Papoose began his storied career in 1998 when he made an appearance on Kool G Rap’s album Roots of Evil. Since then, Papoose has seen all that the hip-hop industry has to offer. He’s won Justo awards and been aligned with Busta Rhymes’ Flipmode Squad. He, along with DJ Kay Slay, made himself the most sought after MC in New York City. He even landed a 1.5 million dollar deal with Jive records, a label that would end up shelving his album due to creative differences. Papoose has also had to deal with his wife Remy Ma doing serious time in prison. However, despite the tribulations, Papoose has been able to prevail, as in hip-hop, talent speaks volumes and he has that in droves. As one of the nicest MC’s around, with a tireless work ethic that would produce almost countless classic mixtapes, Papoose kept himself relevant, finally releasing his long awaited debut album, The Nacirema Dream, in 2013 to the delight of his fans. Papoose remains one of the most influential artists in hip-hop. MMD sat down with Papoose to discuss his place amongst New York City MC’s, his wife Remy Ma being very close to coming home from prison, and his feelings on Kendrick Lamar.
Men’s Mag Daily: Pap, Nacirema Dream came out a few months ago after a lot of waiting. When you finally got it out there, were you relieved? Excited? What did it feel like to finally have it out there?
Papoose: Oh yeah definitely man. It was a good feeling. I was happy to get it out to the fans. They’ve been waiting. And as an artist it felt good to finally drop it on that scale to hear what people think. It was definitely a good feeling.
Men’s Mag Daily: What I really respect is that all this time passed and you didn’t change the title and you stuck with that Papoose formula. You must have had a really strong vision for what the album was supposed to be.
Papoose: Definitely, I mean this wasn’t some shit I just did to put out. This was part of my journey, part of my destiny. I been through a lot and there’s no way I could have switched that shit. I wouldn’t have been being real to myself if I did.
Men’s Mag Daily: Obviously, with the album you took the independent route and it did well in terms of sale and in terms of the response from fans and critics. Do you wish you would have taken the independent route from the beginning?
Papoose: I do wish I did it but I can’t say I regret it. You live and you learn.
Men’s Mag Daily: A lot of people have negative things to say about Papoose as an artist. Given how seriously you take your music, how does that affect you?
Papoose: I mean most people, like when I don’t like somebody I don’t speak about them, I don’t pay them no attention, you know what I’m sayin’? But people are gonna say what they’re gonna say. I heard Floyd Mayweather say in an interview that when he’s walking into the ring he hears the cheers and he hears the boos but he learned to appreciate the boos because even though it might be negative your presence is being felt, you know what I’m sayin’? If people have a strong opinion about you whether it’s positive or negative then you’re doing something right. There’s people that run just to be able to say something negative about Papoose. As long as the public has a strong opinion about you then that means that you’re on their mind. If people have a strong opinion about you it means you’re making an impact. It is what it is man. You gotta take the good with the bad man.
Men’s Mag Daily: Would you say that you’re the best representation of New York hip-hop right now?
Papoose: Without a doubt man, without a doubt and that’s the case for a million reasons. There are a lot of rappers that are running to hear what Papoose is saying. I have a lot of influence man. They can’t bring what I bring to the table. This is all years in the making. I bring that honesty to the table and not everybody can do what I do, bottom line.
Men’s Mag Daily: Whenever me and my boys are having conversations about hip-hop and you come up I say that I hear a lot of Big L in Papoose. Is that an artist you were influenced by?
Papoose: That’s incredible man, peace to Big L. I was definitely influenced by all the potent lyricists. I was influenced by Big, L, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Nas, Biggie, Pac, and I think Pac was definitely great. Big L was definitely a lyricist and it’s a big compliment to be compared to somebody like that.
Men’s Mag Daily: There was the situation with the whole Control record and Kendrick’s “King of New York” line. A lot of people responded but I thought you had the best one. Did you really take that personally?
Papoose: I mean it’s one thing to say it if you’re from here and you’re not because at least you’re from here but dud ain’t even from here. And everybody was cryin’ and makin’ excuses for him like he ain’t mean it like that or whatever but what did he mean then? Everybody was stickin’ up for him. He got what he asked for. He got his ass whooped.
Men’s Mag Daily: You did a track with DJ Premier on the album and to me it sounded like a perfect fit, you two working together. How did that collaboration come about?
Papoose: I mean for me to have that track on the album was mandatory. To be able to work with Premier is a blessing. It just fit with the album. It was a big part of that so you know I had to make that happen.
Men’s Mag Daily: You did the track 6 A.M. with Jim Jones and Jadakiss. How did you pick those two guys to feature?
Papoose: Certain times you just hear the best and you think of certain artists. Jadakiss is an incredible lyricist. He paints incredible pictures. The whole track is like when it’s 6 A.M. and the police are knockin’ on your door, whether you’re guilty or not, are you gonna answer the door and claim your innocence or are you gonna flee? When I heard that beat those were just the two artists, Jim and Jada, that came to mind.
Men’s Mag Daily: You kept it real New York on the album with Jimmy, Jada, Ron Browz, Mobb Deep, and even a Remy Verse. Was it important that this album just be New York to the core?
Papoose: That’s what it is man. That’s what I been doing and it’s just how my records come out. I ride for that. You could see me in my face to face interviews like on Power 105 risking my relationship and asking them why Atlanta has the same playlist as New York. It’s my opinion on how they’re running the city and I been sayin’ that before anybody was saying anything. When I went on tour and I’m in the South and I’m talkin’ to certain cat’s they’re telling me they think it’s wack that New York is playing what they’re playing. They don’t want that, they think that right there is disgusting. I took a tour bus and traveled all over and when I came back I was wavin’ that New York flag and doing my interviews and sayin’ all this. I did the Versace freestyle and I dropped an entire mixtape called King of New York. That’s what influenced Kendrick Lamar to jump out the window with that. I felt like that was a shot at me anyway but that’s a whole other story. I responded on some New York shit and then not too long after Big Sean said some stupid shit and I responded to that too. After that you saw New York cats tryin’ to get involved where they weren’t before. But this is my city, I was born here, this is what I represent.
Men’s Mag Daily: So if we’re talking about a street corner battle between you and Kendrick or you and Big Seas what’s the outcome?
Papoose: Yeah that’ll be easy, c’mon man. I could do that with my eyes closed. These cats have some kind of gimmick and they’re made by the industry. I’m a street artist. I come from the streets.
Men’s Mag Daily: What about when Trinidad James made some of those comments?
Papoose: He saw what Kendrick did and he got on stage and he was talkin’ too much.
Men’s Mag Daily: I think Maino handled that right?
Papoose: Yeah Maino said somethin’ to him, I saw that.
Men’s Mag Daily: Remy’s coming home soon man. It’s been a long time, you must be excited.
Papoose: Yeah man, it’s very exciting. Words can’t describe it. It’s been a long time comin’. She deserves to be out man and it’s crazy that it’s so close, it’s a blessing.
Men’s Mag Daily: She must be ready to run to the booth.
Papoose: She’s been workin’ man; she’s definitely focused right now. She ain’t gonna run though because she got her composure right now. It’s gonna be a problem.
Men’s Mag Daily: So Pap, are we getting a new album soon? What can we expect?
Papoose: Yeah man, I’m trying to release as much music as possible. I’m focused right now and I’m workin’. I put out the Hoodie Season mixtapes out and we got a lot more comin’. I’m trying to release a lot of new shit, not necessarily a mixtape but a lot of new projects. I think people want quantity and quality, good music is good music so when I released all my mixtapes my fans were feelin’ them. I definitely want to drop a new album this year. I dropped a project in January and February and hopefully every month. That album is comin’ man. Shout out to Raekwon. I just worked him on something. Shout out to Cassidy. We’re working on something together too. I’m just going hard man, I’m focused.
Article By: Jon DaBove
