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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Entertainment
Paul MacInnes

The Roxanne wars

When UTFO released a B-side chastising a woman who (unfairly in the group's mind) had spurned their advances, they didn't realise what they were doing. Inciting the wrath of both New York women and hip-hop rivals, a sudden slew of response records followed. The most memorable was by 14-year-old Roxanne Shanté who dissed the men and made this early rap battle all about the music.

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