Pioneering African American Rap Artist, MC Sha-Rock is relevant to the Hip Hop culture, music and industry!

She was born in Wilmington, North Carolina. In the early 1970’s, her parents decided to move the family to New York City. Established in 1976, she began her career as a b-girl/break-dancer in the Bronx, New York. She later went on to become “The Hip Hop Culture’s First Female Emcee/Rapper. In the Hip Hop community, she is often referred to as the “Luminary Icon” or the” Mother of the Mic”. She stands as the foundation for Female Emcee’s.

She is a formal member of the legendary rap group called The Funky 4 +1 More. They were coined as the Gladys Knight and Pips of Hip Hop. In ‘1979” they became the first Hip Hop group to have a legitimate record deal. They released their first single titled “Rapping and Rocking the House”, recorded at “16 “minutes. In “1981” they appeared on “Saturday Night Live” hosted by Deborah Harry of the legendary rock group “Blondie” and became the first Hip Hop group to appear on national television.

In the 1970’s and the ground-breaking era of the Hip Hop culture, MC Sha-Rock is credited with being the First Female Emcee, to go full circle in a MC rhyming battle with such groups, as Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5.

In 1984, MC Sha-Rock made a guest appearance in the legendary Hip Hop movie “Beat Street” as the “Us Girls”, which was directed by Mr. Harry Belafonte. Her work includes several documentaries for the BBC film organization. She has appeared on 20/20 in the “1981” special “Rapping to the Beat” hosted, by Hugh Downs. In the early 80’s, MC Sha-Rock was featured in many cable network TV shows, along with her group The Funky 4+1 More.

She has lend her likeliness to many documentaries to include,” Thirty Years of Hip Hop”, which aired on VH1 and “My Mic Sounds Nice” aired on the B.E.T. network. MC Sha-Rock is the first Female and Pioneer, of the Hip Hop culture to lend her voice for a televised commercial for the Mitsubishi” 2008” automobile advertisement.

To note, MC Sha-Rock is the most documented and photographed female emcee, to be sort out by her peers, in order to capture her essence throughout the ground- breaking years of Hip Hop. She was known for her skills as a Hip Hop artist in a male dominated arena. Her male peers never regarded her as “just a female”; she was seen as a female emcee with rhyming skills. Her unparalleled flow and prominent personality is why she has set the criterion opposed to conforming to others. She stands as a Hip Hop icon, a role model, and most importantly, as the foundation of female emcees.

MC Sha-Rock has received several awards and honorees for her contributions to Hip Hop Culture.

She is a recipient of the honorary award from the Council of the City of New York, for her contribution as a Female Pioneer emcee that helped lay the foundation and groundwork for the culture of Hip Hop.

In March 2007, MC Sha-Rock was honored and received a certificate of appreciation, that was presented to her by the historical all female (Bennett College) located in Goldsboro, NC and from the A&T; Middle College Student Body/A&T; State University for her contributions to the ground-breaking years of the Hip Hop culture.

She has received The Women’s of Distinction Award by The Hip Hop Culture Center in Harlem, New York. She has been featured in magazines such as “The Source” (2013) and “The Essence” (2013) and several books written by Hip Hop historians and authors, acknowledging her contribution to the culture, which has helped pave the way for females of today’s Hip Hop culture.

2011-2013 The Rolling Stone Magazine named The Funky 4+1 More Hip Hop rap single titled “That’s The Joint” as one of the 50 greatest rap songs of all times.

MC Sha-Rock has been labeled by her fellow peers as the most celebrated Hip Hop female Pioneer MC of all time from fellow artists, Run DMC, Beastie Boys, Sean “Puffy” Combs, Fab 5 Freddy, MC Lyte and countless Hip Hop lovers around the world who have followed her career throughout her tenure. She has collaborated with many international artists, to include artists such as Ice T, Nas, Big Daddy Kane, Celo, Marley Marl, Grand Puba, Melle Mel, MC Spice, Malcolm McLaren and Angie Stone.

Throughout speaking engagements and endorsements, MC Sha-Rock has founded an educational and informative organization called “Tomorrow’s Footprints”. It is an organization that is committed to educating and preserving the history and fundamentals of the Hip Hop culture, through music and dance.

In April 2013, MC Sha-Rock was appointed as a National Advisor for the Cornell University Hip Hop Library Collection. She has also worked in the criminal justice field for many years. Sha uses her knowledge to bring awareness, by mentoring and educating young men, women, and at risk youth. Sha delivers the importance of choices, education and self- empowerment.