Song Clearance Sheet
4 sources citedRoxanne's Revenge
Hip-Hop1980s99BPM
UnconfirmedKey
More around 100 BPM → · More “Cleared After Dispute” →
Tempo/key via Deezer →
The verdict
Cleared After Dispute
A real cease-and-desist (Select Records, over the beat copied from UTFO’s instrumental) forced a re-record — resolved practically rather than in court. The widely-repeated 2009 story that Shanté sued Warner Music and funded a Cornell PhD was debunked as false and is explicitly corrected in the Receipts, not repeated as fact.
Used by independents?
Unconfirmed — the page doesn't yet document enough sampler detail to tell.
Quick Facts
Released1984
GenreHip-Hop
LabelPop Art Records
ProducerMarley Marl
Recorded atMarley Marl's apartment
More infoWikipedia → · Discogs →
Who you need to ask
The artist & producer — Roxanne Shanté (writer) & Marley Marl (production)
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
The current administrator — Not confirmed — needs a Songview/Discogs lookup
Wikipedia → · checked Jul 2026
Has it been reused?
Yes — the most famous of the dozens of “Roxanne Wars” answer records; sold ~250,000 copies in the NY area independently, 12 weeks on the R&B chart.
Do they allow reuse?
No standalone policy found; the released version’s beat was re-recorded after a cease-and-desist — see the Rights Status.
Related Songs
Same album, answer records, and songs worth knowing about
The UTFO song this answers — and whose instrumental triggered the cease-and-desist
Who Owns It
Licenses explained →The two permissions you need, and who holds them
The song itself (the writing)Roxanne Shanté (Lolita Shanté Gooden), prod. Marley Marl
A real cease-and-desist and re-recordThe original “Street Version” used a beat copied directly from UTFO’s “Roxanne, Roxanne” instrumental; UTFO’s label Select Records sent a cease-and-desist, forcing Shanté to re-record with a new (though related) beat — the released version.
The recording (current administrator)Not confirmed
Receipts
Every public mention of terms, policy, or past deals we've found
CORRECTION: a widely-repeated 2009 story was debunked as false
A 2009 New York Daily News story claimed Shanté had successfully sued Warner Music for royalties and used the settlement to fund a Cornell PhD. It went viral but was investigated and debunked by multiple outlets (per Slate); the Daily News itself issued a correction. It is NOT true and should not be repeated as fact — noted here specifically to correct the record.
Wikipedia (citing Slate’s investigation) · read it →
An honest gap between cultural win and financial reward
Shanté has said she didn’t reap the financial benefits she would have liked from the Roxanne Wars, even while holding what she considers a decisive victory as a point of pride.
Rock the Bells · read it →
Real recent recognition, and a launched career
In 2025 Shanté became the first solo female rap artist to receive the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. The session also launched Marley Marl, who went on to form the Juice Crew (Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Kool G Rap, MC Shan, Craig G).
Wikipedia / Juice Crew · read it →
Can You Use It for Free?
How to check PD →Is it public domain?No
Sample History
—
Times sampled
The definitive “Roxanne Wars” answer record
Covers
—
First flip
Who to Contact
RS
Roxanne Shanté / Marley Marl
The confirmed writer and producer of the released version
What they'll chargeNobody's shared numbers yet
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Page history · 2 updates
Jul 2026Page created — full research (Research Queue Batch 3)
Jul 2026BPM/Key pending the automated GetSongBPM/Deezer pass