::Dumb Rappers Need Teachin'::

Lesson A:



Man, Roxanne Shante was THE female rapper back in the day! UTFO, Sparky Dee, The Real Roxanne, and a slew of other hip-hop artists from the 80s all felt the wrath of this spunky teenager from the Queensbridge Projects. Her career instigated the concept of the dis record and paved the way for all the larger-than-life female emcees that eventually supplanted her like Salt N Pepa, Queen Latifah, Foxy Brown, Lil Kim.



But in addition to the legacy her rap prowess afforded her, this video is truly a shining testament to life after hip hop. Contrary to popular belief, all old school rappers aren't resigned to working shitty jobs in the service sector and living with their moms in the projects after their careers fall off. There are plenty of folks that have made quite the transition. But this story takes the cake. Unlike most artists, she had the rare opportunity to take advantage of a sleeping giant. Guess it really pays to have a down-ass management/ attorney team thinking about your future as a young artist. And the funny thing is, she's probably banking more paper now than she was at the top of her rap game. Because no matter how much money you're making as a hip hop artist, somebody is probably making more money off your career than you. That's just the way the business model is structured. Alas, if only more hip-hop artists today would think about the long term vs. the short term like Shante eventually did. Hell, even every hustler knows you can't sell dope forever. Because, really...how many rappers with vanity record label imprints and hip hop clothing lines do we really need?!