With a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence behind her, rapper Remy Ma shows zero signs of resentment. While munching on a plate of leafy greens, grape tomatoes and grilled chicken at VH1 HQ, she uses her hands to emphasize her points, smiles frequently and act like your real-life BFF instead of the Terror Squad MC who had reason to be cocky on the 2005 smash “Conceited.”

Seven years ago, it might have been a different Rem. She was convicted of intentional assault after shooting a member of her entourage in 2007. After serving six years of her eight-year sentence, she strutted out of the pen in high spirits. Her husband, rapper Papoose, stood by her throughout incarceration, even getting thrown out of courtrooms and inking a tattoo tribute to his wife. 

Now, Reminisce Smith is turning the page on a new chapter in life with VH1’s reality series Love & Hip Hop New York. She recently told Billboard how showrunner Mona Scott-Young convinced her and Papoose to join the cast for years, her musical agenda for 2016 and her collaborator wishlist (Hint: Beyhive). LHHNY returns to small screens on Monday, Dec. 14 on VH1 at 8/9c.

billboard.com