Papoose Net Worth

What Is Papoose's Net Worth?

Papoose is an American rapper who has a net worth of $500 thousand. Papoose made his rap debut on the 1998 album "Roots of Evil" by Kool G Rap. Following this, he produced and distributed a plethora of his own mixtapes, eventually signing with Jive Records. After his debut studio album experienced multiple delays, Papoose left Jive and released new mixtapes with collaborator DJ Kay Slay before finally releasing his album "The Nacirema Dream" through Fontana Distribution.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Papoose was born Shamele Mackie on March 5, 1978, in New York City, New York. He was raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. He is of Liberian descent. Mackie earned the nickname Papoose from his grandmother, who felt he resembled a Native American child when he was a baby. As a teen, Shamele attended Immaculata High School in Oshawa, Quebec, Canada.

Mackie made his rap debut in 1998, appearing on Kool G Rap's album "Roots of Evil." In 2004, he put out his debut single, "Thug Connection," which featured the b-side "Alphabetical Slaughter." Although Select Records offered Shamele an eight-album deal, he declined.

Independent Mixtapes

Following a stint at Rikers Island, Mackie started to independently produce and sell his own mixtapes. He presented one of these mixtapes to DJ Kay Slay, who subsequently invited Shamele onto his radio show. Slay was so impressed with the artist's rendition of "Alphabetical Slaughter" that he signed him to his Streetsweepers imprint. Mackie went on to release numerous mixtapes, totaling more than a dozen between 2004 and 2006. Among the titles were "Street Knowledge," "The Beast from the East," "The Underground King," "Unfinished Business," and "Second Place is the First Loser." During this period, Shamele won the Justo Mixtape Award for Best Underground Artist and became involved with rapper Busta Rhymes' Flipmode Squad label.

Mackie capitalized on his breakthrough by signing a $1.5 million contract with Jive Records. However, due to numerous delays and the eventual shelving of his debut studio album, Shamele soon left Jive to release more independent mixtapes with DJ Kay Slay. Between 2007 and 2012, he put out nine of them, including "Internationally Known," "Build or Destroy," "Papoose Season," "King of New York," and "Most Hated Alive."

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Studio Albums

After releasing 27 mixtapes, Mackie finally released his debut album, "The Nacirema Dream," in 2013. Put out through Honorable Records and Fontana Distribution, it featured guest appearances from such artists as Erykah Badu, Jadakiss, Mavado, and Mobb Deep and spawned the singles "On Top of My Game," "What's My Name," and "Get At Me." The album was well-reviewed by critics, and it debuted at #97 on the Billboard 200 and at #13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Following the release of his mixtapes "Hoodie Season," "Hoodie Season 2," and "Cigar Society," Mackie put out his second studio album, "You Can't Stop Destiny," in 2015. The album featured guest appearances by Troy Ave, Remy Ma, and Maino, among others. A third studio album, entitled "Underrated," came out in 2019. This was followed in 2020 by "Endangered Species."

Television and Film

Beyond music, Mackie appeared alongside his wife, Remy Ma, on the sixth season of the VH1 reality program "Love & Hip Hop: New York." The show documents the lives of several individuals in the New York City area who are involved in the hip-hop music scene. Following their initial appearance, Mackie and Ma continued to be on the show for seasons seven and eight and were promoted to the main cast for seasons nine and ten. In 2018, the couple starred in the three-week event spinoff series "Remy & Papoose: Meet the Mackies," which chronicled their lives as they prepared to have their first child. Additionally, they starred in their very own holiday special, entitled "Remy & Papoose: A Merry Mackie Holiday."

On the big screen, Mackie had a bit part in the 2008 crime thriller "Righteous Kill." Directed by Jon Avnet, the film starred Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, John Leguizamo, and Carla Gugino. Another rapper, 50 Cent, also appeared in the movie.

Personal Life

In 2008, Papoose married fellow rapper Remy Ma while she was serving a prison sentence at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility in New York. At the time, Remy had recently been convicted of assault, illegal weapon possession, and attempted coercion related to a 2007 shooting incident outside a Manhattan deli. Their marriage took place over the phone after Papoose was temporarily banned from visiting the prison for attempting to smuggle in a key.

Following Remy's release in 2014, the couple held a formal wedding ceremony in 2016 and became known for their close bond, frequently appearing together at public events and on the reality series "Love & Hip Hop: New York." In December 2018, they welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Reminisce Mackenzie, nicknamed "The Golden Child." Papoose also has three children from previous relationships: Shamele Jr. and Dejanae, with ex-girlfriend Yvetta Lashley, and a daughter named Destiny, born in 2000.

In 2025, Remy Ma publicly confirmed the couple was in the process of finalizing a divorce. Around the same time, Papoose began a relationship with professional boxing champion Claressa Shields. Shields addressed their relationship publicly during an interview on "The Breakfast Club," describing it as strong and supportive while acknowledging the ongoing divorce proceedings.

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