Biography
Born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, Papoose made his first attempts at being a rapper at the age of eleven. He was given his name by his grandmother because of his childhood resemblance to a Native American child. Inspired by rap legends Rakim, Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane, he has been well respected on the underground hip hop circuit for a long period of time now.
In early 2006, his StreetSweepers crew linked up with Busta Rhymes' Flipmode Inkprint to co-executive produce Papoose's first official album. On August 24, 2006, his official website announced that he signed with Jive Records, a deal which, according to his management's official website was worth $1.5 million.
Papoose has recently become known for engaging in charity work, visiting sick children and donated to causes including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and to various Hurricane Katrina charities.
On September 19, 2007 DJ Kay Slay announced that Papoose and himself have parted ways from Jive records. "We have officially gotten our release from Jive fuckin records. It was like a fuckin year of hell... Unfortunately, we almost became victims of A&R hell." On the radio show slay was asked what was next for Papoose, and he said "You know we can't talk about that man." The future of the album is unknown at this time, but they said to own the records that were created under Jive.
Music
One of his most notable songs, which fans generally recommend to new listeners, is a song where Papoose raps using all the letters of the alphabet entitled "Alphabetical Slaughter."
More recently he made a song called "Change Gon’ Come (50 Shots)", that talks about the Sean Bell shooting, in which an unarmed man was shot fifty times by New York police. The song concludes with a sample of fifty gunshots.
He has made appearances on songs by Nas, Common, Talib Kweli, Kool G Rap, Ghostface Killah, Busta Rhymes, Tupac Shakur (on his most recent posthumous record Pac's Life), Chamillionaire, Raekwon, Jadakiss, Cam'ron and Jim Jones.
His debut album is entitled The Nacirema Dream (the title from a backwards spelling of "American"). It is expected that production will come from The Heatmakerz, Swizz Beats, DJ Premier, Kanye West, DR Period and Pharrell Williams. Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Benny Donaghy have also been speculated. Nas may be featured on a track, and possibly Talib Kweli.
Papoose said: "The album is your diploma. The mixtapes are high school. The album is like-it's a whole different level. You're reaching a whole new level. Everything is strategic that I did. From "Sharades," to "Monopoly," to "Chess," I dropped 17 mixtapes. The album is a whole other level from the mixtapes."
He has released his 19th mixtape "Streetsweepers Presents Papoose: Already a Legend".
Speaking on the album, Papoose said:
| “ | At the end of the day, my material, my music speaks for itself. I never came into this with no gimmick. I never had to diss nobody to get no attention. I always came with pure talent, pure material. I ain't gon let ya'll down with this album, straight up and down. My album gon' make history. | ” |
Discography
Albums
- 2008: The Nacirema Dream
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 | "Touch It (remix)" (Busta Rhymes feat. Mary J. Blige, Rah Digga, Missy Elliott, Lloyd Banks, Papoose & DMX) | 12 | 3 | 2 | The Big Bang |
| "New Friend Request (remix)" (Gym Class Heroes feat. Papoose) | – | – | – | New Friend Request (single) | |
| "Crowded" (Jeannie Ortega feat. Papoose) | 93 | 24 | – | No Place Like Brooklyn | |
| "Where You At?" (Joe feat. Papoose) | – | – | – | Ain't Nothin' Like Me | |
| "What's Happenin (remix)" (Juvenile feat. Papoose and Jae Millz) | – | – | – | Reality Check | |
| "Dumpin" (2Pac feat. Hussein Fatal, Papoose, & Carl Thomas) | – | – | – | Pac's Life | |
| 2007 | "Everything" (Addictiv feat. Papoose) | – | – | – | Everything (single) |
| "Special" (Jennifer Hudson feat. Papoose) | – | – | – | New | |
Mixtapes
- Art & War (2004)
- StreetSweepers Presents Papoose: Street Knowledge (2004)
- StreetSweepers Presents Papoose: The Beast From The East (2004)
- StreetSweepers Presents Papoose: Election Day: Papoose For The Streets (2004)
- StreetSweepers Presents Papoose: A Moment Of Silence (2005)
- StreetSweepers Presents Papoose: Underground King (2005)
- StreetSweepers Presents Papoose: Sharades (2005)
- StreetSweepers Presents Papoose: Mixtape Murder (Runnin' The City)(2005)
- StreetSweepers Presents Papoose: A Bootlegger's Nightmare(2005)
- StreetSweepers Presents Papoose & Memphis Bleek Bedstuy: Do or Die (2005)
- StreetSweepers Presents Papoose: Unfinished Business: The Best Of Papoose (2005)
- StreetSweepers Presents Papoose: Menace II Society Part II (2006)
- Streetsweepers Presents Papoose: A Threat And A Promise (2006)
- Streetsweepers Presents Papoose: The Boyz In The Hood (2006)
- Streetsweepers Presents Papoose: The 1.5 Million Dollar Man (2006)
- Streetsweepers Presents Papoose: Second Place Is The First Loser (October 12, 2006)
- Streetsweepers Presents Papoose: The 4th Quarter Assassin: Holiday Hitman (December 2, 2006)
- Streetsweepers Presents Papoose: Internationally Known (March 29, 2007)
- Streetsweepers Presents Papoose: Already a Legend (2007)
COMMENTS
Papoose
Legend In The Making
Pap's really not doing it for me. His buzz....well it fizzled out now. he waited too long... or at least of course in MY opinion.
~Be Eazy!
With a tracklist like this he got heat i da oven when its classic you need no buzz....
my fault
“Swallow your Pride” [Intro]- production DJ Kay Slay
“It’s Over Now” - production Hi-Tek
“They Call Me Pap” - production Heatmakerz
“Can’t Forget” - featuring Jeannie Ortega production Scott Storch
“Everyday” - featuring Talib Kweli production 9th Wonder
“Alphabetical Slaughter Pt. 2″ - production DJ Kay Slay
“Get this Started” - featuring Busta Rhymes production Just Blaze
“Intermezzo” - featuring Mos Def production Havoc
“Livin the Dream” - production The Alchemist
“African-American” - featuring Nas production Dr. Dre
“By My Side” - featuring Mary J. Blige production Timbaland
“Salute the Flag” - production Cool & Dre
“Die a Little” - production Kanye West
“Ashes To Ashes” production The Alchemist
“Assassination” - production The Neptunes
“I See Dead People” - featuring Eminem production Dr. Dre
“Not Today production” - production Swizz Beatz
“Love Letter production” - production Cool & Dre
“Unfinished Business” - production Dr. Dre
“NYC Drama production” - production The Directors
“The Nacirema Dream (outro)[Bonus Track] - production DJ Kay Slay
PAPOOSE WILL EAT YOR FAVORITE RAPPER ON A BAD DAY!
i know if pap gets in with the rite producer he will be one of the best cause lyrically he already is but some people just dont know that i gaurantee you most rappers wont battle with pap hes so lyrical people if you get his mixtape
"already a legend" you will see its amazing get it and you might change your mind all the haters
the nigga mix tapes all free style nigas need to start fuckin wit underground mix tapes an stop puting smart remarks on the net sayin papoose cant rap fuck wit him
ahahahahhahhaahah this mah negga but he need to step his game up
Sharades was one of the best concept songs I've heard.
papoose iz about 2 blow yall brace yorselvez!
This Nigga can rap, but he will only achieve hood success and that ain't all that bad.
HOOD SUCCESS MY ASS!
the most lyrical
papoose = g.o.a.t.
Yea right. Drop at least 5 classic albums.
too soon to say shit like that. the nigga sick though.
is he really that lyrical
YES!!!
i wish he would drop dat album soon his fans are all waiting
He cant drop.. Jive Records wanted to fuck with his album, Make it all poppy and shit.. Pap didnt want to.. So they never had it released.