Nobody had any thought again within the adolescence of Hip Hop that the style can be the main power that it’s at present. Roxanne Shanté was only a younger teen from Queens, New York when she started making a reputation for herself in music, and it was due to her that the well-known “Roxanne Wars” erupted within the Eighties. To call her a Rap pioneer can be an understatement, as Roxanne Shanté, born Lolita Shanté Gooden, lived and witnessed the very carving of a tradition that has dominated each facet of leisure worldwide.
This weekend, Roxanne is taking issues again to her hometown as she as soon as once more companions with Rock The Bells, however this time because the host of its competition. Roxanne Shanté’s look on the live performance is simply one other addition to her ongoing relationship with the model as she additionally acts because the host of the Rock The Bells Radio present Have a Good Day on SiriusXM. After we caught up together with her about this newest alternative, she was enthusiastic about reuniting with a number of of her pioneer friends to have fun Hip Hop—a “household reunion,” as she put it.
“That is the distinction between the Rock The Bells Festival and every other festivals. Most festivals are thrown collectively by individuals who, you recognize, they decide some sizzling artists, however for us, that is greater than that—it is a household reunion, and we’re trying so ahead to having the household come collectively, particularly after the pandemic. So, with the ability to do that…phenomenal. I inform everyone, ‘This proper right here, when you have ever felt that you weren’t part of Hip Hop historical past, then that is your probability to be part of Hip Hop historical past.'”
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LL Cool J not solely founded Rock The Bells, named after his basic hit, however he’ll headline the competition that he helped curate. Followers will be capable to watch a few of their favorites take over as performers embody Ice Dice, Rick Ross, Trina, Busta Rhymes, Lil Kim, Cam’ron, Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, Fat Joe, Remy Ma, Jadakiss, and lots of extra. Attendees will check out the “Trill Mealz Meals Courtroom,” the primary ever all Hip Hop-infused expertise of its variety, that includes distributors corresponding to Nas’s Candy Chick, E-40’s Goon with the Spoon, Jadakiss and Styles P‘s Juices for Life, Ghostface Killah‘s Killah Koffee, Mia X’s Group Whip Them Pots, and Bun B‘s Trill Burgers.
The preservation of Hip Hop, in all its types, is one thing that’s close to and expensive to Roxanne Shanté, and as somebody who has been immersed in its tradition, she is devoted to shining a light-weight on the OGs that deserve a sure stage of respect. As one of many handfuls of ladies who participated in Hip Hop’s inception, Roxanne has a lived expertise in contrast to every other. Nevertheless, in contrast to some gatekeepers, she’s providing her recommendation to the brand new technology of ladies in Rap who need to form careers of longevity. She can be sharing the names of women who helped her alongside the best way and proceed to present recommendation that retains her in line.
Learn our interview with Roxanne Shanté under and listen to extra in regards to the Rock The Bells Competition, the significance of giving our Hip Hop legends their flowers, and discover out who the Rap icon calls her “triple OGs.”
This interview has been barely edited for readability.
HNHH: Thanks a lot for taking the time at present! I simply need to leap proper into you telling me about your partnership with Rock The Bells, your participation within the competition, and every thing occurring this weekend.
ROXANNE SHANTE: Okay, wonderful! Effectively, as you recognize, that is the primary annual Rock The Bells Competition, and what we’ve executed is we’ve gotten the greats of the greats in Hip Hop to all come collectively and carry out. However one of many issues about it’s that it permits me to point out how a lot I like Hip Hop. I get an opportunity to essentially be a fan. Like, I do know that I am internet hosting, however I’m really a Hip Hop fan. I like the tradition and it is an honor to have the ability to do that on such a big scale with Rock The Bells, particularly with those that are telling the story that have lived it.
See, that is the distinction between the Rock The Bells Competition and every other festivals. Most festivals are thrown collectively by individuals who, you recognize, they decide some sizzling artists, however for us, that is greater than that—it is a household reunion, and we’re trying so ahead to having the household come collectively, particularly after the pandemic. So, with the ability to do that…phenomenal. I inform everyone, “This proper right here, when you have ever felt that you weren’t part of Hip Hop historical past, then that is your probability to be part of Hip Hop historical past.”
I keep in mind being younger, rising up, and watching Hip Hop evolve into its totally different eras. I discover it vital to protect that catalyst period of Hip Hop historical past by persevering with to talk to pioneers corresponding to your self who helped set up the construction of the style. As somebody who has lived Hip Hop, discuss to me about your view on the significance of creating positive that the artists who helped safe the muse proceed to be honored at festivals corresponding to this.
For me personally, it is a kind of issues that I have been ready for. I believe, out of all of the years that I have been in Hip Hop—and perhaps I should not even say years, I can say a long time, at this level—for many years that I have been concerned in Hip Hop, that that is lastly a time the place you are feeling snug with the ability to inform your whole story, realizing that Rock The Bells goes to protect it correctly. Individuals are all the time saying that they have been going to inform their story or they wished to protect it, however they by no means need to protect it correctly. Being part of it allowed me to have the ability to inform you firsthand from somebody who was there; not somebody who examine it, not somebody who listened to it, not somebody who obtained a third-party story.
Now, you’re really getting it from those that have been there, from those that created it. That is the rationale why I really feel so strongly about it. That is the rationale why after I obtained the decision from Rock The Bells even to participate in Rock The Bells as a radio station, after they mentioned, “We wish so that you can come on and be one of many voices for Rock The Bells.” I used to be like, “Oh, completely,” as a result of they did not say, “Okay, you may’t nonetheless be Roxanne Shante.” Roxanne Shante is a bit a lot and everyone cannot actually take it [laughs], however Rock The Bells understood that it was actually Hip Hop and that I wanted to do this.
It is superb that they reached out to you particularly, particularly as a lady in Rap. We’re seeing this big surge of feminine artists moving into the sport, proudly owning who they’re and exuding confidence. What recommendation would you give to younger girls which might be coming into Hip Hop proper now, and even for these at their peaks, as somebody who has the expertise that you just carry?
Primarily, the very very first thing that I all the time inform them is to have a terrific lawyer. I imply, it would not matter in case your hair’s tousled, you do not have to have a improbable make-up artist. You’ll afford her later upon getting a terrific lawyer. You realize, I additionally need you to grasp that it is a music enterprise. So, subsequently, it’s a enterprise and you could maintain that.
I additionally prefer to remind them that data are made in studios and never bedrooms. I believe generally, someplace alongside the road, that may have gotten confused. We’ve got so many nice artists that might have been better artists had they not taken sure detours, however they did not take these detours on their very own. They have been form of lured into that.
Due to this fact, I prefer it the place now they perceive that each one the knowledge is true at their fingertips. They’ve the power to have the ability to take heed to a Roxanne Shanté or a Rock The Bells who will inform the story dearly, who will crack jokes about a few of our losses to ensure that them to grasp how vital it’s to me that they win.
I like to hear girls in Hip Hop converse positively about different girls that both supported them or gave them actually nice recommendation. Who’re some girls throughout your time within the business—I do know it is expansive—however amongst your friends, that simply edify you, maintain you going, or if you have been beginning out, simply had your again?
Effectively, you recognize, with regards to different girls in Hip Hop, I’d positively must say Pebblee Poo has all the time been an older sister to me on this sport. She’s all the time been somebody that I’ve been in a position to discuss to and say like, “Pay attention, that is what I am going by way of,” and she or he’d be like, “You realize what? Perhaps you are taking a look at this incorrectly. Perhaps it is best to take a look at it from this path, you recognize, as a result of Shanie”—and so they name me Shanie—she’s like, “Shanie, I believe that is what it is best to do, however you bought to do your individual factor, anyway.” So, generally, it was actually good for me to have the ability to hear another person’s story, whether or not I selected to take that route or not. I believe it is all about having the information to have the ability to make these totally different selections. So, I actually thank Pebblee Poo for that.
I additionally thank Sha Rock, as a result of Sha Rock additionally occurs to be one among my Rock The Bells sisters, so far as LL Cool J‘s Rock The Bells radio. You realize, she’s now one among my Sirius XM sisters, and with the ability to go to her and discuss to her about sure issues—as a result of most individuals say like, “Okay, if you have to get on stage, do you’ve your plan?” I inform them on a regular basis, like, I do not know what the f*ck I’mma do after I hit the stage, I simply really feel it [laughs]. I am simply Hip Hop, so I do not know particularly what I will put on or what I will do.
Sha Rock, she form of likes to maintain a little bit extra construction with that. She’s like, “Effectively, a minimum of have one factor that you recognize you are positively going to do.” And I inform her on a regular basis, like, “Thanks for that.” You realize, if you do not have somebody to inform you that these are the issues you could have, or a little bit little bit of steerage, you can really get lost. Though I’ve had a long time within the streets, once in a while, all of us want to have the ability to return and go to our OGs. As a result of although I am thought of a double OG, you recognize, these are my triple OGs.
It is a query that I ask everybody: What’s one thing about Roxanne Shanté that’s typically unseen as a result of veil of your movie star? The business has its personal expectations of who an artist needs to be, followers typically challenge who they need somebody to be, and sometimes that is not actuality. When that veil is eliminated, what’s one thing in regards to the coronary heart of Roxanne Shanté that won’t translate to audiences due to their notion of you as an individual, if something?
You realize what? Roxanne Shante is rarely one among them as a result of I’ve by no means had a veil. I’ve all the time been an open ebook, even to the purpose of turning into a [Pharrell Williams-produced] film [Roxanne, Roxanne]. I believe when folks see me, they know that they’ll get a hug. They know that I am approachable as a result of they know me. So, there’s by no means been one thing about Roxanne Shante that hasn’t been revealed. They know that for those who cross the road, then Shante is gonna be Shante-ing [laughs]. However they know that if they need a hug or they wanna take an image, I will be Roxanne all day lengthy. So, I assume that form of sums up with the ability to be Roxanne and Shante.
So, no, I haven’t got something hidden from the general public. There’s not one other aspect to me. What you see is what you get, on and off stage.
The Rock The Bells Competition takes place on the Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York on Saturday, August 6. Try extra in regards to the occasion on its website.
