
06/17/2025
Both Remy Ma and Claressa Shields excel in fields of lyrical combat and literal combat, rising from tough beginnings to dominate hip hop and boxing respectively. Remy Ma, born Reminisce Smith in The Bronx, New York, and Claressa Shields, born in Flint, Michigan, both faced early adversity—Remy amid poverty and urban violence, Claressa in a city plagued by crisis and hardship. Remy was discovered by Big Pun and broke through with Terror Squad’s hit “Lean Back,” but her career stalled after a prison sentence, from which she rebounded with critical acclaim and a BET Award. Claressa, discovering boxing at age 11, became the first American boxer to win back-to-back Olympic golds in 2012 and 2016, later becoming a multi-division pro world champion. Remy married fellow rapper Papoose and remains active in music and television, while Claressa continues to fight in both boxing and MMA, branding herself “GWOAT.” .