MC Sha-Rock of Funky 4+1 was the first female rapper
Sharon Green aka MC Sha-Rock of Funky 4+1 was hip hop‘s first female emcee. The “1” represented MC Sha-Rock, hip hop’s royalty, while the “4” represented the other original members of the group: Keith Keith, K.K. Rockwell, Lil’ Rodney C and Jazzy Jeff (not Will Smith‘s DJ Jazzy Jeff). Funky 4+1 released their first record in 1979, “Rappin & Rocking the House.”
Sha-Rock is also referred to as the “Mother of the Mic”, or the “Luminary Icon” in the hip-hop community. Sha-Rock was the first female rapper to appear on national television after she performed on Saturday Night Live with the Funky 4+1 in February of 1981.
Sha Rock was 19-years-old and pregnant during the time of the 1981 performance. She wore an oversized pink sweater to hide her baby bump.
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