Remy Ma still feels as though she’s innocent, despite her being found guilty of shooting her best friend in the stomach over $3,000, which subsequently landed her an 8-year prison sentence. In a letter penned and submitted to Global Grind from the incarcerated rapper herself, she talks about what it’s like waking up every day behind bars and not being able to do whatever you want to, when you want to and how you want to do it.

I always find myself thinking about what I was doing a year ago, two years ago, five years ago today. I never remember exactly where till I find myself imagining where I would be today. I rarely listen to the radio because it’s sort of depressing. Not being able to record is stressful not because I’m a rapper but because that was my way of venting and expressing myself. So I write a lot! So much that now I have a callous on my finger from holding a pen. I guess I got used to texting my rhymes!

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JANET JACKSON TO TOUR IN JAPAN IN FEBRUARY 2009 » After abruptly canceling the remaining U.S. tour dates for her critically acclaimed Rock Wit U Tour, singer Janet Jackson is trying her hands at this touring thing once again. Japanese news website Japan Today is reporting that Janet plans on touring in Japan beginning on February 14th 2009, which will mark the singer’s first tour in Japan since 2002. From February 14th through the 22nd, Janet will perform in the cities of Saitama, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka.
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PHOTO: WIREIMAGE

Rapper Remy Ma was recently sentenced to 8 years of prison for opening fire against her former long-time friend Makenda Barnes-Joseph after she was accused of stealing $3000 from Remy’s purse. Now, Reminisce Smith is still trying for less time in jail. She has currently hired a new lawyer, William “Billy” Murphy Jr., that has defended many celebrities on many counts and has successfully triumphed.

Remy Ma spoke on her new assembled defending team and how it can now work in her favor:

“With the addition of Mr. Murphy, Ravenell, and Levitt, I now believe I have assembled a team that will have the might and expertise to tell my side of the story,” Remy Ma added, “I am confident that after hearing everything my side will prevail. Mr. Murphy comes highly recommended and I am pleased that he has agreed to lead my defense team.”

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“Throughout this unfortunate case, I was advised from my attorney to stay silent but now I want you all to see me for me and what I’ve gone through,” said Remy as tears fell. “Reporters and newspapers have called me a ‘hardcore rapper,’ a ‘hip-hop harlot’ — Remy Ma is just a music industry name. A facade. I’m not a thug. I’m not a hardcore anything. I have feelings. I’m Remy Smith — No, I’m Remy Mackie. I’m a wife, mother, daughter and big sister.”

This is what Remy Ma was quoted as saying as attempted one final time to receive a lighter sentence. Remy was arrested last year after she shot her longtime friend Makenda Barnes-Joseph in the stomach over an alleged confrontation of about $3,000 stolen from Remy’s purse. In March, she was found guilty of first-degree assault, criminal weapons charges and attempted coercion, which lead to her sentencing hearing today.
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Remy Ma’s wedding was called off yesterday when her fiancée Papoose showed up to the jail with none other than … a handcuff key!

“A wedding was scheduled today and a visitor to that wedding service was found to be in possession of jail contraband so the wedding was canceled,” a corrections official told NY Daily News. “The key that was found today easily opened handcuffs that we and other law enforcement officials use,”

The 29-year-old Brooklyn-born rapper whose real name is Shamele Mackie was not charged after he voluntarily surrendered the key to authorities. He was quickly ushered out of the jail before reaching the Rose M. Singer chapel, where the two were set to be married. Now according to the Rikers Island official, Remy and her “ride or die” will not be allowed visitation with each other until November of this year.

He better be happy he was just told not to come back for 6 months instead of being charged for his stupidity!

So … am I the only one who didn’t even know Remy Ma and Papoose were dating? The rapper recently confirmed to the media that he plans on marrying Remy Smith (Remy Ma) next month, in light of her conviction of intentional assault and her potential 25-year prison sentence.

“We always wanted to keep our personal lives personal, so that’s why we never went public with our relationship,” Papoose wrote in an e-mail to MTV News. “Right now, I just feel like she gotta live through me. Yes, we were scheduled to be married on a yacht April 27th. But due to circumstances beyond our control, we are now making arrangements to be married in prison.”

Papoose also revealed that his future wife will appeal the court’s conviction.

Remy Ma is currently being held without bail until her sentencing, which is set for April 23rd.

Another rapper made a trip to the courthouse today, but received slightly worse news. Rapper Remy Ma, who was accused of intentionally shooting her ex-best friend and stylist over $3,000 back in the summer of 2007 was found guilty of intentional assault, which can be punished by up to 25 years in prison. The jury acquitted Remy of charges of intimidating a witness in the case.

According to the NY Times, 26-year-old Remy “Remy Ma” Smith, kept her composure as Justice Rena K. Uviller ordered her to prison, until her sentencing next month. And it wasn’t until court officers closed the door to the courtroom holding cell behind her that she broke down, screaming, “My son! My son!” over and over again. Her lawyer, Ivan S. Fisher, later revealed that the rapper hadn’t said goodbye to her 8-year-old son that morning. She believed that she would win the case. And now, she might be in her 40s or 50s when she’s released from prison.

JANET JACKSON RECOVERING FROM THE FLU // MARIAH CAREY TO REPLACE HER FOR SNL PERFORMANCE » Pop singer Janet Jackson went to the emergency room Monday in Los Angeles with a case of the flu, and according to her rep, “she’s fine.”

“She’s fine,” says the rep. “She’s just battling this crazy flu like everyone else. She did go to [the emergency room] at Cedars-Sinai [Medical Center] but was released after being treated for the flu-like symptoms.”

The singer, who saw her album Discipline debut at #1 on the Billboard charts last week, had to pull out of an SNL (Saturday Night Live) appearance and performance scheduled for this Saturday so that she can recuperate fully.

It has been confirmed by various media outlets that Mariah Carey will replace Janet. This will be her first appearance on SNL in over 10 years. She will perform songs from her 11th studio album, E=MC2, which is due out April 15th. CONTINUE READING

PHOTOS BY JOHNNY NUNEZ FOR WIRE IMAGE

DJ Clue, along with some industry friends, celebrated his birthday Wednesday night in New York. Folks like Diddy, Jadakiss, Styles P, Trey Songz, and more showed up to party with Clue and everybody else! But eff them. Remy Ma and Jacki-O … under the same roof? Lawd, have mercy! How often do you spot two clowns like that enjoying each other’s company?! And we can’t forget about Cheri Dennis coming out of the wood-work to perform. Didn’t we do a Sugar 2 Shit post on her over the summer?? I hear her album might actually get released, or something like that. ((Shrugs)) Check out the rest of the flicks from the Party after the cut!

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PHOTO: WIRE IMAGE

2007 has not been good to Remy Ma. In addition to being charged with assault and attempted murder, the rapper has been slapped with a multi-million dollar lawsuit! In the suit, reportedly filed in a New York court on Friday, Makeda Barnes-Joseph accuses Remy Ma of “willfully, wantonly and maliciously” shooting her, and she’s suing her ex-friend for $10 million. The suit also names the rapper’s record companies, including Universal Music Group and Sure Shot Recordings, as defendants, alleging they encouraged Remy Ma to engage in violent behavior as part of her image.

Ivan Fisher, her lawyer, said Barnes-Joseph’s lawsuit was “looking for the deepest pocket it could find” and called it “irresponsible,” according to Reuters. Barnes-Joseph reportedly claims in the suit that she suffered severe physical harm and mental anguish after the July shooting, which took place on a New York street after a dispute over money ($2,000 to be exact) missing from the rapper’s belongings. Remy Ma fled the scene but later turned herself in and was charged on counts of attempted murder, assault and weapon possession. If convicted, Remy ma faces up to 25 years in prison. [ SOURCE: MTV ]