and 2012. He emphasized that he declined the invitation and left the country as quickly as possible. These claims have been widely reported in music and entertainment outlets, highlighting the unexpected and tense nature of the encounter as described by the rapper.