Roxanne Roxanne: Five Roxanne Shanté Songs That Celebrate The Early Queen of Rap
Today (November 9), Roxanne Shanté is celebrating another year around the sun! Often referred to as the "Early Queen of Rap," she left an indelible mark on the hip-hop landscape during the 1980s. Her powerful lyrics, unwavering confidence, and fearless attitude not only shattered gender barriers but also inspired a generation of aspiring emcees.
Shanté got her big break in 1985 with the debut gold single, “Roxanne’s Revenge,” a response record to UTFO’s classic “Roxanne Roxanne” (1984). The song paved the way for a legion of female rappers from Salt-N-Pepa, MC Lyte, Queen Latifah and Yo-Yo to the Da Brat, Gangsta Boo, Remy Ma, Nicki Minaj and Cardi B.
Backed by future super producer Marley Marl, Lolita Shanté Gooden found herself at the center of the “Roxanne wars,” spawning a string of more than 50 answer-back records highlighted by “Sparky’s Turn (Roxanne, You’re Through),” “The Real Roxanne” and “Do The Roxanne.” Critics labeled the craze as pure novelty, an undeserving tag that hip-hop constantly fought early in its commercial development. Indeed, Roxanne Shanté would go on to have a seismic-shifting effect, not only laying the foundation for the influential Cold Chillin’ Records but setting the stage for the Juice Crew rhyme collective that also included Marley, MC Shan, Master Ace, Biz Markie, Craig G., Big Daddy Kane and Kool G Rap.
In honor of her birthday, here are five songs that personify the witty rhyme presence of a woman who single-handedly changed the culture. All hail Roxanne Shanté!
“Live On Stage” (1989)
“Rhymes are hand made/Black man made/Coming out of a war with just a Band-Aid/Fans make me number 1 so I get in reverse/Try to rehearse every verse, my rhymes are cursed…”
Shanté takes the mic and beats down opposing emcees over a club-ready track that samples a glorious riff and drum break from Booker T & The M.G.’s 1971 instrumental “Melting Pot.” That year, her Juice Crew cohort Big Daddy Kane used the same groove for his lyrical assault “Another Victory.” Not bad company, huh?
“Big Mama” (1992)
“Matter of fact, yo, I'mma start calling off names/First up is Latifah/ You roll up, and I’mma smoke that a-- like reefer/’Cause you ain’t never in life been a star to me/Sold the f--- out trying to go R&B/Now that shit is shady/You say ladies first, well I’m the first lady.”
In the age of gangsta rap, it made perfect sense that Shanté would name her 1992 album The Bitch Is Back. The provocative title also signaled a harder, more explicit turn for an artist who was already cursing on record before she turned 16, a decade before Lil Kim.
“Have a Nice Day” (1989)
“Now I’m not out to diss the whole Boogie Down/Just a featherweight crew from that part of town/You made a little record and then you start fronting/Tried to diss the Juice Crew, but ain’t hurt nothing/No KRS-One, you should go on vacation/With that name sound like a wack radio station.”
Roxanne Shanté finally answers BDP, complete with laugh-inducing punchlines. She also managed to put female emcees on notice: “So when it comes around to the month of May send me your royalty check for Mother’s Day.”
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“Go On Girl” (1988)
“While you were over here perpetrating the fraud, I was oversees on the charts with Boy George/You’re the beginner, Shante's the winner/Having all the competition for dinner/Sit you on a table with a plate and cup, say Grace…and then eat you’re a-- up.”
A comeback record of sorts for the “Roxanne Roxanne” empress, “Go On Girl” increases the beats per minute and gets down to business. And for her chest-beating return, Shanté could not have asked for a more high profile platform, garnering a spot on the gold-selling soundtrack for the Los Angeles gang film "Colors."
“Brothers Ain’t S**t” (1992)
“So don't honk your horn keep rolling/No I don't wanna ride cause the shit might be stolen/Anyway, I know your number/You got a Gas, grass, or ass” sticker on your bumper/Go ahead and say I'm stuck up/Cause I ain't doing nothing that'll make my rep f---ed up.”
Roxanne Shanté was more than just a battle rapper, as she shows on his cautionary statement that warns young women to stay empowered and watch out for men up to no good.
Happy birthday, Roxanne Shanté!
