Papoose reflects on Nas, Kay Slay, and the $1.5M Jive deal he calls a mistake [VIDEO]

Loyalty to Kay Slay Came With Pros and Cons

In his sit-down on The Danza Project, Papoose opened up about the double-edged sword of aligning his career with legendary DJ Kay Slay. The late Kay Slay’s cosign gave him credibility and a loyal following in New York. However, it also created roadblocks in radio. Papoose recalled how major DJs refused to play his records simply because he was signed to Kay. He even admitted that DJ Envy later confessed this publicly on The Breakfast Club.

Pap described his frustration as he realized the politics of radio. “I was on fire in the streets—everybody knew my name—but I couldn’t get the same rotation as other artists,” he said. That frustration fueled his early motto: “never mix the street with the industry.” It is a lesson he admits he had to learn the hard way.

Still, his loyalty to Slay remained unshakable. “Slay put me in the game, that was my brother,” Papoose said. The partnership may have limited him in some ways, but it also cemented him as one of New York’s most respected street lyricists.

Turning Down Nas

One of the most fascinating revelations from the interview was the story of how Papoose nearly signed with Nas. Through Nas’ brother Jungle, Pap found himself sitting in a Manhattan pizza shop across from one of the greatest rappers of all time. Nas was heading to Def Jam with JAY-Z and wanted to bring Pap along as part of his roster. For a young MC trying to break through, this was the opportunity of a lifetime.

Nas told him straight up that he saw his potential and wanted to build with him. For Papoose, hearing Nas acknowledge his buzz with billboards all over Manhattan was validation. Yet despite the promising offer, Pap ultimately passed—partly out of loyalty to Slay, and partly due to skepticism. “Slay told me, ‘Nas never blew no artist up besides himself,’” Pap recalled. “That was his perspective, and I listened.”

In hindsight, Pap admitted he would have taken that deal differently if given the chance again. “I know what I would have done with that,” he said, reflecting on what might have been. The missed opportunity lingers in his mind as one of those sliding-door moments in hip-hop history—where things could have gone very differently had he chosen another path.

The $1.5 Million Jive Records Deal

Instead of linking with Nas, Papoose eventually signed a massive $1.5 million deal with Jive Records. On paper, it was the kind of deal rappers dream about: life-changing money, industry validation, and a chance to break nationally. At the time, Pap felt like all his years of grinding had finally paid off. For someone who came from the mixtape circuit, the size of the deal was a milestone in itself.

But almost immediately, he realized that the partnership wasn’t what it seemed. Jive didn’t understand how to market him, and internal politics at the label made it difficult to get the full support he needed. Despite having a budget and resources, his career didn’t take off in the way he envisioned. In fact, he now considers the deal one of his biggest mistakes. “The money was good, but the situation wasn’t right,” he said candidly.

The lesson Pap drew from that experience was clear: chasing the bag can sometimes lead you into the wrong rooms. Younger artists often think a big advance equals success, but Pap’s story serves as a warning that the structure of the deal matters more than the dollar signs. In his words, “You can sign the wrong deal and end up stuck,” a reality he knows firsthand.

Breakthrough With “Touch It (Remix)”

Papoose’s biggest breakthrough moment came courtesy of Busta Rhymes. When Pap was invited to record a verse for the star-studded “Touch It (Remix)” featuring DMX, Missy Elliott, and Mary J. Blige, he was exhausted from constant shows. He even admitted he wrote his verse half-asleep.

But that verse would change everything. At a Busta show in Long Island, Pap experienced the crowd’s roar firsthand. “I walk out, and the whole arena started screaming. I thought they were cheering for somebody else. But it was for me,” he said.

From that moment, Papoose’s life shifted. He couldn’t walk into malls without being swarmed, and he knew he had truly broken into the mainstream spotlight.

Records That Mattered

While “Touch It (Remix)” was his mainstream breakthrough, Papoose points to other records that were pivotal in shaping his career. “Charades” was a defining single that first gained consistent radio support, thanks to Sunny from daytime radio.

Then there was his feature with Joe, anchored by the unforgettable verse: “You never know what you have until you lose it…” That track became a fan favorite, charting overseas and becoming number one in Connecticut. But in New York, it was sabotaged by behind-the-scenes beef. Pap revealed that DJ Mister Cee refused to rotate the record due to a dispute with Joe’s manager, Kedar.

“That record was a wave everywhere else, but in my own city it didn’t get played like it should have,” Pap said. The experience added to his disillusionment with industry politics.

The Weight of Loyalty and Loss

Beyond the music, Papoose reflected on the role loyalty has played in his life and career. His bond with Kay Slay was more than professional—it was family. Losing Kay Slay left a deep hole, but also reinforced Pap’s belief in staying grounded in morals and principles.

“I come from a family where unity was everything,” he said. His upbringing instilled values of sacrifice and loyalty, lessons he carried into the rap game. Even when that loyalty cost him opportunities, Papoose stood firm. “Without unity, you don’t have strength,” he added.

A Survivor’s Mindset

Through all the highs and lows—turning down Nas, the Jive deal, politics, and personal loss—Papoose credits his mental toughness for his survival. His parents modeled both love and tough discipline, and that balance shaped his resilience.

“I had real loyal, strong-minded individuals around me,” he said. “That rubbed off.” The values of family, sacrifice, and unity became his compass in an industry full of traps.

Today, Pap’s legacy isn’t just his lyrical ability, but the way he has navigated the game with a code of loyalty, even when it came at a cost. “Family is everything,” he said simply, echoing the advice of his late uncle.