Roxanne Shanté

Roxanne Shanté (born January 14, 1969) is an American rapper and hip-hop pioneer who rose to prominence during the golden age of hip-hop in the 1980s. Born Lolita Shanté Gooden in Queens, New York, she began her rap career as a teenager and quickly gained recognition for her sharp freestyle rap abilities and witty wordplay. She achieved breakthrough fame with her 1984 hit "Roxanne's Revenge," which was a response to UTFO's "Roxanne, Roxanne." This sparked the legendary "Roxanne Wars," a series of hip-hop battle records that became a defining moment in early hip-hop culture and demonstrated the competitive, creative energy of the genre. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Shanté released several albums and collaborated with major hip-hop figures. She was known for her confident stage presence, clever lyrics, and ability to hold her own in freestyle battles against male competitors. Beyond music, Shanté became an advocate for social justice and education. Her legacy as one of hip-hop's first female superstars helped pave the way for countless women in rap and remains influential in hip-hop history.