Thanks for the quick reply, I think i have it working somewhat the way i need it to now.
installed Xarcade2Jstick, registered as a service etc from the link you provided and opened the MAME emulator hit TAB and remapped all the controls.

the only issue is the one button in the nes emulator exits the game and i would like to remap just that one is there a button similar to TAB for mame that lets me into the emulator menu for the NES emulator that comes with retropie?