She's the First Female Rapper, and Now She's Finally Getting Her Dues
By Dean Meminger
PUBLISHED 9:39 PM ET Jun. 24, 2019
Sharon Green, also known as MC Sha-Rock, is now in her mid-50s and finally getting props for her role as one of the originators of hip hop.
It all started when she was a South Bronx teenager in the 1970s. Often appearing shy with a baby face, she had a powerful voice and knew how to rock the mic.
Although Sha-Rock was born in North Carolina, she grew up in New York and began rapping in parks and at parties. She was a part of the group, Funky 4 + 1. She was the plus one.
In 1979, they became the first rap group to sign with a record label, making Sha-Rock the first female rapper to record a song.
"When I was rhyming it was on your skills alone, because I was out there with male emcees and prolific male emcees,” Sha-Rock said. “But I had skills."
Those skills led Sha-Rock and the Furious Four to “Saturday Night Live” in 1981, the first appearance by any rappers on a national TV show.
Although she is called the "Mother of the Mic," many do not know about her contributions to hip hop. MC Sha-Rock became emotional when talking about the times she's been overlooked as a hip hop legend.
"Why would they not understand what I went through to get here," she said while fighting back tears.
But she's getting a lot of recognition now, and is helping to produce a movie about her life and the beginnings of hip hop.
In fact, she recently held a casting call in the Bronx for the movie titled “Luminary Icon,” which is another one of her nicknames.
spectrumlocalnews.com
By Dean Meminger
PUBLISHED 9:39 PM ET Jun. 24, 2019
Sharon Green, also known as MC Sha-Rock, is now in her mid-50s and finally getting props for her role as one of the originators of hip hop.
It all started when she was a South Bronx teenager in the 1970s. Often appearing shy with a baby face, she had a powerful voice and knew how to rock the mic.
Although Sha-Rock was born in North Carolina, she grew up in New York and began rapping in parks and at parties. She was a part of the group, Funky 4 + 1. She was the plus one.
In 1979, they became the first rap group to sign with a record label, making Sha-Rock the first female rapper to record a song.
"When I was rhyming it was on your skills alone, because I was out there with male emcees and prolific male emcees,” Sha-Rock said. “But I had skills."
Those skills led Sha-Rock and the Furious Four to “Saturday Night Live” in 1981, the first appearance by any rappers on a national TV show.
Although she is called the "Mother of the Mic," many do not know about her contributions to hip hop. MC Sha-Rock became emotional when talking about the times she's been overlooked as a hip hop legend.
"Why would they not understand what I went through to get here," she said while fighting back tears.
But she's getting a lot of recognition now, and is helping to produce a movie about her life and the beginnings of hip hop.
In fact, she recently held a casting call in the Bronx for the movie titled “Luminary Icon,” which is another one of her nicknames.
She's the First Female Rapper, and Now She's Finally Getting Her Dues
Meet the woman who's literally the first lady of hip hop.
spectrumlocalnews.com