The Roxanne's

Following the massive success of U.T.F.O.'s "Roxanne, Roxanne" in '84/'85, the Real Roxanne was perhaps the most talented of the bunch. Her only challenger for the "Roxanne" title was Roxanne Shanté.

The Real Roxanne was definitely up to the challenge, and she took it head on. Unfortunately, it took her until 1988 to release an album, and by this time the Roxanne fad had run its course.

Even-still, fine sampling and heavy old-school production (by Jam Master Jay and Howie Tee), The Real Roxanne was known for her snappy hot-tempered, nasty-girl flow.

She made a name for herself (well, at least on this one song) as being able to brag and boast with the best of them. The Real Roxanne had a certain "don't-mess-wid-the-Ro" attitude that fans liked. Thus, she enters the old school era as a one hit wonder.

Roxanne Shanté

The other Roxanne, Roxanne Shanté that is, hit the scene at the tender age of 14. This ground-breaking female rapper (Lolita Gooden of Queens, New York) earned her stage name and reputation by recording "Roxanne's Revenge."

Now amidst of all the "Roxanne" rip-offs, it was no small feat to make another "Roxanne" song without losing your audience quick. Along with The Real Roxanne, Roxanne Shanté was soon added to the female diss team.

The story is told that Roxanne Shanté was walking outside the Queensbridge housing project when she heard three men talking about how the trio U.T.F.O. had cancelled their appearance at a show they were promoting. She offered to make a rap record that would get back at U.T.F.O., who'd previously recorded "Roxanne, Roxanne," (their song about a woman too stuck up to notice them).

The three, Tyrone Williams, disc jockey Mister Magic, and producer Marley Marl, took her up on the challenge. With Marl producing "Roxanne's Revenge," the confrontational, boastful, and even borderline obscen song, spawned 102 additional answer records!

Since then, she's had two albums. The original "Roxanne's Revenge" was issued by Pop Art. Eventually U.T.F.O. threatened to sue Shanté for using their B-side as the musical foundation. She ended up settling with them, and re-cut the song with a different, though related, track.

A few singles followed, but it was five years before Roxanne Shanté cut her album. Produced by Marley Marl, her record Bad Sister includes remixes of the singles "Have a Nice Day," "Wack Itt" and "Go on Girl."

Of course as it is with many fads, by the time either of the two Roxanne's released an album, there couldn't have been any less interest in the original object of U.T.F.O.'s "Roxanne" song.

But because of all the commotion they stirred up, any real hip hop fan will be able to give you the low-down on the "Roxanne's".