Jalen Brunson hopped on a plane on Sunday, Aug. 16. The Knicks point guard left Los Angeles and flew straight to New York City for Fat Joe’s 56th birthday bash at Radio Park atop Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan. Just a day earlier, Brunson had been celebrating teammate Karl-Anthony Towns and Jordyn Woods’ wedding out in Malibu.
The party pulled in stars from music and sports alike — Allen Iverson, DJ Khaled, Mary J. Blige, Teyana Taylor, Jadakiss, Remy Ma, Fabolous, N.O.R.E., Raekwon, Yung Miami, and DJ Envy all turned up, according to TMZ. Rick Brunson, Jalen’s father and a Knicks assistant coach, made an appearance, too.
Fat Joe got a custom cake for his birthday. It showed off the Knicks logo and the New York City skyline. Guests sipped specialty cocktails from D’USSÉ all night — Espresso Martinis, Sidecars, and Old Fashioneds kept flowing.
Born Joseph Antonio Cartagena on Aug. 19, 1970, this Bronx native has been making music for more than 30 years. He kicked things off with the Diggin’ In The Crates collective, for years working alongside Lord Finesse, Diamond D, Showbiz & A.G., O.C., Buckwild, and the late Big L.
Fat Joe ran Terror Squad and helped kickstart careers for Remy Ma, Cuban Link, Armageddon, and the late Big Pun. These days, he co-hosts the Joe and Jada podcast with Jadakiss, which started up in 2025, and stays in the public eye.
This birthday surprise happened less than a week after Fat Joe performed at Brunson’s Second Round Foundation Charity Golf Classic on Aug. 10 at Westchester Country Club in Rye, New York, according to TMZ. That event? Nearly 900 people showed up. Brunson and his mother Sandra Brunson ran the show to support their foundation.
The foundation got its start in 2022. The first golf classic drew about 150 guests. The event, according to its official website, was a “private event and is not open to the general public.” Only “formally registered guests were permitted on the grounds.”
This year’s tournament saw Josh Hart, Knicks coach Mike Brown, Keegan-Michael Key, team president Leon Rose, Hank Azaria, and former player Allan Houston teeing off.