Drama

Roxanne Roxanne

- Life is a battle.

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.

Release Date : 2017-01-22

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Forest Whitaker's Significant Productionsi am OTHERPlaydate Productions

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Roxanne Shanté

Original Name : Chanté Adams

Gender : Female

Character Name : Cross

Original Name : Mahershala Ali

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ms. Peggy

Original Name : Nia Long

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ray

Original Name : Elvis Nolasco

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ranita

Original Name : Shenell Edmonds

Gender : Male

Character Name : Attorney Schwartz

Original Name : Adam Horovitz

Gender : Male

Character Name : Antwan

Original Name : Germar Terrell Gardner

Gender : Male

Character Name : Big John

Original Name : Terrence Shingler

Gender : Male

Character Name : Biz

Original Name : Nigel A. Fullerton

Gender : Male

Character Name : Classmate #1

Original Name : Kristin Dodson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Dave

Original Name : Curtiss Cook

Gender : Male

Character Name : Fastima

Original Name : Lyric Hurd

Gender : Female

Character Name : Frank

Original Name : Anthony Bisciello

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jake

Original Name : Melvin Mogoli

Gender : Male

Character Name : Keith

Original Name : Sean Ringgold

Gender : Male

Character Name : Latifa

Original Name : Eden Duncan-Smith

Gender : Female

Character Name : Lounge Patron

Original Name : Caleb Eberhardt

Gender : Male

Character Name : MC Shan

Original Name : Arnstar

Gender : Male

Character Name : Marley

Original Name : Kevin Phillips

Gender : Male

Character Name : Monique

Original Name : Drew Olivia Tillman

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mr. Lester

Original Name : Nelsan Ellis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mr. Magic

Original Name : Charlie Hudson III

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ms. Denise

Original Name : Tonye Patano

Gender : Female

Character Name : Ms. Gina

Original Name : Heather Simms

Gender : Female

Character Name : Nasir

Original Name : Tremaine Brown Jr.

Gender : Male

Character Name : Nurse Mitchell

Original Name : Cindy Cheung

Gender : Female

Character Name : Park Jam MC

Original Name : Jermaine Crawford

Gender : Male

Character Name : Asian Waitress

Original Name : Sharon Gee

Gender : Female

Character Name : Photographer

Original Name : Meryl Jones Williams

Gender : Female

Character Name : Raoul

Original Name : Abraham Infante

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roland

Original Name : Jermel Howard

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ronald

Original Name : Miles J. Harvey

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sparky Dee

Original Name : Cheryse Dyllan

Gender : Female

Character Name : Tone

Original Name : Mitchell Edwards

Gender : Male

Character Name : Vanessa

Original Name : Angela Wildflower

Gender : Male

Character Name : Venue Worker

Original Name : Eddie K. Robinson

Gender : Male

Reviews

A-Dubya

@A-Dubya

2021-06-23

I was hoping for more. I thought it would delve further into her battles in the hip-hop world, and include more than just brief cameos of rap legends and icons (Biz Markie, MC Shan, Marley Marl, and a young NaS), but instead it turned into just a pseudo-bio/male-bashing escapade. I enjoyed some parts about it, primarily the focus on her rap career, Roxanne's Revenge, and how she came up in the game, but a lot of the time, it felt like this film was something it wasn't advertised as. Being a huge hip hop fan, mainly of the 80's and 90's, I was excited when i saw a biopic on Roxanne Shante. I'm a huge fan of NY hip hop from this era. I was disappointed when most of the film focused on her family struggles, and poor relationships (I would even say decisions too) with men. I knew there would be a backstory about her upbringing, but instead of really talking about the hip hop pioneer that she was, and maybe battles with KRS and others, it was like a 45 minute man-bashing flick veiled as a doc about a hip hop legend. Almost every male character is basically portrayed as abusive, manipulative, violent, or a sexual predator. The few males that somewhat have redeemable qualities are pushed aside, not to be focused on. This trope is one that seems to be the norm far too often in films of the last few years. It is very annoying to me, and reeks of disillusion. Every male is not a creep, just as every female is not a saint in the real world. Even the last excerpt at the end of the film before the credits was so out of place, and didn't seem to fit anything other than an agenda to bash males for "not handling their responsibilities, and bringing women flowers". What this has to do with hip hop culture, or anything relevant, for that matter, is beyond me. It could have been so much better, if it legitimately was about the career of Roxanne Shante, and her rise as a hip hop icon in the 80's. 2 door knocker ear rings out of 5.