Papoose (rapper)

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Papoose

| image = PapooseRapper (cropped).jpg

| alt =

| caption = Papoose performing in 2013

| birth_name = Shamele Mackie

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1978|3|5}}[http://www.last.fm/music/Papoose Papoose Bio]. Last.fm. Retrieved on February 26, 2013.

| birth_place = Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.

| alias =

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Rapper
songwriter

}}

| years_active = 1998–present

| background = solo_singer

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| label = {{flatlist|

}}

| past_member_of = {{hlist|Flipmode Squad}}

| spouse = {{marriage|Remy Ma|2008}}

| website = {{URL|papooseofficial.com}}

}}

Shamele Mackie (born March 5, 1978), known professionally as Papoose ({{IPAc-en|p|æ|ˈ|p|uː|s}}), is an American rapper. Known for his freestyles and prolific mixtape output, Papoose began his career in 1998 and has released four studio albums and 29 mixtapes.

Born in New York, Mackie made his recording debut on Kool G Rap's 1998 album Roots of Evil. Papoose produced and distributed his own mixtapes during the early 2000s, and signed with Jive Records to record his debut studio album, The Nacirema Dream from 2005 to 2006. It failed to release in the latter year due to label conflicts, although it was released independently in 2013 and entered the Billboard 200.{{cite web | url=http://www.papooseofficial.com/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128224454/http://www.papooseofficial.com/ | archive-date=January 28, 2017 | title=Papoose - Best Hip Hop & Underground Artist, Rapper & Songwriter }} His second album, You Can't Stop Destiny (2015), followed thereafter.

Early life

Shamele Mackie was born on March 5, 1978. He was raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. While an early rumor stated that his ancestry traced back to Liberia, a matrilineal DNA test through African Ancestry, Inc. revealed that he actually descends from the Tikar people living in present-day Cameroon.{{Cite web |title=Love & Hip Hop Lineage to Legacy, Pt. 2 - {{!}} VH1 |url=https://www.vh1.com/collection-playlist/kypg6f/lhh-lineage-to-legacy/qqvtl7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220522173959/https://www.vh1.com/collection-playlist/kypg6f/lhh-lineage-to-legacy/qqvtl7 |url-status=live |archive-date=May 22, 2022 |access-date=2023-01-29 |website=Vh1.com |date=February 14, 2022 |language=en}} The nickname "Papoose" was given to him by his grandmother for his resemblance as a baby to a Native American child.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vladtv.com/article/241100/papoose-reveals-how-he-got-his-nickname-and-shows-his-new-chain|title=Papoose Reveals How He Got His Nickname and Shows His New Chain|date=February 16, 2018|website=Vladtv.com|access-date=May 26, 2023}}

Career

= Beginnings (1998–2004) =

In 1998, Papoose made his rap debut on Kool G Rap's Roots of Evil album. In 2004, he released his debut single, "Thug Connection", which featured the b-side "Alphabetical Slaughter".{{cite web | last = Erwin | first = Jack | title = Next Up: Papoose | work = XXL | publisher = Harris Publications | date = October 9, 2007 | url = http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=14627 | access-date = March 8, 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080120041236/http://www.xxlmag.com/online/?p=14627 | archive-date = January 20, 2008 }} Select Records offered him an eight-album deal, which he rejected.{{cite web| url = https://allhiphop.com/features/papoose-study-guide-rOSDJplC40KcrDgBVJgY1w| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200102005851/https://allhiphop.com/features/papoose-study-guide-rOSDJplC40KcrDgBVJgY1w| archive-date = 2020-01-02| title = Papoose: Study Guide}}

= Breakthrough, independent mixtapes (2005–2012) =

After a stint at Rikers Island, Papoose began producing and selling mixtapes independently,{{cite web |last=Cordor |first=Cyril |title=Papoose > Biography |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p371593/biography|pure_url=yes}} |access-date=March 8, 2008 |publisher=Allmusic}} one of which he presented to DJ Kay Slay outside the offices of New York's Hot 97, who then invited Papoose onto his radio show.{{cite web |last=Golianopoulos |first=Thomas |url=http://www.vibe.com/music/next/2006/06/papoose |title=Papoose |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070307232900/http://www.vibe.com/music/next/2006/06/papoose/ |archive-date=March 7, 2007 |access-date=July 8, 2012}} Impressed by his rendition of "Alphabetical Slaughter", Kay Slay signed him to his Streetsweepers imprint. Papoose continued to release mixtapes at a prolific rate, over a dozen between 2004 and 2006, and won the Justo Mixtape Award for Best Underground Artist in 2005. During this time, he became associated with Busta Rhymes's Flipmode Squad, appearing on the remix of "Touch It".

On August 24, 2006, Papoose announced that he had signed with Jive Records in a deal worth $1.5 million. and was planning his debut album, The Nacirema Dream.Hip-Hop Connection, October 2006. In September 2007, Kay Slay revealed that he and Papoose had left Jive, saying that they had "almost (became) victims of A&R hell."{{cite web |last=Johnson |first=Dick |title=50 Cent Outsells Kanye West In Europe, Saigon Says He Was Set Up During Mobb Deep Fight, Jay-Z Drops Another One |work=sohh.com |date=September 21, 2007 |url=http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/12606 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302021143/http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/12606 |archive-date=March 2, 2008 |access-date=March 8, 2008}} Papoose continued to release his work independently, dropping nine mixtapes between 2007 and 2012.Iandoli, Kathy. (December 3, 2012) [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.22064/title.mixtape-release-dates-papoose-master-p-red-cafe-birdman Mixtape Release Dates: Papoose, Master P, Red Cafe, Birdman | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales]. HipHop DX. Retrieved on 2013-01-14. On the 2009 mixtape 21 Gun Salute, Papoose admitted that he was able to keep the $1.5 million from Jive, despite not releasing an album.

= ''The Nacirema Dream'', ''You Can't Stop Destiny'' (2012–2015) =

After seven years of development and 27 mixtapes in all, Papoose secured a deal with Fontana Distribution to release his debut album The Nacirema Dream.[http://www.hot97.com/new-on-hot97/2012/12/13/papoose-tells-old-man-ebro-he-deserves-more-spins-on-hot-97-tells-cipha-sounds-rosenberg-k-foxx-that-prison-guards-spy-when-he-and-remy-get-it-in-video Papoose Tells Old Man Ebro He Deserves More Spins on HOT 97 + Tells Cipha Sounds, Rosenberg & K. Foxx That Prison Guards Spy When He And Remy Get It In [VIDEO]]. Hot97.com (December 13, 2012). Retrieved on 2013-01-14. The album was released on March 26, 2013, to positive reviews from music critics and debut at number 97 on the U.S. Billboard 200.[https://www.amazon.com/Nacirema-Dream-Papoose/dp/B00B5EI82M Nacirema Dream: Papoose: Music]. Amazon.com. Retrieved on February 26, 2013. It was preceded by the single "On Top of My Game", featuring Mavado.[https://music.apple.com/us/album/on-top-of-my-game-feat-mavado/582213924?i=582214410 iTunes – Music – On Top of My Game (feat. Mavado) – Single by Papoose]. Itunes.apple.com (December 11, 2012). Retrieved on 2013-02-26.[http://instagram.com/p/UnHBK9AqHZ/ Photo by papoosepapoose • Instagram]. Instagram.com. Retrieved on February 26, 2013.

On June 2, 2013, Papoose "crashed" Hot 97's Summer Jam with the help of Top Dawg Entertainment, performing The Nacirema Dream's third single "Get At Me" with Ron Browz.{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/09/what-the-hell-just-happened-in-music-this-summer/papoose-summer-jam |title=The most newsworthy item of Summer Jam ended up being an impromptu Papoose performance |publisher=Complex.com |date=September 2, 2013 |access-date=July 24, 2014}} Following the release of "Control", Papoose took offence to Kendrick Lamar claiming the title of "King of New York" and dissed him in a remix of the track. Lamar called Papoose's response "comical"{{cite web| url = https://allhiphop.com/news/kendrick-lamar-i-found-papoose-s-control-response-laughable-lRlal3cSd0O69-7xpzcUcQ| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200102005850/https://allhiphop.com/news/kendrick-lamar-i-found-papoose-s-control-response-laughable-lRlal3cSd0O69-7xpzcUcQ| archive-date = 2020-01-02| title = Kendrick Lamar: I Found Papoose's "Control" Response Laughable}} and threw shots back at him during the BET Hip Hop Awards cypher.{{cite web | url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/10/papoose-kendrick-lamars-bet-cypher-hell-never-able-shine-shoes-lyrically/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005004706/http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2013/10/papoose-kendrick-lamars-bet-cypher-hell-never-able-shine-shoes-lyrically/ | archive-date=October 5, 2013 | title=Papoose on Kendrick Lamar's BET Cypher: "He'll Never be Able to Shine My Shoes, Lyrically" - XXL | date=October 4, 2013 }} On October 4, 2013, Papoose responded by saying that Lamar would never be "able to shine my shoes, lyrically" and that he was planning to release another diss track on an upcoming mixtape.

On November 4, 2013, Papoose released Hoodie Season his first mixtape since his debut album.{{cite web|last=Meara |first=Paul |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.26099/title.mixtape-release-dates-lil-kim-troy-ave-lecrae-papoose |title=Mixtape Release Dates: Lil' Kim, Troy Ave, Lecrae, Papoose | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHop DX |date=November 4, 2013 |access-date=July 24, 2014}} He would release two more mixtapes, Hoodie Season 2 and Cigar Society, before releasing his second studio album You Can't Stop Destiny on July 17, 2015.

= Television career, ''Underrated'' (2015–present) =

With the release of his wife Remy Ma from New York State prison in 2014, the couple joined the cast of VH1's Love & Hip Hop: New York for its sixth season after receiving "an offer they couldn't refuse".{{Cite web|title = Remy Ma And Papoose Joins 'Love & Hip Hop: New York' Cast |website=Vibe.com|date = July 7, 2015|url = http://www.vibe.com/2015/07/remy-ma-papoose-love-hip-hop-new-york/|access-date = September 20, 2015}}{{Cite web|title = Remy Ma & Papoose Will Be Joining The Cast Of Love & Hip-Hop {{!}} The Source|url = http://thesource.com/2015/07/07/remy-ma-papoose-will-be-joining-the-cast-of-love-hip-hop/|website = The Source|date = July 7, 2015|access-date = September 20, 2015}}{{Cite web|title= Remy Ma and Papoose on 'Love & Hip-Hop'{{!}}|url = http://www.musictimes.com/articles/68815/20160330/remy-ma-fat-joe-reunite-way-up-new-album-plata.htm/|website = Music times.com|access-date=March 4, 2016}} He has continued to appear on the show in seasons seven and eight, before being promoted to the main cast in seasons nine and ten. He also starred in the spin-off show Remy & Papoose: Meet the Mackies, and in the specials Remy & Papoose: A Merry Mackie Holiday, Dirty Little Secrets and The Love Edition. In conjunction with the show, Papoose released the song "Black Love", in tribute to his relationship with Remy.{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/black-love-remix-feat-remy-ma-single/1177128933|title = Black Love (Remix) [feat. Remy Ma] - Single by Papoose|via=Apple Music}}

On February 15, 2019, Papoose released his third studio album, Underrated.{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/underrated/1439024810|title=Underrated by Papoose|via=Apple Music|access-date=May 26, 2023}}

In January 2023, Papoose was hired by digital distributor TuneCore.{{Cite web|url=https://www.musicweek.com/digital/read/tunecore-names-rapper-papoose-as-head-of-hip-hop/087306|title=TuneCore names rapper Papoose as head of hip-hop|website=Musicweek.com}}

Personal life

He is the cousin of the record producer Pi'erre Bourne.

Papoose has two children with ex-girlfriend Yvetta Lashley. Dejanae Mackie, born November 1996,{{Cite web |url=http://www.vh1.com/shows/remy-papoose-meet-the-mackies/cast#dejay |title=Remy & Papoose: Meet the Mackies TV Series Cast Members | VH1 |access-date=January 1, 2020 |archive-date=April 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415065524/http://www.vh1.com/shows/remy-papoose-meet-the-mackies/cast#dejay |url-status=dead }} and Shamele Mackie, born April 1999.{{Cite web |url=http://www.vh1.com/shows/remy-papoose-meet-the-mackies/cast#shamele |title=Remy & Papoose: Meet the Mackies TV Series Cast Members | VH1 |access-date=January 1, 2020 |archive-date=April 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415065524/http://www.vh1.com/shows/remy-papoose-meet-the-mackies/cast#shamele |url-status=dead }} He also has a daughter, Destiny, born September 2000.

On May 12, 2008, he exchanged wedding vows with rapper Remy Ma over the phone while she was incarcerated.{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2015/12/19/Remy-Ma-and-Papoose-finally-get-wedding-seven-years-after-marrying/6581450523756/|title=Papoose and Remy Ma have wedding in Connecticut - UPI.com|website=Upi.com|access-date=May 26, 2023}}Rodriguez, Jayson. (March 28, 2008) [https://web.archive.org/web/20080403063138/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1584363/20080328/papoose.jhtml Papoose And Remy To Marry Next Month – In Prison – News Story | Music, Celebrity, Artist News | MTV News]. Mtv.com. Retrieved on 2013-02-26. In February 2016, they officially married in a formal ceremony, which was featured in the season finale of Love & Hip Hop: New York{{'}}s sixth season.{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/music/remy-ma-nicki-minaj-feud-what-to-know/|title=Five Things to Know About Remy Ma|website=People.com|access-date=May 26, 2023}} She gave birth to the couple's first child together, Reminisce Mackenzie, on December 14, 2018.{{cite news|url=https://people.com/parents/remy-ma-welcomes-baby-girl-gives-birth/|title=Remy Ma and Papoose Welcome First Child Together, a Baby Girl, After a 'Tough Labor'|newspaper=People.com|access-date=March 2, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BubsoSIjsqm/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BubsoSIjsqm |archive-date=December 26, 2021 |url-access=registration|title=Remy Ma on Instagram: "Reminisce MacKenzie "The Golden Child" Born December 14th 7pounds and 2 ounces We're still on the west coast so I missed my baby tv debut…"|website=Instagram.com|access-date=March 2, 2019}}{{cbignore}}

Discography

Studio albums

The Nacirema Dream (2013)
You Can't Stop Destiny (2015)
Underrated (2019)
Endangered Species (2020){{Cite web|title=Papoose – Endangered Species – 1/12|url=https://genius.com/20840257/Genius-october-2020-album-release-calendar/Papoose-endangered-species-1-12|access-date=October 10, 2020|website=Genius.com|language=en}}