While
some MCs would be content celebrating a new $1.5 million label deal with Jive,
Brooklyn-bred rapper Papoose is already planning his future with the rap group
the Nation of Thugacation. According
to Papoose, group members Tydro, Snipe, Odogg, Flip, Cbrown, Ike enfa diamonds,
and R&B singer Maleeke will have cameos on the rapper’s upcoming major-label
debut, Nacirema Dream (American spelled backwards)."We
represent what you call an educated thug–more about knowledge of self,"
Papoose told AllHipHop.com. "We specialize in things like knowing the law.
It’s not fortunate for brothers to be incarcerated or catch cases, but if you
do you should know the law. Knowing the law might be the difference between jail
time and not getting jail time." The
group is also recording an upcoming mixtape, to be helmed by in-house producer
edubb, the beatsmith behind two of Papoose’s "Law Library"– trilogy
of songs that focus on different aspects of criminal law (conspiracy, warrant
of arrest, and grand jury proceedings). Despite
Jive being in the midst of a very public feud with the Clipse (the duo claimed
that the label is poorly handling their releases, including the heavily delayed
Hell Hath No Fury), Papoose remains confident in choosing Jive as his first
home. "If
I was playing tennis or golf, maybe there would be pressure," Papoose said
of going major. "Hip-Hop music? There’s no pressure. This is what I do. I
just needed the opportunity. So I am given the opportunity by Jive, by Kay Slay
[Streetsweepers Ent.] and Busta Rhymes [Flipmode]. I am blessed with this opportunity
and it feels real good, it’s a dream come true."
