roxanne-roxanne

Roxanne Shante biopic 'Roxanne Roxanne' hits Netflix in March (watch the trailer)

One of the most famous early hip hop rivalries revolved around UTFO’s “Roxanne Roxanne” a song about a girl who brushed off the crew’s advances. Working with Marley Marl and DJ Mr. Magic, Lolita Shanté Gooden wrote an answer record, “Roxanne’s Revenge,” under the name Roxanne Shanté, with her as the Roxanne in question giving it back to UTFO. The dis track became a big hit and one of many “Roxanne” rap records in 1984/1985. She was only 14 at the time. You can listen to “Roxanne’s Revenge” and UTFO’s original, below.

The story of Shanté’s life the Queensbridge Projects and her role in the early days of hip hop is now the basis for a new biopic, Roxanne Roxanne, which played at Sundance last year and has been acquired by Netflix, who will release it on March 23. Newcomer Chanté Adams stars as Shanté and the film also features Mahershala Ali (Moonlight, Luke Cage), Nia Long, and Kevin Phillips. It was written and directed by Michael Larnell, with Pharrell Williams and Forrest Whitaker serving as producers. RZA did the score. You can watch the Roxanne Roxanne trailer below.

As for the real Roxanne Shanté, she plays NJPAC on Friday (2/23) which is an “Art of Rap” show that also features Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, EPMD, N.O.R.E., Big Daddy Kane, Onyx, Mr. Cheeks, Brand Nubian (tickets).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KpngczmD7Q