“I got in my new relationship, and he can’t even handle me boxing. He’s like going crazy when I’m fighting, even though I’m dominating. So, we had a talk, and he was like, ‘I cannot handle MMA.’ He was like, ‘If you don’t do anything else for me, could you please just not do that anymore?’” That is what Claressa Shields told Ariel Helwani on his show three days ago, as one of the reasons why she is saying goodbye to her MMA career. To that, the Canadian-American journalist could only respond with a “You must really be in love.” To this, she replied, “Yeah.” By now, it’s no secret that the women’s undisputed heavyweight champion is in a relationship with American rapper Papoose. Albeit not one without drama, since her boyfriend is already married to fellow rapper Remy Ma, who is also the mother of his child.

Shields also spoke about the drama between the three during her recent appearance on The Breakfast Club. Especially, reacting to all the back-and-forth that has been going on between her and Remy Ma since December last year. Although Claressa Shields played it cool initially and that it was Papoose’s responsibility to figure things out in his personal life, there is nothing more awkward than a topic like this, is it? Now, as the Flint native prepares to defend her titles against the IBF light heavyweight champ, Lani Daniels, on July 26, here’s everything to know about the man by her side.

Who is Claressa Shields’s boyfriend, Papoose?

Those who have a thing for freestyles and prolific mixtape output from a rapper must know Shamele Mackie, better known as Papoose. Born on March 5, 1978, he has released four studio albums and 29 mixtapes over his two-decade-long career. Raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood in Brooklyn, he grew up in a community well-known for its rich hip-hop culture and history.

Fans would know his work with other popular rappers like Lil Wayne, Fabolous, and Busta Rhymes. In addition to his presence in the music industry, the 47-year-old is also an actor and composer, and his credits include projects like Brooklyn’s Finest (2009), Righteous Kill (2008), and Stick It (2006). Being with Shields is also pulling him into headlines from their time together. In February, the duo celebrated Valentine’s Day together in Hawaii, as Shields revealed during an episode of Baby, This Is Keke Palmer. But, how okay is Remy Ma with all of this?

Who is Papoose’s ex-wife, Remy Ma? Do they have children together?

Papoose and his wife Ramy Ma have been married since 2008, after being together for four years. Their common friend, DJ Kay Slay, had introduced them, and though the duo’s relationship has been strained for some time now, they do share a daughter. For those who don’t know Remy Ma, she is a rapper and songwriter, born Reminisce Kioni Mackie. Discovered by rap legend Big Pun, she became a member of rapper Fat Joe’s group, Terror Squad.

Until now, she has released many successful songs like Whuteva, Lean Back, Conceited, and All the Way Up. Climbing her way up in the industry, she has won multiple BET Awards and has had four Grammy nominations. Not to mention that her fame also comes from reality TV appearances and her 10.7 million followers on Instagram. As for her children, she has one daughter with Papoose, Reminisce MacKenzie, who is seven years old. Additionally, Remy Ma has a son, Jason “Jace” Scott, from her previous relationship, who is 25 years old. She is also the stepmother to three of Papoose’s children from his previous relationships.

After Claressa Shields’ recent appearance on the Breakfast Club, Remy Ma spoke out once again on Shields and Papoose dating each other, through an Instagram live. “I’m happy… that’s my only emotion 😎 And will be even happier when Papoose retains his lawyer and/ or shows up to mediation to sign the paperwork that I’ve had since last year. I don’t want NOTHING but to NOT be mentioned in order to promote upcoming events [of Claressa Shields] that nobody cares about,” her caption read.

According to Celebrity Net Worth, Papoose’s net worth is $500k as of May this year.

Papoose’s Net Worth, Ethnicity, and Background

This wealth comes from his music career, which included album sales, mixtapes, live performances, and streaming royalties. But, he’s also earned from appearing on VH1’s Love & Hip Hop: New York and its spin-offs, as well as roles in films like Righteous Kill and Love for Passion. Plus, likely, his position as Head of Hip-Hop at TuneCore since January 2023 is contributing to his earnings, too. Being of African descent from the Tikar people of Cameroon, the rapper was born in Brooklyn, as mentioned above.

He is actually using the nickname “Papoose,” his grandmother gave him, based on how he resembled a Native American child as a baby. At the age of 11, he began rapping. He made his first recorded appearance on Kool G Rap’s 1998 album “Roots of Evil” at the age of 20. After rejecting an eight-album deal with Select Records, he gained prominence in the early 2000s through independently released mixtapes and a collaboration with DJ Kay Slay, who signed him to Streetsweepers Entertainment.

His debut album, The Nacirema Dream (2013), followed years of mixtape releases and label disputes. Papoose has earned the Justo Mixtape Award for Best Underground Artist in 2005 as well. So, that was all about Pappose, Claressa Shields’ boyfriend. The duo seems to be in love, and Papoose is even seen supporting her through her career, himself entering the ring to help train her! While Shields doesn’t need any help when it’s about boxing, because she’s already great at it, help from her boo is always welcome.