Former Terror Squad member and Fat Joe protoge Remy Ma’s appeal for her 2008 jail conviction was denied last Thursday (Feb 24) after the court struck down the argument that the judge over the case failed to properly inform jurors of details before they reached their guilty verdict.

The Grammy nominated rapper, real name Reminisce Smith, is currently serving jail time at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women in Bedord Hills, New York. Smith was involved in a July 2007 incident in which she shot her friend who she thought stole $3,000 in cash from her purse.

Remy was found guilty of weapons posession, coercion and assault and was sentenced to 8 years in prison in 2008. Just 2 years prior, the femcee had released her debut album There’s Something ABout Remy: Based on a True Story. She married fellow rapper Papoose shortly after she went to jail.

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!

I get a lot of fan mail and everyone asks me how I’m doing? I say fine, the way I see it I never imagined making it this far with my sanity. Not being able to go somewhere when you want, see your family when you want (on many occasions when you need to), can’t use the phone, take a shower, wear clothes, or even eat when you want – super aggravating. Whenever, which is almost everyday I get visits, a lot of kids ask for autographs. It’s something that I used to do almost everyday but now it actually feels weird, I really feel like an inmate.
And as much as I hate to admit it, I really am an inmate. I mean, it kind of grows on you when certain people go out of there way to make you feel like that.

They have this program called YAP (Youth Assistance Program) they keep asking me to join. It’s a program that brings inner city kids to the prison to show them what it’s like to be incarcerated. I hear that every group asks about me but I’m a little hesitant to join. They think it will give the kids a reality check that this can happen to anyone. I however feel that it’ll be more of the kids wanting to see Remy Ma the rapper and because of that they won’t get that I’m actually in jail. So I’m still contemplating. If I figure out a way for them to actually get it, that this is really not a place you would ever want to be whether for 8 years, 8 months, or 8 minutes then I’ll do it.

Everyone in prison isn’t innocent but everyone in prison isn’t guilty. So whether you end up here on purpose or by accident, the pain you’re feeling is still the same. And I can quote a lot “gangsters” by saying that “I wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy…”

Forever Innocent,
Rem

SOURCE

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.

WYCLEF JEAN OWES THE BANK $2.4 MILLION ON FORECLOSED HOME » This recession is hitting these celebrities hard! Now we’re hearing that Wyclef Jean has lost a home he didn’t even get a chance to live in yet. According to All Hip Hop, the former Fugees member took out a $2 million mortgage from Home Equity Mortgage Corp. in 2004 to purchase a Miami estate through a corporation he owns with several friends. His plans included renovating the property, which was appraised at $1.4 million, but when work begain in 2004, everything just began to fall apart.

The property was left unfinished for more than 2 years after a series of construction liens were filed. In addition to that, the property racked up over $6,000 in fines from the city of Miami Beach after the $900,000 construction project came to an abrupt halt because Jean and his associates couldn’t get up the $177,000 needed to finish it.

Court documents show that a lien was put on the property this year by architects who worked on the project. Wyclef apparently owes them about $75,000, but in all, the entire corporation now owes the bank $2.4 million. As a result of the foreclosure, Miami-Dade county will sell the mansion in downtown Miami on December 12th of this year. Court records also show that Jean has not paid the contractors who worked on the home. The entertainer has yet to comment on the situation, but we will, of course, let you know when he does!

REMY MA FILES APPEAL FOR EARLY RELEASE » Female rapper Remy Ma is doing everything she can to make sure she’s out of the slammer for the Holidays. According to TMZ, the rapper, who once called herself Shesus Khrist, and her lawyers have filed an appeal requesting that her 8-year prison sentence be dropped citing mistakes from the judge during the trial.

“The trial court’s order forbidding defense counsel from arguing during summation that Makeda Josephy (the victim) was shot during a struggle for the gun denied Ms. Smith a fair trial,” the lawsuit reads. “Ms. Smith was unfairly prejudiced by the inclusion in the indictment of the counts regarding the violent gang assault at the Player’s Club, as to which there was no evidence of her complicity, but which likely colored the jury’s consideration of the remaining counts.”

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.”

William Murphy Jr. is behind Remy Ma all the way and has released an official quote on the trial:

“We are pleased to handle Remy Ma’s appeal,” Murphy explained. “We are confident that when we present all the facts, the public for the first time will get a true picture of what actually happened; and Remy will be vindicated.”

Hopefully Remy Ma won’t have to serve the full 8 years. This team should recover some light on Remy’s slate. Stay tuned to T2W for more updates.

“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.

Unmoved by Remy’s statement Judge Rena Uviller stated

“Remy thinks she is free to take whatever actions she wants based on the hardships of her life. This is not the first time Ms. Smith has engaged in violence,” Judge Uviller said. “This is a pattern. Smith doesn’t take responsibility for her actions. Her letter to the court and her statement today showed no remorse. She even painted herself as the victim.”

Before delivering the eight-year sentence, Uviller added

“This is not about hip hop. This is about the individual, Remy. She is a danger to others.”

According to The Village Voice, Papoose exploded in a fit of anger outside the Manhattan courtroom just moments after his tearful bride-to-be, Remy Ma, was sentenced to eight years. Papoose had to be restrained while court officers told him to move it along and exit the hallway outside of Manhattan Supreme Court.

Papoose was quoted shouting:

“I don’t care! Lock me up! Lock me up! Take me to jail! Arrest me! It’s all about money!”

Although I feel bad for Remy, she did shoot someone. Hopefully when she gets out she will be a changed woman. Not only for herself, but for her son. He now has to live 8 years without his mom.

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.

JUVENILE DIDN’T WANT TO BE A DISTRACTION AT HIS DAUGHTER’S FUNERAL » Rapper Juvenile did not attend the funeral service held Saturday for his slain 4-year-old daughter Jelani, her 11-year-old half-sister Micaiah and their mother, Joy Deleston in James Island, South Carolina this past Saturday. Reason being that he didn’t want to attract further media to the private ceremony.

Police have arrested Deleston’s 17-year-old son, Anthony Tyrone Terrell Jr., and charged him with three counts of murder and three counts of aggravated assault in the February 28th killings. Because he is not yet 18, prosecutors cannot seek the death penalty against him.

REMY MA’S SHOOTING TRIAL BEGINS » The trial for female rapper Remy Ma officially began Monday (March 10th). She is currently facing charges for allegedly shooting and almost killing a former friend over $2,000. The rapper’s lawyer Ivan Fisher depicted the shooting as a “tragic accident” as the trial began in Manhattan’s state Supreme Court, according to the Associated Press. Fisher said the rapper (born Remy Smith) and Makeda Barnes-Joseph struggled over the gun and it went off accidentally, critically injuring Barnes-Joseph. This is the first time Remy’s version of events has been made public. Up to this point, she hadn’t even admitted to doing the shooting.

Barnes-Joseph’s attorney, Jason Berland, has a totally different version of the story. He said an angry Remy accused Makeda of stealing $2,000 from her purse, and shot her twice in the abdomen with a .45 caliber gun. He claims Remy then fled the scene in a Cadillac Escalade and rammed into a parked car up the street. Berland said Remy then ditched the SUV and hid out at a friend’s house. She did not call the police or summon medical help.

If convicted, Remy could face as much as 25 years in prison.

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!

No intro needed … you know who these two ladies are.

Is that Cheri Denis promo? Dang, Diddy must be sippin on that Vodka HARD!

The best display of raw emotion I’ve seen in a LONG time!

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 ]

According to the chick, dude, whatever, above … Remy used to “eat the box!” Now she “acts like she doesn’t know [her] anymore.”

Remy, of course, denies every bit of it. A statement released by Remy Ma to TMZ.com reads:

The fraudulent video hoax that has surfaced of an alleged female lover of Remy Ma is completely false and reps for Remy Ma emphatically deny these claims … This is a deliberate attempt to undermine Remy’s name and character. Remy Ma has not nor has she ever been involved in a same sex relationship with the accuser or any other woman, however Remy is respectful of those who choose the alternative lifestyle.

Meanwhile, Remy Ma is due in court on January 3rd to face charges of assault, criminal possession of a weapon, gang assault and witness intimidation in relation to the shooting of a 23-year-old outside a New York nightclub in July 2007.

THIS WEEK’S TOPICS » 50 Cent doing something strange in Croatia – Remy Ma snaps on Lil’ Kim – Grammy Nominations are in – Bow Wow asks Eve out & more!

Hip-hop would not be hip-hop without some Grade A “Beef!” Remy Ma recently responded (via the radio) to a few comments Lil Kim made about her.

“That little boy better live me alone, Remy said referring to Lil Kim. “She was saying I’m going at [Remy] hard, she go hard to me so I go hard back. I feel like if that’s going at me hard, like seriously, I’m just gonna chill out. That’s crazy to me.”

“What did she say? ‘Put it on my lipstick, I was to be busy being conceited.’ Like, how could you be conceited, you don’t even like your own face,” Remy continued. “What are you talking about? Are you serious? How was I supposed to take that offensive. I don’t believe you,” stressed Remy. “You don’t like your nose, you don’t like your cheek , you don’t like your chin, you don’t like your skin color, you don’t like your tits , you don’t like your stomach, you don’t like your teeth. What are you talking about?” She asked.

“At the end of the day it’s funny to me. When I really feel like it’s amusing, when I feel like someone’s getting at me, then I’ll drag them all over the first spot that I see them of course,” Remy continued. “But in the meantime, in between time … like this chic has more ghostwriters than Foxy [Brown]. I just feel like right now she’s reaching…”

My question is: Who do you guys think would win in a FIST fight?! Remy Ma or BIG’s old punching bag Lil Kim?? Leave your response in the comments!! My money goes to Remy. That bitch is GANGSTA!

PHOTOS BY STEVEN HIRSCH FOR SPLASH NEWS » Here Jeff Atkins (Ja Rule) can be seen entering Manhattan Criminal Court for his court appearance this past Wednesday. But what’s funny is that he wasn’t the only rapper with a court date that morning! Remy Ma, Lil’ Wayne (Birdman was there to support), and Busta Rhymes all had an “appointment” with the same judge. If you were just passing through, you’d probably think it was the damn BET Hip-Hop Awards or something. Peep candids of Wayne, Remy, and Busta after the cut.

PHOTOS BY STEVEN HIRSCH FOR SPLASH NEWS » Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. better known as “Lil Wayne” arrives for his court appearance at the Manhattan Criminal Court for gun possession (the same thing Ja Rule was charged with).

PHOTOS BY STEVEN HIRSCH FOR SPLASH NEWS » Here are a couple of snapshots of Remy Ma. She’s charged with assault for shooting her “friend” after finding out some money was missing from her purse. Raise your hand if you’re glad Remy got rid of that gold poodle shit at the front of her damn head! Something in the back of my mind tells me Makeda (the girl she shot), who was also her “stylist” had something to do with that mess, Lol. ‘Cause it’s strange how it just disappeared all of a sudden…

PHOTOS BY STEVEN HIRSCH FOR SPLASH NEWS » Trevor Smith, better known to us as Busta Rhymes, with lawyer Scott Lyman as they leave Manhattan Criminal Court after their appearance. Not sure which charge he’s currently facing. There’s been so many in the past year, Lol.

I’m not one to judge, but dang!

Former plus size America’s Next Top Model nominee Toccara celebrated her 25th birthday last Tuesday night at PM nightclub in New York City. The guestlist included the likes of Jay-Z, Beyonce, Musiq Soulchild, Rich Boy, Remy Ma and some non-celebs we could care less about… And it looks like Jayonce had to leave early because we all know Miss Toccara had to pay Mike Kyser (VP of Def Jam), who hosted the party, $59.99 good money for them to stay their asses a good hour!! Check out more pics from the shindig after the cut!