ESPN RISE

The rapper talks about his love for basketball, reveals his pick to win the NCAA championship, and drops some knowledge on his new album.

AP Photo/Jason DeCrow

Fat Joe predicts Connecticut will be cutting down the nets at the end of March Madness.

ESPNRISE.com: You can always be seen courtside at the Knicks games. Are you a big basketball fan?

Fat Joe: Big basketball fan, huge Knick fan. I grew up watching the Knicks and I feel with the moves they made this year they are going to make a strong playoff push this year.

Do you follow high school basketball?

Big fan of high school basketball. Right now the man is Lance Stephenson. You can quote me, "Lance Stephenson is the biggest thing New York has seen in a while." I remember bringing Lance to Rucker Park at the age of 15 and watched him give Jamal Crawford 40 points. He's incredible and I know he'll be a great pro. He's definitely born ready.

You just inked a sneaker deal with Protégé. What was behind that?

Everyone knows I'm a sneaker fiend, and I thought it was time I did something that was affordable, good quality, and fresh to death. So this upcoming back-to-school season, Fat Joe will have his own shoe with Protégé timely named the Recession. They're only $34.99, and they are crazy. If you know me, you know that I only wear fly things, and these are fly. I think in this economy it's hard for kids to get sneakers that are $150 and up so I did something about it. And yes, you'll see me in them during shows, in the videos or just chillin with my family.

Have you been working on a new album?

Awww man! My album is so sick it's not funny. It drops on May 19th and it's called "J.O.S.E II." I have features by Lil Wayne, Fabolous, and Raekwon just to name a few. My first single, "One" with Akon, is currently playing and I think that the fans out there with love the product I put out. I'm hungry and my music will speak for itself.

With the NCAA Tournament going on, pick the champs.

I love Kemba Walker's game. He's a New York, Rice High School guy so I'm going to have to say UConn.

Jay Corbin is the lifestyle editor for ESPN RISE. Talk to Jay about this interview on his profile