Roxanne's Revenge
“Well, my name is Roxanne, a-don’t ya know
I just a-cold rock a party, and I do this show”
Those are the lyrics to one of my favorite female rap songs, “Roxanne’s Revenge” by Roxane Shante. Most kids that grew up in the 80′s are familiar with the Roxanne battles. Yes, before Lil Kim, Foxxy Brown, and Salt N Pepa, there was Roxanne Shante.
Many have crowned her the first queen of hip hop. It’s amazing she was only 14 years old when she scored her hit, Roxanne’s Revenge.
But what’s most amazing about her story is what happened after her hit single.
Like many young, new artists, she had problems getting paid royalties from her record label and found herself in a financial struggle when her MC career stopped. However, she remembered an unusual clause in her recording contract that said Warner Music would pay for her education for life.
“I’m an example that you can be a teenage mom, come from the projects, and be raised by a single parent, and you can still come out of it a doctor.”
She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from Marymount Manhattan College and her Ph.D in psychology from Cornell University which was funded by her record label (after much legal battle). She is currently married with 2 children (the first born when she was 14 years old) and has a practice in Queens.She also owns Hip-Hop Ices ice cream parlor in Queens.
Now, that’s what I truly call Roxanne’s Revenge.
What an inspiring story. Congratulations to her for her strength. I’ve never heard of her, but enjoyed the video. Hard to believe she did that at 14! Way to go!!!!
Record companies are beasts! I’m glad she got something out of it and used it to her advantage. At age 14, they probably gave her essentials for a short period then sat back and counted the checks while she got nothing. Smart girl. I’m very happy for her.
What a success story. What a hotmama, an artist, and psychologist! Thank you for honoring this very well deserved lady. Very good example of the loving woman who is strong, smart, and stylish.
Kudos to her! Amazing story and one hot mama!
Good on her for making the most of her contract! What an amazing and inspriational story. Her life could’ve gone so many different ways – kid at 14, etc etc. And so sad that she got screwed by the record company – I guess she showed them!!