Remy Ma
Reminisce Kioni Smith, known professionally as Remy Ma, is an American rapper. Discovered by the late rapper Big Pun, she came to prominence for her work as a member of Fat Joe's group, Terror Squad. Her debut solo album, There's Something About Remy: Based on a True Story, sold 37,000 copies in its first week. Ma's most commercially successful songs include "Lean Back", "Conceited", and "All the Way Up".
She is one of five multi-time winners of the BET Award for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, which she won in 2005 and 2017. Ma is the recipient of two Vibe Awards, two Source Awards, and has been nominated for four Grammy Awards. From 2015 to 2020, she starred on VH1's reality series Love & Hip Hop: New York, alongside her ex-husband Papoose.
Life and career
Early life and career beginnings
Smith was born in The Bronx, and grew up in Castle Hill Projects. She was exposed to her family's drug abuse at an early age. She was forced to take care of her younger brothers and sisters at a young age and retreated from her home life issues by writing poetry. Her reputation spread around the Bronx, eventually getting the attention of Big Pun. After a meeting and freestyle session, Pun took Ma under his wing and became her mentor. Ma kickstarted her singing career under the name "Remy Martin" on Big Pun's album Yeeeah Baby, where she was featured on the tracks "Ms. Martin" and "You Was Wrong".''True Story'', ''There's Something About Remy: Based on a True Story'' (2004–2006)
After the death of Big Pun, rapper Fat Joe signed Ma to his imprint label under SRC and Universal where she became a member of his hip hop group Terror Squad. She appeared on their second and final album, True Story, released on July 27, 2004. Their single, "Lean Back", topped the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks from August 21, 2004, garnered Ma her first Grammy nomination.On February 7, 2006, Ma released her debut album There's Something About Remy: Based on a True Story, which was supported by the singles "Whuteva", "Conceited" and "Feels So Good". The album was a critical success, however a disappointment financially, moving 37,000 units in its opening week and 158,000 units within the first year. Remy was frustrated at the way the album was being promoted by Universal and tensions between her and the label caused a rift between Ma and Fat Joe. Ma and Universal parted ways, and she severed her associations with Joe and the Terror Squad.
Incarceration, mixtapes (2007–2014)
On February 13, 2007, Ma told Billboard that she was working on her second album, PunisHer, as well as a collaboration album as part of the all-female rap supergroup 3Sum, alongside female rappers Shawnna and Jacki-O.In July 2007, Remy was arrested for shooting Makeda Barnes-Joseph at a Manhattan nightspot. She was found guilty on assault, weapons, and attempted coercion charges; on May 13, 2008, she was sentenced to eight years in prison. She maintained that the shooting was an accident.
While incarcerated, she released the mixtapes The BX Files, Shesus Khryst and Blasremy. In 2011, Ma's music was featured and discussed in the documentary Black Lifestyle in Japan, where she was praised for her style and listed as one of the most frequently listened to hip-hop musicians in Japan, among younger women.
Ma was released from prison in 2014 after serving six years in prison. On October 31, 2014, she released the mixtape I'm Around. On April 28, 2015, she released Remy on the Rocks, a compilation of various tracks from her mixtapes.
''Love and Hip Hop'' and television career, ''Plata O Plomo'' (2015–2017)
On July 7, 2015, Ma announced that she was joining Love & Hip Hop: New York for its sixth season, along with her husband Papoose. She has continued to appear on the show as a series regular in seasons seven, eight, nine and ten, as well as starring in the spin-off show Remy & Papoose: Meet the Mackies, and the specials Remy & Papoose: A Merry Mackie Holiday, Dirty Little Secrets, The Love Edition, Love & Hip Hop Awards: Most Certified and 40 Greatest Love & Hip Hop Moments: The Reboot.In 2016, Fat Joe revealed that he and Ma would be releasing a joint album. On March 2, 2016, the joint album was officially announced as Plata O Plomo, which translates from Spanish to "silver or lead". The phrase was used by Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar, who would offer government officials and law enforcement the choice of taking a bribe, or having a murder contract placed against them. The album's first single, "All the Way Up", was released the same day. "All the Way Up" was a critical and commercial success, receiving platinum certification from the RIAA, and two Grammy Award nominations. Plata O Plomo debuted at number 44 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 11,158 album-equivalent units. The album received generally favorable reviews from music critics, despite lukewarm commercial success. XXL gave the album a 4 out of 5 stars, noting that the album is a "a triumphant return" for the duo.
On August 20, 2017, Ma opened a women's clothing store, Conceited in Raleigh, North Carolina.
''Reminisce'' (2017–present)
On November 16, 2017, Ma released "Wake Me Up", the first single from her upcoming album, then titled 7 Winters, 6 Summers. It featured fellow New York rapper Lil' Kim and a sample from Kim's "Queen Bitch" from the 1996 album Hard Core. On January 19, 2018, Ma released the album's second single "Melanin Magic", featuring vocals by Chris Brown and using a sample from Mint Condition's "Breakin' My Heart ". On April 26, 2018, Ma released the song "Company" featuring fellow Bronx artist A Boogie wit da Hoodie. On June 12, 2018, Ma released "New Thang", with rapper French Montana, from the soundtrack for the film Uncle Drew.From 2018 to 2020, Ma has appeared as a host on the talk show State of the Culture with Joe Budden.
In March 2020, Ma announced during an appearance on radio show The Breakfast Club that the title of the album had been changed to Reminisce, and that a release date was being decided. In 2021, Ma starred in the film 6:45, as the character Cassi.
''Chrome 23 Battle League'' (2022–present)
In February 2022, Remy Ma launched a battle rap league called Chrome 23. It was created to give women more exposure and opportunities in the battle rap arena which is male-dominated. The league's first event was called "Queens Get The Money" and was streamed for free on the Hot97 YouTube channel. Later the battles were uploaded to the Chrome 23 YouTube channel. The headlining battle featured Ms. Hustle and Couture who are both established names. Later that year, Remy threw several more events culminating in the first ever all women battle rap tournament, simply called "The Tournament". Battle rapper C3 walked away with $25,000 upon beating Kausion.In February 2023, Chrome 23 celebrated its one year anniversary by having a co-ed event which was headlined by Hitman Holla vs. Eazy the Block Captain. A lot of hype was built around the battle which garnered a million views in four days, and 3 million views in 9 months, making it the highest viewed battle of 2023 on YouTube. The league continued its hot streak by throwing the "I Do What I Want" event in September 2023 which was headlined by Geechi Gotti vs. Eazy the Block Captain.
Personal life
Smith married Shamele Mackie, better known as fellow rapper Papoose, in February 2016. The couple were initially scheduled to be wed while Smith was incarcerated in 2008, but the wedding was called off after police caught Mackie attempting to smuggle a skeleton key into prison and banned him from visiting her for six months.Remy Ma has one child from a previous relationship, as well as three stepchildren with Papoose. She gave birth to the couple's first child together, Reminisce Mackenzie, on December 14, 2018.
Remy Ma and Papoose separated in late 2024, and Papoose filed for divorce in early 2025.
Legal issues
On July 13, 2007, Smith turned herself in to New York City police in relation to a shooting early that morning outside a Manhattan delicatessen. Police say that while she was with a group of people outside the Pizza Bar, a Manhattan nightspot, a verbal confrontation broke out at 4 a.m. During the incident, a gunshot to the torso wounded Makeda Barnes-Joseph, who had been accused of stealing three thousand dollars from Smith. Police sources indicate that Barnes-Joseph later identified Smith as the shooter. Security tapes from inside the club showed no evidence of any altercations or arguments. Smith pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder, assault, and criminal weapon possession. Smith was later charged with witness tampering and assault after an August 2007 incident in which she was accused of leading several male friends to attack a witness's boyfriend.On March 27, 2008, Smith was convicted of assault, illegal weapon possession and attempted coercion in connection with these charges. She was immediately taken into custody pending sentencing scheduled for May 13. She was acquitted of witness tampering and gang assault. At her sentencing, the judge noted her disregard for the victim following the shooting—commenting that the rapper rifled through the victim's purse looking for the alleged stolen money, as Barnes-Joseph sat seriously wounded in the car. Smith then exited the vehicle, jumped into a waiting car and drove off, leaving Barnes-Joseph bleeding in the front seat. No money was found in Barnes-Joseph's purse.
The shooting caused Barnes-Joseph to undergo several surgeries. In 2007, Barnes-Joseph filed an $80 million civil lawsuit against Smith for damages, along with pain and suffering. According to her lawyers, Smith was serving an eight-year term at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women in Bedford Hills, New York, located in Westchester County and was expected to be released in 2015.
On August 1, 2014, Smith was released from prison after serving six years. In October 2018, Smith launched a new clothing line, with proceeds going to the Remy Ma Foundation to help women and their families who have been negatively affected by incarceration.
After being investigated by the NYPD for allegedly assaulting Brittney Taylor, one of her Love & Hip Hop co-stars, Smith turned herself in to the authorities on May 6, 2019. On December 2, 2019, all charges were dropped due to lack of evidence.