In 1982, many young women heard Lolita Shanté Gooden for the first time when she boldly answered UTFO‘s hit “Roxanne, Roxanne” with Roxanne’s Revenge. She was 14 and was bold enough to answer the UnTouchable Force Organization with lyrics like this:
“His name is Kangol, and that is cute
He ain’t got money, and he ain’t got the loot
And every time that I see him, he’s always a-beggin’
And all the other girls that he’s always tryin’ to leggin’
Every time that he sees me, he says a rhyme
But, see, compared to me it’s weak compared to mine
A-every time I know that I am sayin’ somethin’ fresher
In any category I’m considered the best
And every time that I say it there ain’t nothin’ less
And everybody knows I will win the contest”
With that, Roxanne Shante made her way into the history of hip hop. Today, she stands as a pioneer in hip-hop, and has the scars to prove it. Shante is a survivor of the early days of hip hop’s popularity, the harsh end of media criticism, and of breast cancer, which she says is in full remission.
Tonight, BET airs “My Mic Sounds Nice” a documentary exploring the art and issues around women rappers.
We had a chance to talk with Shante about her part in history, as well as check in on how she has been doing.
TBBO: Did you enjoy filming the documentary?
SHANTE: I did. I was honored to be part of the project. Working with Ava was the best. She really had a sensitivity to the art that I really appreciated. She is brilliant behind the camera. Her questions were good. I would not have been in this documentary if it was not for Ava you know. She made sure history recorded my place in hip hop. BET didn’t have me in the original plans.
TBBO: Why?
SHANTE: I don’t know.
TBBO: Who is Shante now? Who has she become?
SHANTE: I’m 40. I see that as a rebirth. A chance to start over. To put the past behind me, all my mistakes. Grow from them.
TBBO: What did you learn from the past?
SHANTE: That God is with me. He’s forgiving and even during that whole controversy [a story came out that Shante was professing to have a PhD. She later admitted that not to be true.] I was still blessed. My downloads sold more during that whole thing. It made people who didn’t know me aware of who I was. I tried to stay humble in my life. “When you’re humble you don’t crumble when you stumble” (she laughs), see – the mc never leaves!
When you turn 40, there’s no point in lying. It is what it is. My past is my past. All I can do is move forward.
TBBO: Do you ever think about coming back?
SHANTE: (laughter) I write sometimes but no, hip hop never really fed me.
TBBO: What about a book?
SHANTE: I’ve thought about that a lot, but I have some more living to do. Imagine if I had written a book already? I would have missed the documentary! I would have written the story without the story! I think I might write it by the time I’m 45. We’ll see.
TBBO: What are your thoughts about KeKe Palmer playing your role in the “The Vapors” the film about the Juice Crew?
SHANTE: I love KeKe Palmer, I think she’s really talented, but my life at that point was very heavy. I was in foster care. I was a 14 year old girl who had taken up with a man 18 years my senior. I was a mother at 15. I eventually left that relationship with not only my child(by him) but his(from another relationship). I was concerned about her portraying such a tough place in my life. I had a chance to share my concern with KeKe’s mother. They are good people. She is a great talent that can pull it off.
TBBO: Sounds like a book.
SHANTE: Yes. It does.
TBBO: Nicki Minaj. Your thoughts.
SHANTE: Phenomenal shoe game! Looking forward to watching her grow as an artist.
TBBO: What are your thoughts about women rappers today?
SHANTE: I think they are still accessories to the male dominated industry. Expensive accessories but still, accessories.
TBBO: What do you listen to?
SHANTE: Old school hip-hop and R&B!
TBBO: Thank you for your time. It’s been a great conversation.
SHANTE: I think people will really enjoy the documentary, thanks for talking with me.
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