Papoose Regrets $1.5 Million Record Deal, Calls It His “Worst Mistake”
Emerging artists often dream of signing a lucrative record deal, but New York rapper Papoose admitted that inking a $1.5 million contract early in his career turned out to be the “worst mistake” he ever made.
Papoose signed his first major deal with Jive Records in 2007, after making a name for himself as a new emcee on the mixtape scene. He recently reflected on the decision during an appearance on Big Boy’s Neighborhood, stating that the deal was a mistake because he had been successful as an independent artist for years.
Papoose recalled how he met DJ Kay Slay in 2004 and didn’t sign a deal until 2007, after working hard and releasing mixtape after mixtape. According to him, he faced significant backlash for collaborating with the late DJ Kay Slay, which ultimately hindered his career.
Despite the challenges, Papoose remained determined and continued to release music independently. His persistence caught the attention of TuneCore, which eventually offered him the position of Head of Hip-Hop.
TuneCore CEO Andreea Gleeson praised Papoose’s expertise and experience in a statement, saying that his years of hard work in the industry made him the ideal candidate to advise Hip-Hop artists, as he could empathize with their struggles and knew what strategies worked best.
