The most feared battle emcee in the early 1980s in Queens, New York, was a fierce teenager from the Queensbridge projects. At the age of 14, Roxanne Shanté was well on her way to becoming a hip-hop legend, as she hustled to provide for her family while defending herself from the dangers of the street.
Acting
Chanté Adams' debut is volcanic—she IS Roxanne.
Direction
Larnell shoots Queensbridge like a character, not backdrop.
Costume
Period-perfect fits that scream 1986 without cosplay energy.
Director
Michael Larnell
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Roxanne's diss track 'Roxanne's Revenge' sparked the legendary 'Roxanne Wars'—over 100 answer records were made, making her hip-hop's first viral moment before virality existed.
US
