Pioneering African American Rap Artist, MC Sha-Rock is relevant to 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.

Sha-Rock currently co-hosts with Grandmaster Caz ‘That’s The Joint,’ a new daily show on Rock The Bells. She recently joined Bowie State University’s Visual Communication & Digital Media Arts (VCDMA) program in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts as the Resident MC, Hip-Hop Historian, and adjunct professor. MC Sha-Rock will teach courses and work with students pursuing a minor in Hip-Hop Studies and Visual Culture.