Shamele Mackie, (born December 31, 1978) better known by his stage
name Papoose, is an American rapper.
Born December 31, 1978 in Brooklyn, New York City by Liberian and
Native American parents, Papoose made his first attempts at rapping
at the age of 7. He was given his name by his grandma Vivian because
of his childhood resemblance to a Native American child. Inspired
by Kool G Rap, Rakim and Big Daddy Kane he made his first appearance & became
known to the public when he appeared in 1998 on Kool G Rap's Roots
of Evil album.[1] The following year, he released his first single, "Thugication"/"Alphabetical
Slaughter".[2]
After an early record deal failed, he decided to produce and sell
his own mixtapes,[1] one of which he presented to DJ Kay Slay outside
the offices of New York's Hot 97 after the latter's radio show there.[3]
This led to Kay Slay inviting Papoose onto the air, and, impressed
by his rendition of "Alphabetical Slaughter", signing him
to his Streetsweepers Entertainment label. He continued to release
mixtapes at a prolific rate – over a dozen between 2004 and
2006[1] – and won the Justo Mixtape Award for Best Underground
Artist in 2005.[2]
August 24, 2006, his official website announced that he had signed
with Jive Records in a deal worth $1.5 million.[1] An album to be
called The Nacirema Dream ("American" spelled backwards)
was planned.[4] However, in September 2007, Kay Slay revealed that
he and Papoose had left Jive, commenting that they had "almost
[become] victims of A&R hell."[5] On 21 Gun Salute, Papoose
said that he was able to keep the $1.5 million despite not releasing
an album.
In 2008, Papoose issued a statement saying that he and fellow rapper
Remy Ma were to be married, but due to Ma's impending jail sentence
of potentially up to 15–25 years, that the couple had changed
their plans and intend to marry in prison instead.[6] Papoose planned
to wed his fiancee while in prison, but the wedding was called off
for one day after he attempted to smuggle a handcuffs key into prison
on their wedding day in May 2008. After the incident, Papoose married
Remy Ma the next day inside the courtroom right before sentencing
and was barred from visiting her for six months.
Since leaving Jive Records in late 2007, Papoose's career has been
in steady decline but he remains an important figure in East Coast
hip hop.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Mixtapes
* 2004: Art & War
* 2004: Street Knowledge
* 2004: The Beast from the East
* 2004: Election Day
* 2005: A Moment of Silence
* 2005: The Underground King
* 2005: Sharades
* 2005: Mixtape Murder
* 2005: A Bootlegger's Nightmare
* 2005: Bedstuy Do or Die (with Memphis Bleek)
* 2005: Unfinished Business
* 2006: Menace II Society Part 2
* 2006: A Threat and a Promise
* 2006: The Boyz in the Hood
* 2006: The 1.5 Million Dollar Man
* 2006: Second Place is the First Loser
* 2006: The Fourth Quarter Assassin
* 2007: Internationally Known
* 2007: War And Peace
* 2007: Already a Legend
* 2008: Build or Destroy
* 2009: 21 Gun Salute
* 2009: Military Grind
* 2010: Papoose Season
* 2010: The 2nd Coming
* 2011: Mr. & Mrs. Mackie (with Remy Ma)
[edit] Music Videos
Papoose and Street Heat have made music videos for a few of Papoose's
songs. The music video for "All That" from the mixtape
21 Gun Salute was one of the first videos Papoose did with Street
Heat. Then the music video for "Real Niggas Finish Last" was
shot a few months after. The videos "All That", "Real
Niggas Finish Last" and "Graffitti", as well as other
music videos from Papoose can be seen on the internet now, on his
official website, or his official YouTube.
[edit] Guest appearances
Year Song Chart positions Album
U.S. Hot 100 U.S. R&B U.S. Rap
1998 "Home Sweet Funeral Home" (Kool G Rap feat. Papoose
and Jinx) – – – Roots of Evil
2006 "My Jealousy" (Cam'ron feat. Papoose, Desi Jatt, Slim
Thug, All Star, Tef) – – – non-album single
"
Crowded" (Jeannie Ortega feat. Papoose) 93 – – No
Place Like Brooklyn
"
Where You At?" (Joe feat. Papoose) – – – Ain't
Nothin' Like Me
2008 "Comprehend" (Pete Rock feat. Papoose) – – – NY's
Finest
2010 "Thug Luv" (DJ Kayslay feat. Papoose, Ray J, Maino
and Red Cafe) – – – More Than Just a DJ
[edit] Filmography
* Righteous Kill (playing cameo of a rapper)