Not Everything That Glitters Is Gold
I finally got a chance to see Roxanne Shante’s documentary this week and it lived up to the hype from its debut at Sundance Film Festival last month. Hip Hop lovers will appreciate this film as it gives an intro-spective look at the female emcee’s rise and betrayal of success.
Straight Outta Compton opened up pandora’s music box and sparked an interest into the lives of hip hop music icons. What happens when the camera lights are off and the artists leaves the stage? Why are some artists broke despite the success of their gold/ platinum record sales.?
In “Roxanne, Roxanne” we learn about 12-year-old, Lolita ‘Shante’ Gooden becoming the most feared battle emcee straight outta the U.S. largest public housing complex – Queensbridge. Out-rapping her male and female counter parts. Roxanne Shante was the one, before Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Monie Love, Salt n Pepper, Yo-Yo, Queen Pen, Rah Digga, Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, Lady Rage, Eve, Khia Thug Misses, Trina, Nicki Minaj, Cardi B and others.
The Name
I was always under the impression that Roxanne Shante’ was her first and middle name. Sorry, but there was no google, wiki, or social media profiles during my middle and high school days so fact checking and researching hip hop artists came mainly from urban magazine purchases. Most artists (today) are often introduced to the public (at at young age) and are widely known by their stage name alone.
An answer to then hip hop group U.T.F.O “Roxanne, Roxanne” diss track; about a girl playing hard to get, Shante (on her way to do laundry for the family) was asked by her neighbor, producer Marly Mal to issue a fierce reply. Using a drum track and one take recording, Shante (14) delivered “Roxanne’s Revenge” and became an overnight success. The single sold 250,000 copies circa 1984 !
That was huge for a teenage girl who struck her first road tour immediately after. But, Roxanne Shante was still a broke a girl from the projects. Her rise to fame and fortune was far from glamorous. The young teen was betrayed by the males in her life including her team /managers who used manipulation and underhanded tactics to avoid paying her. No record company signing; meant no residual income for Shante’s songs that went viral throughout the ghettos and music industry and they knew it, but she didn’t.
” They Said Hip Hop Had An Expiration Date “
Netflix: Chante Adams (Roxanne) and Mahershala Ali (Cross)
The Abuse
Roxanne grew close to an older street hustler (Mr. Cross) who she’d known as a child. Cross was more than 10 years older than her, but Roxanne was impressed by his street popularity and take charge persona. Roxanne felt mature enough to handle Cross because she was practically raising her three younger sisters while while her mother battled alcohol addiction.
They’re relationship quickly picked up steam and Roxanne birthed their first child before her 16th birthday. Her relationship with cross was a tumultuous one at best. Roxanne was the victim of Cross physical assaults, and often stayed- out of fear for her life and their son.
With poor-parenting from her mother, and the lack of good male role models in her life, the fierce battle emcee was defeated by Cross. Roxanne eventually found her break-through, but it came at heavy price. Laying in a hospital bed recovering from bruised ribs, contusions in her stomach, and a wired jaw -Roxanne comes to face to face with all of her pain; poverty, puberty, pregnancy, and domestic abuse.
In a candid conversation with her mother, Roxanne reveals that she ‘just wanted be a kid’ all along. She left the relationship for good this time and manage to get her son from Cross by paying his bounty of 10,000 dollars.
The Netflix movie now streaming is a must see. The film stars veteran Nia Long, Mahersha Ali, and newly Carnegie Melon graduate- Chante’ Adam as the title role. The film is executive produced by Roxanne, Forest Whitaker, Pharell Williams and co- directors Mimi Valdes and Nina Yang Bongiovi.
Smelling her roses while she’s alive, Roxanne was insistent on Queensbridge Projects (where it all began) being the setting of this film. Kudos to the costume designers of this film; they did an amazing job recreating the fashions of the 80’s and 90’s era.
Roxanne Shante experienced the same financial woes when she signed to record label and was to WOKE to subject herself for the long haul. Roxanne retired from the industry at the age of 25, obtained her college degree, re-married and living happily after after. Roxanne later funded her own non-profit organization, and continues to educate and empower young men and women to fulfill their dreams and never give up on themselves! Roxanne is a hip hop pioneer!
One Love PLUMS!