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United States Papoose Mackie has established a long-standing career in hip-hop, transitioning from a celebrated recording artist and mixtape prolific to a key executive role as Head of Hip-Hop at TuneCore.
Appointed rapper Papoose as its new head of hip-hop. TuneCore has a genuine history with Shamele 'Papoose' Mackie. In this role, he focuses on fostering collaboration, innovation, and community within the hip-hop genre. Papoose also discusses his new position and helping up-and-coming artists.
Papoose started his rap career in 1998 after featuring on Kool G Rap's album Roots Of Evil.
Papoose signed a $1.5 million deal with Jive Records in 2006 for his debut album, "The Nacirema Dream." Although the album's release was delayed, Papoose retained the advance despite parting ways with the label.
Papoose has collaborated with artists like Busta Rhymes, further solidifying his status as a respected figure in hip-hop.
Papoose has collaborated with artists like DJ Premier, further solidifying his status as a respected figure in hip-hop.
Papoose joined the cast of VH1's "Love & Hip Hop: New York" for its sixth season and continued to appear in subsequent seasons. He also starred in the spin-off show "Remy & Papoose: Meet the Mackies" and several specials.
Shamele Mackie, widely known as Papoose, was born on March 5, 1978, in Brooklyn, New York. His career in hip-hop began in 1998 with his debut on Kool G Rap’s album “Roots of Evil.” Early in his career, Papoose gained recognition for his freestyles and consistent output of independent mixtapes. He released his debut single, “Thug Connection,” in 2004, which included the acclaimed b-side “Alphabetical Slaughter.” Despite being offered an eight-album deal by Select Records, he chose to maintain artistic control through his mixtape releases. This independent approach led him to sign with DJ Kay Slay’s Streetsweepers imprint after an impressive rendition of “Alphabetical Slaughter” on his radio show. Papoose continued to release numerous mixtapes, securing the Justo Mixtape Award for Best Underground Artist in 2005, highlighting his significant presence in the underground hip-hop scene.
In 2006, Papoose signed with Jive Records for a reported $1.5 million deal to release his debut studio album, “The Nacirema Dream.” However, the album’s release faced delays due to label conflicts, leading to Papoose and DJ Kay Slay parting ways with Jive Records in 2007. Despite these label challenges, Papoose retained the advance and continued to release music independently. “The Nacirema Dream” was eventually released independently in 2013 and debuted at number 97 on the Billboard 200. His second album, “You Can’t Stop Destiny,” followed in 2015. Over the years, he has collaborated with artists such as Busta Rhymes and DJ Premier, solidifying his reputation as a respected figure in hip-hop. In addition to his music career, Papoose transitioned into television, joining the cast of VH1’s “Love & Hip Hop: New York” in 2015 alongside his wife, Remy Ma, and later starring in the spin-off “Remy & Papoose: Meet the Mackies.”
A significant milestone in his career occurred in January 2023 when Papoose was appointed as the Head of Hip-Hop for the independent artist digital distributor, TuneCore. In this role, he focuses on fostering collaboration, innovation, and community within the hip-hop genre for independent artists. This position leverage his extensive background as a rapper and songwriter to support emerging talent. His work includes engaging with various independent artists and providing guidance within the music industry. Papoose has also been involved in charitable initiatives, including visiting sick children and supporting organizations like the Make-A-Wish Foundation, demonstrating his commitment beyond music.
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