Roxanne Shante

 Roxanne Shante, whose real name is Lolita Shante Gooden, is an American rapper born on March 8, 1970, in the Queensbridge Projects of Queens, New York City. She gained prominence during the Roxanne Wars and was a member of the Juice Crew. Her life story was dramatized in the 2017 film "Roxanne Roxanne."

Shante's introduction to the music scene occurred in 1984 when she met Mr. Magic and Marley Marl outside the Queensbridge housing project. The rap trio U.T.F.O. had failed to appear at a concert, and Shante, a member of the Juice Crew, was contracted to write a track in response to U.T.F.O.'s "Roxanne, Roxanne." The resulting song, "Roxanne's Revenge," produced by Marley Marl, became an instant hit and established Shante as one of the first popular female MCs at the age of 14.

The "Roxanne Wars" ensued, and Shante continued to rap and tour with Marley Marl. In 1985, she released a record with rapper Sparky D, titled "Round One, Roxanne Shanté vs Sparky Dee." Shante's hits included "Have a Nice Day" and "Go on Girl." She engaged in a notable battle with Busy Bee Starski for the title of "best freestyle rapper" in 1985.

Shante released several albums, including "Bad Sister" in 1989, "The Bitch Is Back" in 1992, and a greatest hits anthology in 1995. Her impact on the hip-hop scene was significant, and she was involved in the battles with KRS-One.

By the age of 25, Shante had largely retired from the recording industry but continued to make occasional guest appearances and live performances. She mentored young female hip-hop artists and appeared on VH1's hip-hop reality show "Ms. Rap Supreme." Shante returned to performing, and in 2008, her song "Roxanne's Revenge" was ranked number 42 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.

Reports in 2008 suggested that Shante earned a bachelor's degree from Marymount Manhattan College and a master's and Ph.D. in psychology from Cornell University, funded by Warner Music due to a recording contract quirk. However, an investigation found no evidence of these claims, and she was not signed to Warner Music. Shante apologized for the misinformation.

In 2017, a biopic titled "Roxanne Roxanne" was released, depicting Shante's life. Chanté Adams won the best breakout performance award for her portrayal of Shante.

At the height of her career, Shante was referred to as the "Queen of Rap" by The New York Times. She has been recognized as a hip-hop pioneer, credited for popularizing diss tracks, and considered rap's first female star.

Discography:

Studio Albums:

"Bad Sister" (1989)

"The Bitch Is Back" (1992)

Roxanne Shante's contributions to hip-hop and her role as a trailblazing female MC have left an indelible mark on the genre's history.