The pending divorce between Remy Ma and Papoose is becoming more complex than simply parting ways. According to “Way Up with Angela Yee,” Remy sought to have Papoose’s divorce complaint dismissed, in the latest development involving the Sept. 11, 2026 but the judge denied the request, and the divorce proceedings remain ongoing.
Why Did They Get Married?
The couple’s relationship dates back to Remy Ma’s incarceration. They exchanged vows in May 2008 while Remy, whose birth name is Reminisce Smith, was serving a six-year prison sentence for shooting a friend she suspected of stealing $3,000.
Papoose reportedly lost his visitation privileges after he was allegedly caught with a key while attempting to visit Remy at the Rikers Island Correctional Facility. The couple called off the wedding, according to the New York Daily News. Papoose later disputed claims that he was helping Remy escape, explaining that the key was attached to his decorative skeleton keychain. After Remy’s release, the couple later celebrated their marriage with a formal wedding ceremony in 2016.
A Publicized and Nasty Breakup
Papoose filed for divorce from Remy Ma on May 22, 2025, in New Jersey, according to court documents. The filing cited irreconcilable differences and allegations concerning the 46-year-old rapper’s alleged infidelity.
Rather than remaining a private legal matter between the estranged couple, the breakup has spiraled into a public dispute. Both sides have addressed aspects of the relationship from their perspectives through their music and on social media, including allegations of cheating from both parties.
The situation has also produced competing narratives concerning who contributed what to Remy’s music career and whether Papoose deserves credit for some of the work associated with her catalog. Papoose, whose real name is Willie Shamele Mackie, has publicly claimed that he wrote a large portion of Remy’s music.
“She wanna talk all this money talk and all of this, and what I don’t got and what I got? Since I met her, I have written 90% of the rhymes that came out of her mouth,” the 48-year-old claimed during a May 2025 social media livestream. He said he had proof in his email drafts and could search his email for the lyrics.
“I can type in any word from one of her songs, and her entire rap will come up. The entire verse will come up. I never asked for a penny, I never asked for credit. She was my wife, I didn’t want anything from her, I just wanted to see her win,” he added.
Remy has disputed his songwriting claims in her April 2026 freestyle “W.Y.F.L.” (“Why You F**kin Lying”).
Remy Ma and Claressa Shields Trade Shots
The controversy has also expanded into a public feud between Remy and Papoose’s girlfriend, Olympic boxer Claressa Shields.
The Bronx rapper claimed that she had screenshots of messages between Papoose and Shields. Remy also alleged that her estranged husband was staying with her and would be on the phone with Shields and that he would fall asleep on the phone. She further claimed that Shields would hang up whenever she began talking.
Shields disputed those claims, calling Remy jealous. Shields has also released rap songs and videos that appeared to take shots at Remy Ma.
L-R: Remy Ma and Clarissa Shields; Photo Credit: Getty Images
Ahead of the Sept. 11 court proceeding, Remy publicly challenged Papoose to sign the divorce papers and finalize their marriage. On Sept. 11, she added another layer to the controversy by sharing screenshots of a previous direct-message exchange with Shields. The friendly 2021 conversation showed Shields inviting Remy to one of her boxing matches, with Remy telling Shields that Papoose was a big fan of hers.
Shields responded by criticizing Remy, saying she was experiencing a midlife crisis and addressing allegations surrounding Remy’s alleged relationship with battle rapper Eazy The Block Captain. Remy subsequently responded to Shields, escalating the public back-and-forth between the two women.
In a May 2025 interview clip with Fight Hub TV, Remy said she felt sorry for Shields and warned her that continuing to mention her would result in Remy responding back.
Remy also offered Shields advice about her relationship with Papoose, pointing to Shields’ accomplishments as a professional boxer and questioning why she was involved with a man she described as older, who earns his income by working as her manager.
Shields, meanwhile, has maintained her account of how she met Papoose during an episode of Cam Newton’s “Funky Friday.”According to Shields, the two met at a boxing event on July 6, 2024, when Papoose approached her and asked for a photograph. She said she did not know who he was at the time.
Shields acknowledged that she knew Papoose was married but maintained that she did not break up a happy home. She said she and Papoose know the timeline of their relationship and that his marital issues was different from how it was publicly portrayed.
What New Jersey Law Could Mean for the Divorce
Under New Jersey law, a divorce does not require a legal separation timeline and must be based on one or more legal grounds, including irreconcilable differences; this requires that one spouse has lived in New Jersey for at least 12 consecutive months and that the differences have existed for at least six months with no reasonable prospect of reconciliation.
New Jersey does not automatically divide every marital asset equally. Instead, courts consider statutory factors and the circumstances of the marriage when determining how marital property should be distributed. The court could examine the acquisition date, method of acquisition, each party’s contributions, and other relevant circumstances under New Jersey law.
Alimony and other financial issues may also be considered based on the parties’ respective financial circumstances and their financial and non-financial contributions to the marriage.
Possible Reasons Why a Divorce Could Take Time
A contested divorce can involve financial disclosures, discovery, disputes over property and income, support issues, settlement negotiations, and motions before the court enters a final judgment.
If the parties cannot reach an agreement and financial disputes remain after review through the Economic Mediation Program (EMP), the court may order them to participate in economic mediation, according to NJ.gov.
Economic mediation can help divorcing couples find common ground with a trained, impartial third party while addressing issues involving shared property and financial support.
Other matters, such as custody arrangements and parenting time, may also be addressed through mediation or another settlement process. The couple share an eight-year-old daughter, which could make parenting arrangements another consideration in the divorce proceedings.
Relationship Issues Playing Out Through Music
While their attorneys work through the legal process, Remy and Papoose continue to address their relationship publicly through music.
Papoose’s “Jezebel” includes additional claims about his contributions to Remy’s music, including allegations that he ghostwrote songs for her out of love. The song also touches on her character and reflects on their relationship.
Remy has also teased an upcoming song titled “Why I Get Married?” featuring Keke Wyatt, adding another musical chapter to the ongoing controversy.
The ultimate resolution will depend not on social media posts or diss tracks, but on the legal proceedings, financial documentation, and any agreements or rulings reached in the New Jersey divorce case.
