

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.

Chanté Adams

Mahershala Ali

Nia Long

Elvis Nolasco

Shenell Edmonds

Germar Terrell Gardner