Remy Ma Talks Prison, Nicki Minaj, & Return to Rap with Angie Martinez
It’s been six years since Remy Ma went away. The Bronx rapper, who’s “nine days and a wake up” from being released from Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women, called into Angie Martinez on Power 105.1 on Monday. Despite her time behind bars, she’s still the same Rem.
“I can’t say that I was one of those people that went to prison and I had this dramatic life change and I had this newfound outtake on life,” she said. “In a lot of ways, I’m the same.”
While locked up, she received her associates degree in sociology, married Papoose, and had plenty of time to reflect. “I grew up a lot and I look at things a lot differently,” said the 34-year-old protégée of Big Pun.
One of her “epiphanies” was reconciling with her fellow Terror Squad member Fat Joe. She called him up and they shared laughs while reflecting on the past. “It was a really, really dope conversation,” she said.
She can’t wait to return to the mic. “I am so alive,” said Remy. “This is gonna be unfair.”
She’s been fielding offers from various labels (“More than I can count on one hand”) and is working on a reality show.
While they’ve had their differences in the past, she once again shared her support for Nicki Minaj. “She’s done wonderful things for females,” said Remy.
She didn’t hang up without delivering a warning to her competition: “Stand back. It’s not gonna be fair. My pen game is crazy.”
Check out highlights from the 14-minute interview below.
On her marriage to Papoose: “After six-and-a-half [years], it’s kinda serious. You gotta respect that. That’s official. … He’s an official dude. Nobody can ever front on that.”
On Fat Joe: “That was one of my epiphanies that I had. I was like, ‘OK, now I see why he wanted to kill me.’ I understand that. … I can never hate him. I’m the type of person that if I ever loved you, even if you make me mad, I’ma love you to death. I’d never be able to stand there and watch somebody do harm to him.”
On signing a new deal: “I didn’t want to sign anything as major as a deal from [prison]. A lot of things have changed since I’ve been gone, so I wanted to come home.”
On female rap: “I’ve always repped for the chicks or whatever, but I can stand next to the best of the dudes that’s out there. That’s what I intend to do again.”
On Nicki Minaj: “Nick has always been a supporter and vice versa. I like what she does. She’s done wonderful things for females, but I just wish there was more of them. I don’t know what they’re doing letting these guys take over.”
On her reality show: “They’re making me do it. I keep telling them no. It’s too real.”