Monie Love

A brief history of the diss track – from the Roxanne Wars to Megan Thee Stallion

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 16, 2024
Bias, MC Lyte, BDP, Round 1, The Bridge Wars, Female, Noise, Roxanne, Audio Two, U.T.F.O, Textbook, Parent, Roxanne Wars, History, Monie Love, The Real Roxanne, Spyder-D, Sparky D, Juice Crew, Male, The Beatles, Music, Attitude, Hip

Fans and critics have suggested the track takes aim at multiple artists including Tory Lanez, Nicki Minaj and Drake.

Key Points: 
  • Fans and critics have suggested the track takes aim at multiple artists including Tory Lanez, Nicki Minaj and Drake.
  • The relationship between diss records and rap battles was crucial to the expansion of diss records during the 1980s.
  • The Roxanne Wars is the most famous exchange of diss records, with over 50 releases by 35 different artists.

The Roxanne Wars

  • The Roxanne saga was triggered by an “answer-back” record (a song which responds directly to the content in another artist’s song) by rapper Roxanne Shanté, directed at hip hop group U.T.F.O.’s 1984 hit Roxanne, Roxanne.
  • released their own orchestrated answer-back, titled The Real Roxanne.
  • This musical altercation spawned diss records by other artists too, who took on personas such as Roxanne’s Doctor, Rocksann, The Parents Of Roxanne and Little Roxanne.
  • The Roxanne Wars fostered a new paradigm of diss records.

Female pioneers

  • Looking back at the history of the diss track, it is the strength of female emcees that stands out.
  • However, she lost due to judge Kurtis Blow’s alleged bias of not voting for a female rapper.
  • Throughout the 1980s, female rappers were often dismissed due to the patriarchal structure of rap.
  • But the tenacious next wave of female rappers – including MC Lyte, Monie Love, Queen Latifah and Queen Mother Rage – constructed diss songs with deeper metaphorical complexity.


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Adam de Paor-Evans does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

National Boombox Museum to Debut at NostalgiaCon 80’s Pop Culture Convention

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, August 1, 2019
Fads, Popular culture, Musicians, Boombox, TKA, Monie Love, Hip hop

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The nations most prominent boombox collectors and organizers of NostalgiaCons inaugural 80s pop culture convention ( www.NostalgiaCon80s.com ) are teaming up to launch the National Boombox Museum at the fan expo that will take place September 28 and 29 at the Anaheim Convention Center.

Key Points: 
  • LOS ANGELES, Aug. 01, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The nations most prominent boombox collectors and organizers of NostalgiaCons inaugural 80s pop culture convention ( www.NostalgiaCon80s.com ) are teaming up to launch the National Boombox Museum at the fan expo that will take place September 28 and 29 at the Anaheim Convention Center.
  • Chambers will also moderate the pop culture panel, For the Love of Boomboxes: A Retrospective Look at Their Impact in Hip Hop Culture and How to Collect Them.
  • The National Boombox Museum is part of a dynamic agenda that will showcase Hip Hop performances from The Sugar Hill Gang, Doug E Fresh, Monie Love, and TKA.
  • NostalgiaCon will also pay homage to urban pop culture with a cinematic event for the cult classic The Last Dragon that will feature karate and a panel with star Taimak.