In popular culture, the phrase “couples goals” has remained relevant since its debut. In Hip-Hop, Papoose has been one of the faces of this phrase alongside his wife of 15 years, Remy Ma. The two have notably used the phrase “black love” as a part of their long-lasting union. Subsequently, the couple has been very vocal on the topic of marriage. This past week, Papoose shared his most recent views on the topic at hand.
On Friday, Papoose appeared as the first guest on the brand-new podcast-styled series Listen To Black Men. This series highlights the authentic thoughts of black men with a massive range of topics. The first episode Titled “Friend Zone,” was the topic at hand that lead the roundtable-styled discussion. On the topic of friendship, host Moose Jones, described how platonic friendships between men and women can be possible if one of them is “Ugly.” subsequently, another panelist noted he would not allow his wife to be friends with someone who is deemed “attractive.” Subsequently, Papoose responded to this part of the discussion with his take on the hot topic. “When you get married, you take wedding vows. He has to honor his queen. If she disagrees with something, he has to take her perspective into consideration going forward. He can’t just totally disregard her point of view,” he said. Additionally, he shared he is not insecure when his wife is onscreen with other men. “It’s just a job. It’s just the workplace. I would never feel insecure about that,” he said.
Papoose Drops Gems On Not Being Insecure In His Marriage
Moreover, Papoose has not strayed away from transparency about his life. In April the rap veteran shared his worst mistake in his long-term rap career. Papoose believes that signing his 1.5 million deal at the beginning of his career was something he should not have done. The New York MC signed a deal in 2007 with Jive Records. “It was the worst mistake I ever made in my life,” he said in an interview with Big Boy TV. Additionally, he detailed that the failure of the label to promote his music caused the deal to not fall through in longevity.
Furthermore, his take on marriage consolidates his known status as an intellectual. Papoose and his wife, Remy Ma have remained in the couples goals discussion in hip-hop. Do you agree with Papoose’s take on marriage? Let us know in the comments below.
In a world where hip hop and romance rarely intertwine, Remy Ma and Papoose have defied the odds. They’ve also become an iconic power couple in the industry. From their early days navigating the tumultuous world of music to their wedding and life today, the duo’s devotion to one another is both inspiring and heartwarming. Let’s revisit the various phases of their relationship, including their first meeting, Remy Ma’s incarceration and subsequent marriage behind bars, their experiences on Love & Hip Hop, and their fairytale wedding.
How They Met
Remy Ma and Papoose first crossed paths in 2004. They were introduced by a mutual friend, DJ Kay Slay, at an industry event in New York City. The connection between the two was instant. Additionally, their bond was forged through their shared love for music and values. They also realized they had the same morals and values and a thirst to succeed in hip hop.
Incarceration
In 2008, Remy Ma was sentenced to eight years in connection to the shooting of a woman. Remy has long denied responsibility. Papoose remained committed to his partner. In May 2008, the couple got married over the phone while Remy Ma was incarcerated. Their contemporaries have also joked that they wouldn’t be able to maintain such a marriage, but Remy and Pap were dedicated to their commitment to one another.
Love & Hip Hop New York
In 2014, Remy Ma was released from prison. Soon after, the couple joined the Love & Hip Hop: New York cast. The show provided a platform for Remy Ma to rebuild her music career while also showcasing the strength of her relationship with Papoose. Their story resonated with viewers and inspired other couples facing similar challenges in their own lives. Soon, they became the faces of “Black Love” in hip hop, with Papoose even rocking apparel to reflect the message. Pap also became a voice on the show to help other men maintain healthy relationships with their partners.
The Wedding
In December 2015, Remy Ma and Papoose celebrated their love with a lavish televised wedding ceremony. They were surrounded by friends, family, and fellow hip hop royalty. Remy Ma further described the experience as “the best day of my life,” and it was written all over her face. The preparation for the event was documented on Love & Hip Hop, and later, Remy and Pap received the wedding of their dreams. It was a far cry from how they initially exchanged vows, and their supporters believed it was a deserved celebration.
Today, Remy Ma and Papoose continue to thrive as a couple, raising their blended family and collaborating on various music projects. With their unwavering commitment to one another and shared passion for hip hop, Remy Ma and Papoose’s love story is a testament to loyalty and perseverance in adversity. Their daughter, also affectionately known as “Golden Child,” turned four years old in December 2022. No word on if more kids are don’t he way, but the couple seems to be enjoying their brood as is.
Fat Joe’s imprint on Hip Hop is unmatched. His rise arrived next to the late-great Big Pun, and the pair became formidable forces in the industry. Following Pun’s untimely passing, Joey Crack did his best to honor his friend’s memory while continuing to become one of Hip Hop’s elite. The award-winning hitmaker has done just that.
In the early 2000s, Terror Squad was a force to be reckoned with Joe at the helm. Often, we’ve seen Joe with his best friend and hitmaking partner Remy Ma collide on a track. However, she is one of many collaborators of Joe’s that have joined him at the top of the charts. While many of today’s artists shun away from certain contemporaries, Joe often works with creatives from around the globe. Whether they’re from his stomping grounds of the Bronx (like Cardi B), making hits in the South (with the likes of Rick Ross), or grooving in the West (with Ty Dolla $ign), Joe isn’t afraid to link in the studio.
Throughout the years, Fat Joe has proven to be in the conversation as a great emcee. Undoubtedly, he’s one of the greatest rappers to come out of New York. Let’s look at some of his best work.
13. “Pullin” With Dre & Lil Wayne (2019)
Fat Joe makes a good rap record on “Pullin’.” It’s neither a club record nor a song for the ladies. On “Pullin,” Crack wasn’t going for a commercial hit. He taps Lil Wayne and his long-time collaborator, Dre, for features. Wayne and Crack link up again as they have appeared on the same track together plenty of times.
12. “Money Showers” With Remy Ma ft. Ty Dolla $ign (2017)
“Money Showers” might be part two to “Make It Rain.” He even uses a popular line, “I make it rain on them h***,” from the 2006 hit in “Money Showers.” Both songs are indeed meant for the strip club. The music video for “Money Showers” takes place in a club as it is influenced by the 1998 movie, The Players Club.
Instead of a heavy rap club record, Fat Joe opts to go for a smooth, subtle Hip Hop-R&B blend. Remy Ma’s aggressive flow complements this peaceful production. Joe taps into the new school R&B by linking up with Ty Dolla $ign. This gives the typical Fat Joe-Remy Ma collaboration a modern sound.
11. “John Blaze” ft. Nas, Big Pun, Jadakiss, & Raekwon (1998)
“John Blaze” is one of the best “posse cuts” in Hip Hop history. Some of the best lyricists we have ever come across come together on this track. Jadakiss, Raekwon, Nas, and Big Pun took turns on “John Blaze.” Including Fat Joe, it’s hard to decide who had the best verse. Many will go with Pun, but you can’t go wrong with any of the five heavy hitters.
10. “Yes” With Cardi B & Anuel AA (2019)
Fat Joe taps into his Latin roots on “YES.” Whether he collaborates with Latin artists or shouts his culture out on a song, the Bronx native makes sure to represent. He gets help from Cardi B and Puerto Rican rapper Anuel AA. “YES” has a Latin feel to it as Fat Joe samples a salsa song to loop throughout the track. It’s another track for the ladies, unlike “Another Round” or “I Won’t Tell.” It’s more of a strip club record like “Make It Rain.” What better way to make a club anthem than to have a former stripper on the track?
9. “So Excited” ft. Dre (2017)
If you heard “So Excited” and “Attention,” you may get the same feeling from both songs. And it’s not just because Dre is on both tracks. Fat Joe keeps the energy fun and light with “So Excited.” It’s another bop for Crack as he adds one more party record to his catalog. His ability to appeal to all audiences should not go unnoticed.
8. “Attention” With Chris Brown & Dre (2018)
“Attention” feels just like “Sunshine (The Light).” Instead, it’s an original song, as Crack grabbed Chris Brown and Dre for this one. Fat Joe has a knack for making records that feel like the summertime. It seems as if Scott Storch is his go-to producer for his hit records. This is the third time they have linked up and been successful.
7. “Sunshine (The Light)” With Amorphous & DJ Khaled (2021)
Fat Joe has a knack for making songs to dance to. What’s interesting about “Sunshine (The Light)” is how it came about. DJ Amorphous is known for creating mixes of different artists’ songs. His mashup of Rihanna and Luther Vandross caught the attention of Fat Joe and DJ Khaled. Amorphous combined Vandross’s “Never Too Much” with Rihanna’s “Kiss It Better.” Fat Joe’s smooth flow is perfect for this sound. The title of the song perfectly describes the feeling of this tune.
6. “Another Round” ft. Chris Brown (2011)
”Another Round” is one for the ladies. However, this one is a bit more intimate as Fat Joe taps Chris Brown to make a slow jam. Not to be compared to the similar sounds of the 90s, “Another Round” is more modern. The sound feels R&B, but the drums make it Hip Hop. ”Another Round” is an example of Fat Joe taking a page from Big Pun or the Notorious B.I.G.’s book.
5. “I Won’t Tell” ft. J. Holiday (2008)
For this track, Fat Joe calls on J. Holiday to create “I Won’t Tell.” This was another hit for Joe as it landed in the Top 40. He also has a knack for collaborating with artists while they’re hot. First Lil Wayne, now J. Holiday. ”I Won’t Tell” was Fat Joe’s lead single for his album, The Elephant in the Room. Many believe it was solely for radio, but nonetheless, it is another hit in Joe’s catalog.
4. “All The Way Up” With Remy Ma ft. French Montana, Infrared (2016)
Decades later and Crack is still making hits. Grammy-nominated hits, that is. ”All The Way Up” was one of the best songs in 2016. It was nominated for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance. The hit song even got the attention of arguably the greatest rapper of all time, Jay-Z. To everyone’s surprise, he was on the official remix. Hov’s presence on the record gives it more of a New York feel. First “Lean Back” and now “All The Way Up,” it’s safe to say Fat Joe knows how to make a song for the Big Apple.
Fat Joe makes a song the ladies can enjoy on “What’s Luv?” Ashanti elevates the song with her catchy chorus. Their chemistry on this track makes you wonder why this is their only track together. Fat Joe gets his first Top 10 with “What’s Luv?” while also creating another memorable moment for Hip Hop in the 2000s.
2. “Make It Rain” ft. Lil Wayne (2006)
The North and South collide on “Make It Rain.” Fat Joe taps Lil Wayne for this Grammy-nominated hit. It was up for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 2008. ”Make It Rain” was so popular that it called for a remix. Birdman, Rick Ross, R. Kelly, Ace Mac, and T.I. all joined Fat Joe and Wayne for the updated version.
1. “Lean Back” – Terror Squad ft. Fat Joe & Remy Ma (2004)
Fat Joe and Remy Ma joined the Terror Squad and created a dance craze with “Lean Back.” Now, it wasn’t the most complex move ever, but it sure was popular. Whenever Fat Joe said, “Do the rockaway, now lean back, lean back…” people of all ages did just that. ”Lean Back” is arguably one of the best songs of the 2000s. Any time you can create a great song with a popular dance craze is a success. The 2004 hit is a huge party record, giving Fat Joe another No. 1 hit.
A quarter of a century ago, Christopher Rios, aka Big Punisher, put out his first LP, Capital Punishment, on Loud Records.
Released by Fat Joe and the Terror Squad on Loud Records, Pun’s highly anticipated album showcased Pun’s unequaled lyrical ability, comedic punchlines, and ever-evolving style that his son Chris Rivers has inherited from his pops.
Album highlights include joints like “You Ain’t A Killer,” “Super Lyrical,” featuring The Roots’ Black Thought, and the platinum-selling album that propelled the album to a million sales, “Still Not A Player.”
Salute to Fat Joe, the Rios family, the Terror Squad, and the entire Loud staff for this classic!
LL Cool J’s “Rock The Bells” festival is set to return this year with a boost from a $15 million investment led by Paramount Global. The news comes on the heels of the rap legend’s hosting gig at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards. Paramount Global has announced a $15 million investment in LL Cool […]
Remy Ma and her young daughter stopped by The Drew Barrymore Show to surprise Mary J. Blige. The 9-time Grammy award winner was on the show to speak about her new book, Mary Can! It is an illustrated children’s book that Blige wrote with the goal of teaching children that they can do anything and they are enough. The artist has kept busy recently and shows no signs of slowing down in the near future. Recently, Blige was announced as a headliner at the Blue Note Jazz Festival.
Both Remy Ma and Mary J. Blige are well-known individuals in the hip-hop and R&B communities. Reminisce Smith, better known by the stage name Remy Ma, first rose to prominence in the early 2000s as a part of the Terror Squad. Then, she launched a lucrative solo career. Since her debut, Remy has received acclaim for her ability as a rapper and her contributions to the genre. Generally, she is known for having tough-talking lyrics and an aggressive flow. Mary J. Blige, on the other hand, has had a successful singing and songwriting career for over three decades. Blige has been dubbed the “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul” for her soulful vocals and straightforward lyrics. Unsurprisingly, the music business has been significantly impacted by both Remy Ma and Mary J. Blige, and the two have maintained a close friendship for some time.
Mary J. Blige Gets Emotional After Remy Praise
In the middle of the interview with Drew, Remy Ma comes out with her daughter, Reminisce Mackenzie. Mary J. Blige looks pleasantly surprised to see her and the two embrace. Remy has high words of praise for the soul singer and says that she was everything she hoped she would be and more. “You know how you meet somebody or aspire to meet somebody… sometimes, in this industry you meet them and they’re not really what you envisioned them to be?” Remy says. “Not only is she everything that I thought she would be, but she’s like past that.”
Mary J. Blige looks very emotional as Remy speaks about their friendship and thanks the rapper for her kind words. However, this was not the end of the praise that Remy had for Blige. The rapper continues, telling Drew about how genuine Blige is. “I think what she’s doing in her legacy is — I don’t even know she’s aware of how many people that she touched.” Have you been touched by Mary J. Blige’s music? Sound off in the comments to let us know.
On this day in 2000, the first posthumous L.P. to be released by the first “Latin to go platinum” entitled Yeeeah Baby was released on the Loud/Terror Squad imprint.
Christopher “Big Pun” Rios passed away just shy of two months before his sophomore L.P.’s release and anticipated success, which came on the heels of his debut album, Capital Punishment. With appearances from the entire Terror Squad and executive production by the T.S. general Fat Joe, the 16-track album showed Pun’s acute diversity in his lyricism and approach to song-making, which yielded some of the most memorable songs of his career. The album took longer to record because of Pun’s extreme obesity since his breathing problems couldn’t permit him to spit his custom, rapid-fire flow freely.
Some of the L.P.’s favorites are the Puerto Rican anthem “100%” with Terror Squad crooner Tony Sunshine on the hook, “New York Giants” featuring M.O.P., “Ms. Martin,” an ode to his protege Remy Ma and the touching single “It’s So Hard” featuring Donnell Jones.
Salute to Big Pun, Pun Jr., and the entire Terror Squad for this remarkable piece of Hip Hop History!
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From sampling disputes to accusations of copyright infringement, many legal battles over the years have left some of hip-hop’s most popular songs with a tarnished legacy. Here are the top four of the most controversial hip-hop songs. Hip-Hop has always been a genre filled with controversy, including issues surrounding credit and ownership of popular songs. […]
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