The most feared battle emcee in early-’80s NYC was a fierce teenager from the Queensbridge projects with the weight of the world on her shoulders. At age 14, hustling the streets to provide for her family, Roxanne Shanté was well on her way to becoming a hip-hop legend.
One presumes that Michael Lerner's sense of emphasis is meant to humanize Shanté, defining her apart from the fame she achieved, but this stratagem backfires as Roxanne Roxanne mires itself in scenes of speechifying domestic strife.
Don't worry: There will be rap battles and concert scenes and they do not disappoint. But they are the bass line beat. The drama of ordinary life is what makes this story stick in your head.
While there are some plot holes, the story we see on screen of a young girl's fierce determination is riveting, and the performances are deeply memorable.
Roxanne Roxanne is a story that needed to be told, And if you are familiar with the story you will likely to find it bold, but it needs just a bit more guidance and perhaps more time, to truly let the story of this forgotten star shine.
In attempting a gritty portrayal of Shanté's little-known private life, Roxanne Roxanne forgets her genius, as so many other people did back in the day.
A musical biopic with plenty of swagger and style that will get hip hop fans of a certain age nostalgically swooning over vintage track suits and old-school dance moves.
The film isn't just an account of one woman in hip-hop. It's about how the lived experiences of Black and brown people, including women, were always the heartbeat of rap.
