Roxanne Shanté: The Original Queen of Battle Rap

• Real Name: Lolita Shanté Gooden
• Breakout Moment: At just 14, she recorded “Roxanne’s Revenge,” a fiery response to U.T.F.O.’s “Roxanne, Roxanne,” launching the infamous Roxanne Wars—a pivotal moment in hip-hop history2.
• Netflix Biopic: Roxanne Roxanne (2018), directed by Michael Larnell and produced by Forest Whitaker and Pharrell Williams, dramatizes her early life, struggles, and rise in the male-dominated world of 1980s hip-hop2.
• Portrayed by: Chanté Adams, with Nia Long as her mother, Ms. Peggy, and Mahershala Ali as her abusive partner

Roxanne Shante’ and Nia Long

🎬 Roxanne Roxanne: A Netflix Revelation

The Netflix biopic Roxanne Roxanne dives deep into the life of this living legend. It’s not just a music story—it’s a survival story. From the streets of Queens to the stage of global recognition, the film captures the trials and triumphs of a teenage girl navigating betrayal, abuse, and heartbreak, all while becoming the voice of a generation.

Portrayed with fierce vulnerability by Chanté Adams, and with Nia Long delivering a radiant performance as her mother Ms. Peggy, the film is a tribute to the strength of Black women who carry the weight of the world and still rise.

Relentless Rise of Hip-Hop’s First Queen

In a world where hip-hop was once a boys’ club, a 14-year-old girl from Queensbridge dared to pick up the mic—and changed the game forever. That girl was Lolita Shanté Gooden, better known as Roxanne Shanté, and her story is one of grit, genius, and groundbreaking legacy.

💔 Love, Loss, and Legacy

In recent years, Shanté has faced unimaginable personal losses, including the passing of her beloved mother, Ms. Peggy. Yet through every heartbreak, she has remained a beacon of resilience. Her ability to carry on, to uplift others, and to continue speaking truth through her platform is nothing short of heroic.

💖 More Than Music: A Sisterhood

For those who know her personally, Roxanne Shanté is more than a pioneer—she’s a sister, a mentor, a warrior. Her journey is not just about beats and bars; it’s about breaking barriers and building bridges.

Nigel and Roxanne Shante’

As someone who has worked closely with her, I can say this with certainty: Roxanne Shanté is the Queen of All MCs. And her crown was never given—it was earned, battle by battle, verse by verse, heartache by heartache.

🎶 “A Thin Line”: The Soundtrack of Survival

One of her most poignant tracks, “A Thin Line,” from the Girls Town soundtrack, is a haunting anthem about domestic abuse. It mirrors the emotional depth of Roxanne Roxanne and speaks to the pain Shanté endured—and overcame. Produced by Marley Marl, the song is a raw, unfiltered look at the scars that shaped her strength.

🏆 A Grammy First: Lifetime Achievement in 2025

In 2025, history was made when Roxanne Shanté became the first solo female MC to receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. It was a moment long overdue—but perfectly timed. The honor recognized not just her lyrical prowess, but her role as the original door-opener for female battle rappers and MCs in a genre that now generates trillions.

Her influence echoes through every verse spit by the women who followed—from MC Lyte to Lauryn Hill, from Missy Elliott to Nicki Minaj.

By Nigel Jackson