PAPOOSE | RAPPER | $200 MILLION

Shamele Mackie, who is more commonly known as Papoose, is a 42-year-old American songwriter and rapper from Brooklyn. Papoose is of Liberian descent, and he got the name Papoose, which means a Native American child, from his grandmother. As he journeyed through his musical career, he kept the pseudonym. His net worth began to skyrocket when he appeared on Roots of Evil, Kool G Rap’s album in 1998. Papoose signed a $1.5 million deal with Jive Records, now owned by Sony Music Entertainment.

He started producing his own music during the early 2000s and collaborated with DJ Kayslay in 2005. In 1999, Papoose’s first single, Alphabetical Slaughter, was released. It became viral very quickly and established a strong foundation for his career. As of now, Papoose’s estimated net worth is $200 million, and it continues to rise as his cash investments increase. Even before mainstream success hit him, he tried to bring authenticity and consistency to his songs. For young people today, he is an icon.