Roxanne Shanté is one of the earliest American female hip-hop rappers who revolutionized the face of the industry in the male-dominated field. Even though she suddenly phased out, she recently resurfaced with a biopic {Roxanne Roxanne} which dramatized her life story. Join us as we take you through the things you never knew about her.
Bio of Roxanne Shanté
Lolita Shanté Gooden {Roxanne Shanté} was born in Queens, New York City, U.S.A on the 9th of November 1969. She grew up in one of the most populated public project houses in Northern America with her mother and sisters.
Roxanne Shanté’s first experience with freestyling raps was inspired after she watched Nipsey Russell on television. Following diligent practicing, she forged a firm grasp on rhyming and could rhyme instantaneously on any subject when she was only 8.
Her musical talents were encouraged by her mother who signed her up to a rap challenge at age 10, she performed exceptionally and walked away with the $50 prize money. There was no stopping for her after that as she challenged all the rappers around her hood for a rap battle. This saw Roxanne earn the title “Queen of Queens” and ultimately, she became a local celebrity.
Although Roxanne Shanté abandoned her education during middle school to focus on hip-hop, it was later disclosed that she attended Marymount Manhattan College for 3 months. She was formerly signed to an independent record label called Cold Chillin Records, the company partnered with Warner Bros for the distributions of her works; this was between 1987 to 1992.
Roxanne Shanté’s prominence came at age 14 after her record was played on the radio airways by DJ Mr. Magic. She was earlier convinced by Marlon Williams Marley; her neighbor in the hood, to do a short rap verse which would serve as a reply to an earlier song done by U.T. F.O, against Marlon Marley’s group because they did not turn up for a concert they were invited to previously. The payment for Roxanne Shante’s time and rap verse was an agreed pair of Jeans from Marlon Marley.
The clap-back rap was produced by Marlon Marley who eventually gave it to DJ Mr. Magic who played it for the first time on radio, the little squeaky voice of Roxanne was heard clearly dissing the U.T. F.O group, that song became her first hit single titled Roxanne Revenge and it was well received. The song sold over 250,000 copies in New York City alone and was Nos 78 on Billboard Hot 100 songs and 22 on Hot Black Singles now known as RnB Hip Hop songs in 1985, this marked the beginning of various works they would later do together, as they quickly formed a group, Juice Crew with Roxanne Shante as the only female teenage member.
The Crew membership include, Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, MC Shan, Marlon Marley, and Roxanne herself. They released a handful of hit songs after Roxanne Revenge, and they toured the nation together from 1983 till 1991 before they parted ways though they had in the past reunited to make good music.
Her raps were said to be heavy with vulgar lyrics and rhymes, she is highly regarded as one of the best in her days and a pioneer of “Rap Battles” and “Dissing” in the hip-hop music industry. Roxanne Shanté had in the course of her career dissed notable persons in the industry apart from the U.T.F.O group and they are; KRS-One another rival group, Queen Latifah, Yoyo, Monie Love, MC Lyte, LLCool J, among others. She was a fearless teenager whose proclivity to diss anyone from whichever quarter whenever earned her respect from others within the industry.
From the inception of this legend’s career at the age of 14 to 25 years, she had a total of 2 studio album Bad Sisters (1989) and The Bitch is back (1992) with over 18 hot singles that were critically acclaimed success such as; Roxanne Revenge (1984), Go On Girl (1988), Have A Nice Day (1987), What’s Going On (2000) and the list goes on.
She also recorded 3 soundtracks to her credits Colors, Lean On Me, and Girl’s Town all released in 1988, 1989 and 1996 respectively but she sadly did not continue with the changing times in the hip hop as the new trend was possibly new and different from what she grew up with. This change and her personal issues saw her off the radar, although she still found time to go on shows, and even perform at social functions like weddings, etc.
Her biopic Roxanne Roxanne was scripted in 2017 into a film acted by a newly graduated talent, Chante Adams as Shante. The film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2017 where it got positive reviews.
The Movie screenplay was written and directed by Michael Larnell while Forest Whitaker and Pharrell Williams both produced the movie. The Neon studio later purchased over the film rights, releasing the movie subsequently in various other places in the same 2017, it is started streaming on Netflix in March 2018 and it has already gathered massive views.
In a recent interview, Roxanne Shanté revealed she was a 2 times breast cancer survivor, she has posted the pictures of her scars online via her Instagram page to encourage other survivors to like their body and stay positive.
Her Net Worth
The first lady of rap is currently estimated to be worth half a million dollars, ($500,000). She could have been worth far more if she had not been cheated out of her royalties and contract incomes generated during her tours and shows by her handlers during her productive years in the music industry. Thankfully with Roxanne Shanté’s re-emergence in the tell it all film currently airing on Netflix, there will be an increase in her net worth in the nearest future.
Who Is Her Baby Daddy?
Roxanne Shanté is happily married but not to her baby daddy, James Cross, whom she was with from age 14 and gave birth for at 15. She revealed that she suffered physical abuse that left her in a hospital with broken ribs on one such occasion. She was forced to quit the relationship from then and left her son Kareem who was 2 years with him. Though she later through her lawyer got him back with $10, 000 – the amount demanded by James Cross before he released her son.
Cross was her manager then and was said to have been 18 years older than Roxanne Shante. She later married a retired boxer whose name is not available at this moment. She has 3 sons and a daughter; Kareem, Randy, Chris, and Tajze who are all doing well.
Where is She Now?
The Netflix streaming of the rapper’s life opened the door for her fans and even the younger generation to get personal with her. She currently resides in New Jersey, with her husband, where they run an educational based NGO called Mind Over Matter. Roxanne however, performs occasionally in shows, ceremonies, and events, and has made a few appearances on television shows as a guest.