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Movements, leaders, victories and the continuing fight for equality.
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Wilmington, North Carolina once had a thriving Black middle class and an elected interracial government. In 1898 white supremacists used violence to overthrow that government, kill Black residents and drive many others from the city.
MORE →Reflects the personal views, recollections, and perspective of the author, Mike Davis.
This is a personal recollection on the Move fire on May 13, 1985
MC Sha-Rock | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sharon Green October 25, 1962 |
| Origin | The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Genre | Hip hop |
| Occupation | Rapper |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Label | Enjoy Records Sugar Hill Records |
| Website | MCShaRockOnline.com |
Sharon Green (born October 25, 1962),[1] also known as MC Sha-Rock, is considered the "first female rapper" or emcee.[2] Born in Wilmington, North Carolina, she grew up in the South Bronx, New York City during the earliest years of hip hop culture and rap music.[3] Within the hip-hop community she has been referred to as the "Mother of the Mic".[4] As a member of the Funky 4 + 1, one of the first hip-hop crews to appear on national television, her style influenced notable rappers like MC Lyte and DMC (born Darryl McDaniels) of Run-DMC. [5][6]
Sha-Rock began as a local b-girl, or breakdancer, in the early days of South Bronx hip hop scene and culture in the late 1970s.[7] The Funky 4 + 1, Sha-Rock being the plus one, had their first hit with the 12-inch "Rapping and Rocking the House" on Sugarhill Records (1979), which was followed by "That's the Joint" (1980).[8] As a pioneer affiliated with the Zulu Nation, MC Sha-Rock inspired a style of rapping made famous by Run DMC and called the "echo chamber".[9][5]
In 2010, Green published a book about her experiences titled “The Story of the Beginning and End of the First Hip Hop Female MC: Luminary Icon Sha-Rock.”[10] The book recounts her experiences and challenges of becoming an emcee and her time as a member of The Funky 4 + 1.
On August 4, 2009, Sha-Rock was presented an award for "Women in Hip Hop All Female Rapathon and All Pioneer Luminary MC Award" presented by the Hip Hop cultural center of Harlem. At the ceremony Sha-Rock said "that everyone please embrace the culture and make sure that you really understand that Hip Hop is really not just about rap and profit, it's about peace, unity and having fun. Listening to music, enjoying one another and being safe".[11]
Of all members of the Funky 4 + 1, pop critic Robert Christgau reserved special praise for Green in his review of "That's the Joint", "Quick tradeoffs and clamorous breaks vary the steady-flow rhyming of the individual MCs, and when it comes to Sha-Rock, Miss Plus One herself, who needs variation?"[12]
On February 14, 1981, The Funky 4 + 1 were introduced as New York City "street rappers" from the Bronx along with headlining musical guests Blondie with its lead singer Debbie Harry on Saturday Night Live.[13] The Funky 4 + 1's appearance reflected a local connection that introduced the uptown musical youth of the Bronx and Harlem to the downtown Lower East Side scenes of graffiti art and music that was represented with the original hip-hop artists playing themselves in the 1983 film Wild Style by Charlie Ahearn.
This creative link between various youthful artists was boosted by Fab Five Freddy and Ruza Blue, nicknamed "Kool Lady Blue", who curated acts at the Roxy NYC nightclub, which featured early hip-hop DJs and breakdancers.[14][15][16] Sha-Rock has received the honorary award from the Council of the City of New York.[17]
Sha-Rock was inducted as an honorary member of Sigma Gamma Rho on July 24, 2026, during the sorority's 61st Biennial Boule in Tampa, Florida.[18]
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Source: Wikipedia. Article content is retrieved live through the MediaWiki API.
Sharon Green (born October 25, 1962), also known as MC Sha-Rock, is considered the "first female rapper" or emcee. Born in Wilmington, North Carolina, she grew up in the South Bronx, New York City during the earliest years of hip hop culture and rap music. Within the hip-hop community she has been referred to as the "Mother of the Mic". As a member of the Funky 4 + 1, one of the first hip-hop crews to appear on national television, her style influenced notable rappers like MC Lyte and DMC (born Darryl McDaniels) of Run-DMC.
Funky 4 + 1 was an American hip hop group from The Bronx, New York, composed of Jazzy Jeff, Sha-Rock (b. Sharon Green), D.J. Breakout, Guy Williams, Keith Keith, The Voice of K.K., and Rodney Cee (Stone). The group originally started with K.K Rockwell, Keith Caesar, Rahiem and Sha Rock, the rest of the members joined at later times. The latter two members also performed together as the duo Double Trouble, notably in the film Wild Style. They were the first hip hop group to receive a record deal, as well as the first to perform live on national television. The group was also the first to start selling their records commercially. The group was also notable for being the first to have a woman MC, Sha-Rock.
"That's The Joint" is a song by rap group Funky 4 + 1 released as their second single. The single became Funky 4 + 1's signature song and is frequently cited as influential early hip hop record borrowing from disco, funk and jazz. It was arranged by jazz organist Clifton "Jiggs" Chase and includes dance rhythms (it was performed live with dance routines). It features rapping from all group's members and many parts sung together. The instrumental includes a sample of "Rescue Me" by A Taste of Honey. Rolling Stone listed "That's the Joint" at number 288 on their updated list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in September 2021. It was also listed on The Pitchfork 500 and as 47th best hip hop song of all time by Rolling Stone. It was named the best song of the 1980s by music critic Robert Christgau. In his initial review Christgau gave it 'A' rating and wrote: "The instrumental track, carried by Sugarhill bassist Doug Wimbish, is so compelling that for a while I listened to it alone on its B-side version. And the rapping is the peak of the form, not verbally—the debut has funnier words—but rhythmically. Quick tradeoffs and clamorous breaks vary the steady-flow rhyming of the individual MCs, and when it comes to Sha-Rock, Miss Plus One herself, who needs variation?". The song has been sampled many times in hip-hop production since its release, including on the song "Say No Go" by De La Soul on their album 3 Feet High and Rising, and by Beastie Boys on the songs "Shake Your Rump" and "Shadrach" on their album Paul's Boutique.
Amah Rock (Chinese: 望夫石, Mong Fu Shek, lit. "husband-watching stone") is a naturally shaped rock located on a hilltop in southwest Sha Tin District, Hong Kong.
Before the 1921 destruction of Tulsa’s Greenwood District, Black residents had created a remarkable center of business and community life. The district included stores, professional offices, entertainment venues and homes owned by Black citizens. Understanding Greenwood means learning what was built—not only what was burned.
MORE →The Greenwood District.
