Joe Tacopina Reveals Why He Declined Diddy’s Case: Loyalty to Jay-Z Played a Role

Joe Tacopina has earned a reputation as one of hip hop’s go-to attorneys, notably representing A$AP Rocky during his felony assault trial and securing his release. Since then, he’s become a familiar voice on radio shows and podcasts, often reflecting on the high-profile case. However, one of the most intriguing insights into his legal career comes from a case he ultimately didn’t take—Diddy’s.

During an interview on The Breakfast Club, Tacopina revealed that he was initially approached to review the charges against Diddy but declined for a specific reason. His deep ties to Roc Nation, founded by Jay-Z, created a conflict of interest. According to Tacopina, the relationship between Jay-Z and Diddy isn’t exactly warm.

“I represent Roc Nation,” Tacopina explained to DJ Envy. “I’m very close with Jay and Desiree Perez… they’re like family to me.”

While the lawyer carefully navigated his words about the Jay-Z and Diddy dynamic, DJ Envy’s suggestion that the two don’t see “eye-to-eye” seemed to hit the mark. Charlamagne Tha God pushed for clarity, mentioning past claims that Jay-Z and Diddy were close friends, often fueled by public appearances and photos together.

Tacopina quickly dismissed that idea.

“Everyone’s been in a picture with Diddy at some point,” he said. “But when it really mattered, years ago…”

he trailed off, leaving the tension between the moguls open to interpretation. DJ Envy circled back with his “eye-to-eye” comment, and Tacopina subtly agreed.

Tacopina isn’t the only lawyer who’s stepped away from Diddy’s case. Anthony Ricco, a key member of Diddy’s legal team, recently withdrew, stating he could no longer “effectively” represent the music mogul.

Watch the full interview below: