Dr. Roxanne Shante Uses the Fine Print

Roxanne got her revenge, or should I say she worked for it.  The hiphop pioneer Roxanne Shante found herself less than enthusiastic with how her record company handled contracts and royalties. 

Read the full NYdailynews.com arcticle: "Rapper behind 'Roxanne's Revenge' gets Warner Music to pay for Ph.D. 

As times got tougher for Roxanne she decided to have Warner Music own up to a lifetime education clause in her contract.  When the record copmany was not cooperating Roxanne asked Marymount Manhattan College dean, Marguerita Grecco for help.  After a hard fought battle Roxanne Shante had her $217,000 educational expenses covered and earned a PhD in 2001.

Dr. Roxane Shante opened a therapy practice that focuses on African-Americans in urban areas.  Hiphop, especially the element of emceeing, is used at Dr. Shante's practice.

Record labels passing out bad contracts is sadly just part of the industry.  It just so happens in the case of Dr. Roxanne Shante, the fine print came back to bite the record label in the wallet.  The NYdailynews.com article mentions that Dr. Shante thinks the label put that clause in the contract not believing she would ever cash in on it.

The practice of offering an artist contract terms that sound appealing while not believing that the artist will utilize them is fairly common as well.  But, to think that Roxanne would not ever value education based on her circumstances at the time was arrogant. 

The contract offered to take care of Dr. Shante's educational expense for life.  Life can be a long time.  Did Warner Music think that there was no way this artist would ever think of going to school in her entire life?

Well, I guess Dr. Shante taught them a $217,000 lesson.

Read New York Daily News article by clicking here.