Roxanne Shante
Born Lolita Shante Gooden, Roxanne Shante was part of a phenomenon that took place in 1984. UTFO’s song “Roxanne Roxanne” was a huge hit that year about their attempts to seduce a woman named Roxanne. One night Shante overheard WHBI’s Tyrone Williams, Mister Magic, and Marley Marl discussing the fact that UTFO has skipped out on promised appearance. Shante offered to record a dis record. Her skills seemed up...
The Real Roxanne
Like so many other female rappers in 1984-85, Adelaida/Joanne? Martinez adopted the name Roxanne and set about to answer UTFO’s smash single “Roxanne, Roxanne.” The Real Roxanne as she was known is usually considered near the top of that very crowded group of women. Her main competition came, of course, from Roxanne Shante. She made a record called “Romeo” on Select in 85 which was an inversion of...
Rammellzee
Rammellzee was born in 1960 in Far Rockaway, Queens, NY. Rammellzee, aside from being an old school graffiti artist with works seen around the world was very much an early MC/Rap Pioneer of vocal styles. Some of which were taught to him by one of his partners from way back- Jamel – Z. Styles like the “Gangsta Duck” (which he used on the infamous Jean Michel Basquiat produced “Beat Bop” circa 1983 with K...
Newcleus
Members Cozmo D (Ben Cenac) Lady E (Yvette Cook) Monique Angevin Chilly B (Bob Crafton) (d. 2/23/10) Tracey G (Tracey Greene) The group actually went through 3 incarnations. Formed in 1979, this group got started from a group of deejays called Jam-On Productions. In the early 80’s the group began to move into the world of electronic sound and began recording a demo tape. With time to spare on the tape, the group recorded one of...
Mikey D
Born in Queens, New York as Michael Anthony Deering. At an early age, Mikey started out on the park jam circuit with the Clientele Brothers. MC’s Will Seville, Eddie O’ Jay along with Mean Gene were considered among the best at displaying real rhyme skills as a group similar to the Cold Crush Brothers and The Force MC’s (later renamed The Force MD’s). As a group, the Clientele Brothers were looking for the next...
