'Mother of the Mic' MC Sha-Rock helped pioneer women in hip-hop: Part 1

In the late 1970s and early 80s, women played a foundational role in hip-hop. MC Sha-Rock earned a spot with the "Funky Four Plus One," making her one of hip-hop's first female MC's.

[@mistermarkdavis]

Sha-Rock isn't just the first, she's one of the best to ever do it.

[@j.campbell8491]

ALL Female rappers should pay homage to Queen Sha Rock. 💯

[@guyanacreations4073]

Sadly they won't!!

[@j.campbell8491]

Because female rappers of today’s generation are so ungrateful

[@Hairarchives]

I’m tryna figure out why BET haven’t done a tribute for her yet.

[@peachemelba]

Yet no female rappers give her the props she deserves she is a rap icon

[@DBMoshua]

Sha Rock, Pebbly Poo, Mercedes Ladies, Sequence some of the originators and innovators. Much respect

[@shawnyoung5960]

Back in 80,81 I had a crush on Sha-Roc just from the sound of her voice. Her and Roxanne Shante are two MCs I still listen to them to this today.

[@Michelle-jz8vl]

Literally the First! Lady of Rap! 👂🏾!!

[@HolyRollerTV]

Tanya Winley and sister Paulette's "Rhymin' and Rappin'" came out in 1979...same year as And Funky Four..'Rocking The House'

[@MarcPlaysDrums]

Sha Rock!!!!!!! Yeah baby. Funky four plus one more.

[@shameemawilliams2086]

Sha Rock you were the illest and a huge inspiration. So happy to hear YOUR voice amongst all this BS.

[@trinamcdonald1865]

Yeah Sha'Rock from Wilmington, NC to New York! You made history! We love you!!! Blessings!!!

[@cassandraclark5499]

And by swear they started everything the south birthed ny meaning our ancestors moved there from the south

[@cassandraclark5499]

I’m glad this documentary came forth why is Roxann Shunte say she was one of the first

[@cassandraclark5499]

Wayyyyyyy before Shunte Roxann

[@IMSOHIGH619]

Amazing thanks for the contributions Queen REAL HIP HOP NEVER DIES

[@BJordanSounds]

so true! since this is your vibe, I would love to hear your feedback on my music when you have the chance

[@generalinformation3507]

I will be 57 in January, born in Harlem raised in The Bronx. Went to all the park jams to see grandmaster Flash, kool herk, Africa bambadaa. I was down with the Zulu Nation. The funky 4 + 1 being on Saturday night live was a big deal, I remember staying up to see that episode. This was when rap was not played on the radio until 12 midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. Shout out to DJ red alert and Mr. Magic and awesome 2. Hip hop was in the basement back then but it climbed out through hard work and perseverance. Now thanks to the wackness of today's hip hop it's back in the basement again😔

[@sixfouls3431]

Mister Magic WHBI Newark on the AM dial played all the rap hits back in the day

[@dameyunhenry3440]

1970s and 80s THEEEEEEEEEEE ERA OF REAL HIP-HOP FOREVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[@rahkriga]

Ahhhh...that REAL hip hop!!! Not the redundant slop you hear today..THIS is actual lyricism. Much respect!!

[@donpee5204]

Word ✊🏾

[@rodneystone1451]

FACTZ!

[@musiclover-cn7tb]

redundant slop lol 😆😂 I died.

[@musiclover-cn7tb]

@@rodneystone1451 redundant slop lol 😆😂I died 🤣 💀#flatline

[@BJordanSounds]

i feel you! i think you would enjoy the music I create because its legends like these who inspired me

[@ladyshacklin7487]

This REAL HIPHOP‼️‼️ MC SHA ROCK👑 RESPECT‼️‼️To the First Female MC👑👑👑👑

[@kiathadiva7]

YAAAASSSSS!!! THE REAL QUEENS OF HIP HOP!!!!!

[@tonjawragg4496]

Me and my brother use to act like we were Roxanne Shante and UTFO! I knew all her songs💕

[@briggie28]

😊

[@ChandaWalker-zt7gd]

Never heard of her but ty I hear of her now😊👍

[@kevinlotharp1759]

Love you Sha Rock with all my heart I know how you rocked it and will never forget you babe ❤❤❤

[@RaiderClarke312]

Sha Rock was Spitting Fire Back then...

[@JD-fb6rw]

During the early 80's in my neighborhood, Sha-Rock earned a lot of respect. Her lyrics were on point. She had gifted flow. I will have a conversation with others about the best female rapper I would say Sha-Rock. Quite a few people would say who! Most would say MC Lyte or Roxanne Shante. Both are very good. But to me, she was one of the pioneers that introduced me to Rap.

[@FBA_AllTHEWAY]

I always loved her voice on the mic. She’s dope🔥🔥

[@east32nd]

My favourite female rapper sha rock is amazing 💯💯💯💯

[@MarcPlaysDrums]

Roxanne would diss everybody for no reason. She was wildin. 😂😂😂😂😂

[@andrebrown4152]

U right

[@didyouknowamazingfacts2790]

That's hip hop. If you say that you are the best you got to prove it.

[@dr.clivejames4567]

Damn, I still have that Roxanne Shanté battle on tape cassette. It’s somewhere in my attic gathering dust but it’s safe and sound! In that clip she was battling Frukwan (Arnold Hamilton) from Stetsasonic! She absolutely torn him apart.🔥💥💨

[@jahrelldelgado]

The Shante vs Frukwan battle is on youtube. Piece of the battle they played in this doc, was against Busy Bee

[@missladyanonymity]

Too bad they couldn't include everyone. This should have been like a week long series of 5 eps. 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, 2010s-2020s Or something to that effect.

[@tammaratillman1616]

I Agree!

[@Dablkwid0w2008]

YUP!

[@gtizzle7606]

this does say part 1 on the episode

[@rm-gh4zt]

OMG what I hit on, love the knowledge of hip-hop

[@stackhighintransit2443]

She is dope! She needs a movie! The middle girl from the movie Daddy's little girls should play her.

[@haruyasumi616]

i got into hip-hop a few years too late to really hear the total pioneers. but was getting proper into it just as shante was making a name, and was really inspired by her. in fact to this day, when i'm writing or mixing music, i still say out the verse to 'bite this' as a way to measure the right amount of beats for a section.

[@guyinsf]

It's great to see that MC Sha-Rock is getting the recognition as the First Lady of hip hop. Also great to see that Debbie Harry, also one of the first ladies of hip hop who helped bring the genre to mainstream status with Blondie's #1 rap song Rapture was so supportive of other female musicians.

[@allyoopopp]

Yes Debbie Harry was a champion of the rap and hip hop movement. Instead of promoting Rapture and T-Birds from Blondies current album she gave the SNL stage to Funky 4 Plus One More. So selfless.

[@koolsanthony623]

Thank you for your contribution to HIP-HOP!!!

[@ramelmil8552]

I'm surprised ABC did the research!! I'm so mad I missed this last night...hopefully they will put it on you tube! So many female MC's paved the way...Sparky D...Roxanne Shante...The Real Roxanne...MC Lyte...Antoinnette...Sweet Tee...Salt n Pepa...Mc Trouble...JJ Fad...the list goes on!

[@tammaratillman1616]

No they didn't. I'll leave it at that!

[@ramelmil8552]

@@tammaratillman1616 I didn't catch the entire episode but I think they did good...of course it could have been 2 hours and been more extensive because they didn't include Sequence (Angie Stone's group on Sugur Hill Records).

[@bluelove9731]

Lady B

[@nathanharris7815]

We owe a lot to the ladies of Hip Hop.

[@knockout4121]

We owe more to the men of hiphop

[@guyinsf]

@@knockout4121 The original comment didn't suggest that we owe more to the ladies of hip hop than the men.

[@knockout4121]

And my comment didnt suggest we didnt owe a lot to the ladies of hiphop

[@guyinsf]

@@knockout4121 Oh yes it did and it was unnecessary too. Of course we owe more to the men of rap, who doesn't know that? It's like anyone saying "white lives matter too" when BLM doesn't mean "only" Black Lives Matter.

[@knockout4121]

@@guyinsfWell, anybody supporting blm organization, especially after they got exposed, isnt anybody with a logical mindset. All lives matter btw😊 Im not into this race dividing racist garbage from the left.

[@doubleutee8867]

This is all about the facts of the matter! I made the 400th thumbs up. Sha-Rock was first as the female lyricists. In the 70's, the next biggest names were Queen Lisa-Lee & Pebbly Poo of Master Don and The Def Committee.

[@magihypnotisthannibalbey1755]

My question is this!!! How come Sequence ( three woman rappers,Cheryl the Pearl but mainly Angie B aka Angie Stone the R&B singer), is not mentioned?!?🤔🤔🤔 They dropped a whole album around 1979/80 . “ Gonna funk you right on up”,was their hit record in the hood!🤨

[@tammaratillman1616]

They creating false narratives. I started in 1976.

[@ramelmil8552]

True!

[@magihypnotisthannibalbey1755]

Plus they never even mentioned Lady B from Philadelphia. She’s known in the Book of Ginesess Records as the First Female to made a the first rap on record!🤨

[@tammaratillman1616]

@@magihypnotisthannibalbey1755 Exactly however she was at the Allamba Ballroom in Harlem some years back...assisting ShaRock. That was supposed to be all female Hip-Hop Pioneers Event and hunt etc. Thus, the agenda and narratives have switched. I clearly understand trust and believe if my cousins were DJ'ing in 1974. On the Southside of Queens. I began MCing in 1976. With full insight of what's going on. This is why I NEVER signed...it's very shady..There's so much to my history. That hasn't been told. At this point it's alright....

[@merchantsmithimages]

...just as easy as Spinderella not bring mentioned.

[@robfromvan]

I loved “Go On Girl,” from the Colors soundtrack and “Live On Stage,” from Roxanne Shante. I used to play that Colors soundtrack over and over.

[@shadowmixx]

Notably, before there was rapper Nipsey Hussle,...there was an actor and comedian who rhymed, named Nipsey Russell. 5:40 R.I.P. 🙏🏽

[@GlamBammers]

Good job on commentating Salt! I hope we hear more of you ❤

[@corysmith1571]

Greatness!!!!!!!💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@tyronemckeiver1674]

The launch of Hip Hop actually took over R&B/Soul music!

[@QuatMan]

Our South Carolina girl! Yet more evidence of the Native Black American origins of "hip hop"🇺🇲😆

[@MarcPlaysDrums]

I had that 12 inch extended mix of That's the Joint. I remember when they were on SNL. I wanted to be the next black guy on SNL.

[@mikebaker7355]

sha rock was the truth!...born and raised in the south bx ..use to go to the hevelo on Jerome Ave that later became the executive playhouse!.....also went to the disco fever. stardust ballroom....371 club...t connection..and Dixie club...alot of good memories back in the 70s and early 80s🙏

[@garlandowls1134]

I hate that she doesn't get enough credit for being the first female MC of Hip-Hop.

[@tammaratillman1616]

She's not the 1st.

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

@tammara are there any flyers or tapes bearing your name?

[@tammaratillman1616]

@@TheFoundationhiphop there were quite a few, my tapes went overseas early on.The ones I had along with so many flyers were thrown out of a storage. However, I've been on a quest to recover. Early on when I started in Queens. Hollis, Southside etc. I was the only one never a B-Girl. In fact, Straight up MC I am one of the biggest contributor within the Queens Library Hip-Hop Pioneer Photo Exhibit. Because, I was relentless in holding on to them. My Graffiti Tag is also in the book.

[@tammaratillman1616]

Born raised in Queens....In addition, Rocky is aware and Ralph VMV upon this fishing exhibition they wanted me to change my time-line from #1976. Upon, the partnership with UHHM and Microsoft. When UHHM, did the pick you brain day in DUMBO I was the only Pioneer that know so much.. That was an experience but I had the knowledge. Renee Foster seen my Chronologicalized Paradise Gray sat at my table too.. Oh yeah! This isn't my first Rodeo, A chunk of History is being omitted. I'm not surprised though! My demo for Russell early on when Hyde was there was purposely distorted on purpose. He requested another clearer Demo. Keeping the Demo & Song. I returned 4X's trying to get the song back. To link up with another DJ.Spyder D sent me to Russell and took me to PowerPlay Studios never completed the project.... Currently, tapping into my creative space, reaching out to folks that are still alive. Building the team...There's footage of me early on somewhere... Just have to be recovered it. Upon my oldest daughter Alexia 30 died in 2017. It occurred weeks after attending the UHHM Cares..event in Astoria.. Sharing my plight.. My daughter she battled with Borderline Personality Disorder and depression. The City dropped the ball.. It occurred November 23 and Thanksgiving in front of my grandchildren. 7 weeks later my Godson Omaree Morrison 19 was murdered in Queens google it. Afterwards, his mother Kim was found decomposing in Park Slope. One of my cousins Grandmaster Funk Honcho via Atomic Sounds died. An Historic Battle in Liberty Park against Cypher Sounds.The DiscoTwins were present I know a lot of there ish., My reign was not limited to New.York. My books of rhymes are time dated. You can see the switch up from the decades. Intellectual Property. Similar to Caz. During this Era the Male-Domination was crazy. I played at Fantasia, the Fog House, Olympia Palace etc....Mostly, all Queens Parks. Unapologetically, got the history and experiences no one processes especially Queens.In addition.other stuff got enough to work with and surprises. The Disco Twins assisted in impeding my career....Like I called Robert had a conversation called him out. Informed him about the facts. Henceforth, no legal ramifications on facts..... There's interviews of them speaking of going up to the Bronx T Connection on Gunhill Road. The flyer with Nasty T aka Tracey I replaced her.. according to him it was too late to change the flyer.... However, I never knew upon me checking the MIC to MC. Robert purposely called the cops on purpose. The tool they had was carried in via ME! My FS was with ME. Because, they never searched the girls.. I knew Flash and the Furious Five Kid Creole liked me,, Cowboy was his self.. in fact,, I'm probably one of the last to see Cowboy...coping that was sad. I already was in the Bronx before Crotonia Park.. It was Van Cortland Park attestation can be provided.. Harlem too the Battlegrounds. From MCing with FutureSounds before LL-Cool J became him. I was the girl that they wouldn't let him get on the mic. Darryl (Dee of Run DMC) got pic's knows because we attended the duce 192 was cheerleadering. This is just a snippet....Can't share anymore. I'm available to do a interview. No problem. I AM a Phoenix been through fires. Still Rising....

[@tammaratillman1616]

@@TheFoundationhiphop OH my Graffiti Tag & My cousin South is searching for a flyer.

[@larrytan73]

Thank you ABC!

[@michelledorch7588]

Love this… they forgot a few females: ms melody with Boogie Down Production, the beef with Roxanne Shante and the Real Roxanne , Foxy Brown!!

[@Hairarchives]

Foxy brown was a late 90s rapper

[@brucekarriem2681]

Always number one,,real hip hop

[@philb.1502]

Sha Rock, Lady B, and Sequence were the first females to record in hip hop. They all put out records in 1979. Who was the first is still being debated! Shout out to all of these ladies!! Legends for real!

[@Krafty]

An inspiration!

[@Charlesstunts]

LOVE IT!!!

[@NattyLioness1972]

First Mc B-Girl ✊🏾✌🏾🥂

[@TheoriginalAdam.]

And then came a kid in 1984 outta #Philadelphia with his two friends that created two amazing tracks that are now global around the world today, His was the world professor of E-crof (Alice).😎

[@Plusultra18]

Great artist.

[@malcolmxbox]

Shout out to the Black American legend MC Sha Rock 🇺🇸🎤

[@michaelmcqueen9894]

I finally Sha rock my girl you was my girl

[@ogstyle507.6]

Real story i lived it❤

[@michaelmcqueen9894]

Yes yes my girl you had voice

[@charefaedwards6054]

Kurtis Blow was the one who gave her a 4 in that contest...smh, that blew me. But he dissed New Edition as well when it played out in the movie, when they were just trying to say hi.

[@rogermoore27]

Several of those recorded cassettes came back to Trinidad with returning visitors

[@dmoney668]

Now SHE is a rapper

[@Mazrook]

Salute

[@kirbysmith8236]

I was 18 years old when I heard the sugar hill gang for the first time at the Famous Disco in New Orleans. Summer of 1979.

[@gtizzle7606]

not disputing what you are saying but it is kind of hard to believe that they would have been on any type of tour in the summer of 79 when Rappers Delight wasn't released until the fall of 79.

[@kirbysmith8236]

@@gtizzle7606 I heard the record in September of 1979.

[@seansmith2830]

Roxanne Shanté the first Solo female to record a song by herself freestyle💃

[@gtizzle7606]

minus the freestyle part the first solo female record was by Lady B "To The Beat Y'all" which is one of the first 10 recorded rap records in late 79 early 80. and then Dimples D Sucker DJ's was a year before Shante.

[@gloco620]

YES!!!!!

[@BJordanSounds]

i came to the right spot I know exactly who i am writing my paper about Shante for the W..all pioneers are awesome I just had to narrow it down!!!!!!

[@algonzales7287]

How come they never mention The Sequence? The first female rap group.

[@tammaratillman1616]

Because they're providing false Narratives. They know I came before Sha-Rock. MC Shorty Tee from Queens 1976.

[@balle733]

@@tammaratillman1616 No way Queens was before Bronx. Sit down.

[@tammaratillman1616]

@@balle733 You take a back seat all the way in the back. Because, actually no Boroughs actually knew what the others were doing. Bronx had their own style. In addition, Queens was NEVER that soft. You never hear it spoken how any of the gangs were present at the cease banging meetings. How do I know older Family members were in those gangs. In addition Bronx was coming to Queens for some of the venues around 79 and prior. We had venues prior to those times. #FACTS.

[@balle733]

@@tammaratillman1616 You from quiet queens. Y'all didn't get to hip hop till like 82, 83. But you out here saying you were before Sha Rock who is all over flyers going back to 78. Ok.

[@tammaratillman1616]

@@balle733 Facts, I definitely was before Sha-Rock and the other females were too. I have material dated #1976.

[@heruapocalypse2021]

Queen Lisa Lee and Debbie Dee were there also with Sha-Rock.But Sha was indeed widely recognized as The First Female MC.And I was right.Back in 79' at 5 year's old I was calling Hip-Hop "Jam Music".Without anyone telling Me that.Upon hearing Rapping Music for The First Time.I immediately said! Hey Dad! That's that Jam Music turn it up please".So Whenever I would hear any of it.I instantly felt that it was Music for The Youngsters.And ended up becoming What We all know as "Hip-Hop Music".

[@millyjay-7271]

for some strange reason i can't remember her....I guess my 🧠 has done lost a couple of memories....but I do remember "Rovanne Shante" and "The Real Roxanne" fighting whose the the 1st Roxanne in HIP HOP....😮

[@flow_matik]

Hip-Hop !

[@MsLacy707]

Respect 💕 Thank You 👑! #MacanaRoxie

[@parishkennedy3528]

Nice

[@sixfouls3431]

I remember when they were at Stevenson high school with DJ Breakout

[@gtizzle7606]

I see alot of comments about why alot of 80's and 90's rappers weren't mentioned, If you go back and watch the first 15 seconds(not sure why ms melodie was pictured this early), you will see the 70's graphic. This is all about the late 70's and very early to mid 80's artists.

[@phillydisco]

Funky Constellation - Street Talk from 1979 also featured a female MC. The photo at 2:41 is taken with Fab 5 Freddy.

[@maddamage]

🌹🌹🌹

[@heloveskoko]

monie love looks so young, it’s crazy

[@IAMHIPHOP974]

The Bronx created HIP-HOP #bx #homeofhiphop YANAMEEN!🗽

[@kincamell2]

Heavy Gratitude. Ps Roxanne 's Revenge at the Henry J Kaiser(Oakland Ca).

[@robfromvan]

It’s weird how they said Funky 4 + 1 didn’t make any money ‘cuz I used to listen to that song, “It’s the Joint,” when I was a kid so didn’t that sell any records. I’m from Vancouver Canada and I used to listen to that one in around 1986 but I’m sure it came out earlier.

[@xelyna1]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@tycamtyson]

I was up that night Saturday night live

[@africanbella28]

It was nice to see female rappers getting the respect that they deserved. However, they left out some real female mc’s like Jean Grae, Bahamadia, Left-Eye, Foxy Brown, Rhapsody, and others!!!

[@gtizzle7606]

this is chronological. they went back to the beginning. None of the ones you listed were even around yet. We are talking late 70's to mid 80's.

[@HolyRollerTV]

they left out TANYA WINLEY who came out at the same time as funky 4...

[@codymann6152]

🔥 🔥 Holla Sha From Bx River!!!! JHS 127!!!! PLAYED YALL TAPE COPY COPY TIL IT POPPED

[@QueenShaZulu]

she is from Patterson projects

[@iantucker2310]

Sha Rock was sexy as hell because of her rap skills and not her lack of clothes

[@garlandowls1134]

King Tim III (Personality Jock) by the Fatback Band came out before Rapper's Delight.

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

That's pretty well known. The piece didn't say that Rappers Delight was first. It said that it was the first commercially successful rap single. And it was. King Tim wasn't commercially successful.

[@garlandowls1134]

@@TheFoundationhiphop Even though it wasn't commercially successful. It should be recognized as the first rap record!

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

@@garlandowls1134 we don't know for sure whether it was first. There were 25 or so rap records that dropped in '79 and we don't know the month or date on most of them. King Tim is usually credited as first in most conversations. But which was first wasn't even relevant to the dialog in this piece.

[@chrissystewart6268]

I never heard of Mc Sha- Rock. I'm a proud fan of Queen Latifah, Roxanne Shante , Monie Love, Mc Lyte, Yo-Yo ,Missy Elliott, Salt N Pepa, Lil Kim, Eve, Foxy Brown , Nicki Minaj, Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion. Why Foxy Brown not include ?

[@briggie28]

Look her up, she's a pioneer for female MC's.

[@gtizzle7606]

you have to go back further than the ones you listed. You have to go back to the 70's and do some research. there are some in this comments section that are droppin names. Look them up.

[@KERRY2014]

(Saw video...) LOVIN' IT!!! x) But "NO LOVE for THAT SUCKA-PUNK. SO-CALLED "JUDGE!", WHO GAVE AWESOME-AZZ: "ROXANNE SHANTE" A "4"?!?! (O__o).... ** BOOOoooo!!! ** ROXANNE... YOU'RE: "A 10" BABE!!! x) :D AND "THANK YOU!!!" for PUTTIN' HIP-HOP on THA MAP! :D

[@QueenShaZulu]

You did not include the ORIGINAL SPINDARELLA. That is not the original Spinderella

[@deejay5102]

Funny how all forms of Black music isn't taken seriously by main stream media until these vultures can capitalize from it ...smh... What a shame....

[@jakiria1]

How could y'all not mention Beat Street and US girls with Sha rock

[@pablodejesus698]

The George Snuffleupagus commercial at the end damaged this whole video for me

[@deejay5102]

Messed up how the men cheated Shante cheated her like that at that competition....smh

[@ChandaWalker-zt7gd]

Yea I heard the Bronx started hip hop

[@adrina911]

Ms. Robinson took all the credit for songs she didn’t write, she and her husband pocketed all the funds.

[@justinek9397]

Hi

[@Mr247star]

Where is FOXY brown 🦊

[@notorioustia]

She came in the 90s

[@flyyceethemilitant2946]

Sha Rock is sexy🔥

[@gracejonesboxcut4990]

Microphone Check

[@spike23s12]

19k views? Disappointing!!

[@haruyasumi616]

holy crap... monie love didn't age at all.

[@fredyace]

They feeding off of hip hop. These bitters. Not cool. Hip Hop is a lifestyle not a money bank.

[@tammaratillman1616]

@ABCnews this is false I AM the 1st in Queens #1976