Roxanne, Roxanne Lyrics
[Intro: Kangol Kid & EMD]
Yo EMD
Yeah, what's up man?
There goes that girl they call Roxanne, she's all stuck up
Why do you say that?
'Cause she wouldn't give a guy like me no rap
[Verse 1: Kangol Kid]
Man, she was walking down the street so I said "Hello
I'm Kangol from UTFO," and she said "So?"
And I said "So!? Baby don't you know?
I can sing, rap, and dance in just one show
'Cause I'm Kangol, Mr. Sophisticata
As far as I know ain't nobody greater
From beginning to end and to beginning
I never lose because I'm all about winning
But if I was to lose I wouldn't be upset
'Cause I'm not a gambler, I don't bet
I don't be in no casino, and baby, while you knizzow
That izzi is the grizzeat Kizzangizzol"
I thought she'd be impressed and give me devious rap
I thought I had her caught inside my sinister trap
I thought it'd be a piece of cake but it was nothing like that
I guess that's what I get for thinking, ain't that right, black?
Then trizzy to cizzome and see nizzumber wizzone
Crizzew rizzockin' tizzo a vizzan just like a gizzun
With a "bang, bang", brother I feel bad
But I ain't committing suicide for no crab
Calling her a crab is just a figure of speech
'Cause she's an apple, a pear, a plum, and a peach
I thought I had it in the palm of my hand
But man, oh man, if I was grand I'd bang Roxanne
Yo EMD
Yeah, what's up man?
There goes that girl they call Roxanne, she's all stuck up
Why do you say that?
'Cause she wouldn't give a guy like me no rap
[Verse 1: Kangol Kid]
Man, she was walking down the street so I said "Hello
I'm Kangol from UTFO," and she said "So?"
And I said "So!? Baby don't you know?
I can sing, rap, and dance in just one show
'Cause I'm Kangol, Mr. Sophisticata
As far as I know ain't nobody greater
From beginning to end and to beginning
I never lose because I'm all about winning
But if I was to lose I wouldn't be upset
'Cause I'm not a gambler, I don't bet
I don't be in no casino, and baby, while you knizzow
That izzi is the grizzeat Kizzangizzol"
I thought she'd be impressed and give me devious rap
I thought I had her caught inside my sinister trap
I thought it'd be a piece of cake but it was nothing like that
I guess that's what I get for thinking, ain't that right, black?
Then trizzy to cizzome and see nizzumber wizzone
Crizzew rizzockin' tizzo a vizzan just like a gizzun
With a "bang, bang", brother I feel bad
But I ain't committing suicide for no crab
Calling her a crab is just a figure of speech
'Cause she's an apple, a pear, a plum, and a peach
I thought I had it in the palm of my hand
But man, oh man, if I was grand I'd bang Roxanne
[Hook]
Roxanne, Roxanne, can't you understand?
Roxanne, Roxanne, I wanna be your man
[Verse 2: EMD & Kangol Kid]
Yo Kangol, I don't think that you're dense
But you went about the matter with no experience
You should know, she doesn't need a guy like you
She needs a guy like me with a high IQ
And she'll take to my rap, 'cause my rap's the best
The Educated Rapper MD will never fess
So when I met her, I wasted no time
But stuck up Roxanne paid me no mind
She thought my name was Barry, I told her it was Gary
She said she didn't like it so she chose to call me Barry
She said she'd love to marry, my baby she would carry
And if we had a baby, we'd name the baby Harry
Her mother's name is Mary, which is really quite contrary
Her face is really hairy, and you can say it's scary
She lives in Mt. Airy, her father's a fairy
His wife's a secretary, his son's in military
They forced him to enlist, I guess it wasn't voluntary
His daughter's name is Sherry, his sons are Tom and Jerry
Jerry had the flu but it was only temporary
Back in January, or was it February?
But every time I say this rhyme it makes me kinda weary
It's only customary to give this commentary
Some say it's bad, some say it's legendary
You search it all you want, try your local library
You'll never find a rhyme like this in any dictionary
But do you know, after all that
All I received was a pat on my back
That's what you get, it happened to me
Ain't that right Mixmaster I-C-E
Roxanne, Roxanne, can't you understand?
Roxanne, Roxanne, I wanna be your man
[Verse 2: EMD & Kangol Kid]
Yo Kangol, I don't think that you're dense
But you went about the matter with no experience
You should know, she doesn't need a guy like you
She needs a guy like me with a high IQ
And she'll take to my rap, 'cause my rap's the best
The Educated Rapper MD will never fess
So when I met her, I wasted no time
But stuck up Roxanne paid me no mind
She thought my name was Barry, I told her it was Gary
She said she didn't like it so she chose to call me Barry
She said she'd love to marry, my baby she would carry
And if we had a baby, we'd name the baby Harry
Her mother's name is Mary, which is really quite contrary
Her face is really hairy, and you can say it's scary
She lives in Mt. Airy, her father's a fairy
His wife's a secretary, his son's in military
They forced him to enlist, I guess it wasn't voluntary
His daughter's name is Sherry, his sons are Tom and Jerry
Jerry had the flu but it was only temporary
Back in January, or was it February?
But every time I say this rhyme it makes me kinda weary
It's only customary to give this commentary
Some say it's bad, some say it's legendary
You search it all you want, try your local library
You'll never find a rhyme like this in any dictionary
But do you know, after all that
All I received was a pat on my back
That's what you get, it happened to me
Ain't that right Mixmaster I-C-E
[Hook]
Roxanne, Roxanne
Roxanne, Roxanne
[Verse 3: Doctor Ice & EMD]
You thought you had her roped, you thought you was Cupid
But EMD, your rap was plain stupid
I know you're educated, but when will you learn?
Not all girls want to be involved with bookworms
You gotta be strong in a way she can't resist
So Educated Rapper, huh, bust this
Since she's a new girl around the block
I had to let her know I was the debonair Doc
I said "I'd like to speak with you, if I can
And if I'm correct, (I) hear your name is Roxanne."
She said "How'd you know my name?" I said "It's getting around
Right now, baby, you're the talk of the town
Please let me walk you to the corner, my rap will be brief"
She said "I've seen you before, you look like a thief"
I said "Me? The Doc? A hood, a rock?
Running 'round the street robbing people on the block?
Nah, that's not my style, to crime I'm not related
As far as I'm concerned I'm too sophisticated."
Then it seemed I got through 'cause she cracked a smile
That let me know my rap was worth her while
She said "You call yourself a doctor?" I said "This is true"
She said "Explain to me really what doctors must do"
I said "This is very rare 'cause I don't say this every day
There's a million medical skills a doctor displays
Dermatology is treatment of the skin
Infected and you'll see me, you will never again
There's enthesiology, ophthalmology
Internal medicine and plastic surgery
Orthopedic surgery and pathology
A disease caused by the change of the body"
She said "Ooooh, that's very unique"
Gave me her number and kissed me on the cheek
She said she had to go but she'd be back by 8
Told me call her at 9 to arrange a date
Did you take her to the beach?
That's what we planned
But she stood me up, Roxanne, Roxanne
Roxanne, Roxanne
Roxanne, Roxanne
[Verse 3: Doctor Ice & EMD]
You thought you had her roped, you thought you was Cupid
But EMD, your rap was plain stupid
I know you're educated, but when will you learn?
Not all girls want to be involved with bookworms
You gotta be strong in a way she can't resist
So Educated Rapper, huh, bust this
Since she's a new girl around the block
I had to let her know I was the debonair Doc
I said "I'd like to speak with you, if I can
And if I'm correct, (I) hear your name is Roxanne."
She said "How'd you know my name?" I said "It's getting around
Right now, baby, you're the talk of the town
Please let me walk you to the corner, my rap will be brief"
She said "I've seen you before, you look like a thief"
I said "Me? The Doc? A hood, a rock?
Running 'round the street robbing people on the block?
Nah, that's not my style, to crime I'm not related
As far as I'm concerned I'm too sophisticated."
Then it seemed I got through 'cause she cracked a smile
That let me know my rap was worth her while
She said "You call yourself a doctor?" I said "This is true"
She said "Explain to me really what doctors must do"
I said "This is very rare 'cause I don't say this every day
There's a million medical skills a doctor displays
Dermatology is treatment of the skin
Infected and you'll see me, you will never again
There's enthesiology, ophthalmology
Internal medicine and plastic surgery
Orthopedic surgery and pathology
A disease caused by the change of the body"
She said "Ooooh, that's very unique"
Gave me her number and kissed me on the cheek
She said she had to go but she'd be back by 8
Told me call her at 9 to arrange a date
Did you take her to the beach?
That's what we planned
But she stood me up, Roxanne, Roxanne
[Hook]
Roxanne, Roxanne, I wanna be your man
Roxanne, Roxanne, and here's our gameplan
[Outro: UTFO]
The beat is here, so we will reveal it
And if you think it's soft, then Roxanne feel it!
[Beat boxing and scratching]
Roxanne, Roxanne, I wanna be your man
Roxanne, Roxanne, and here's our gameplan
[Outro: UTFO]
The beat is here, so we will reveal it
And if you think it's soft, then Roxanne feel it!
[Beat boxing and scratching]
About
Genius Annotation
This is the song that started the Roxanne Wars, “a series of hip-hop rivalries during the mid-1980s” that yielded “perhaps the most answer records in history.”
After this song, consider viewing the following songs.
The two most famous follow-ups:
Other popular follow-ups:
- Sparky D – Sparky’s Turn (Roxanne, You’re Through)
- Dr. Freshh – Roxanne’s Doctor – The Real Man
- Dr. Rocx & Co. – Do the Roxanne
- Gigolo Tony & Lacey Lace – The Parents of Roxanne
- Tanganyika – I’m Little Roxanne
- Crush Groove – Yo, My Little Sister (Roxanne’s Brother)
- D.W. and the Party Crew ft. Roxy – Rappin' Roxy: Roxanne’s Sister
- Little Ice – Ice Roxanne
- Ralph Rolle – Roxanne’s a Man (The Untold Story–Final Chapter)
- The East Coast Crew – The Final Word – No More Roxanne (Please)
Follow-ups by the original artists:
- UTFO – Calling Her a Crab
- Roxanne Shanté – Queen of Rox
- Roxanne Shanté – Bite This
- Roxanne Shanté & Sparky D – Round 1–Roxanne Shanté Vs. Sparky Dee
Lesser-known follow-ups:
- Anthony – Roxanne is a Man
- Blowfly – Blowfly Meets Roxanne
- Doctor JR Kool – Rap Your Roxanne
- G-Mann – Roxanne (Is My Girl)
- J.J. Fad – Anotha Ho
- Korner Boyz – The Saga of Roxanne
- Potato Chips – Roxann'es Real Fat
- Ricardo & Chocolate Boogie – Do It Ricardo (Roxanne’s Man)
- Rocksann – She Died
- The Invasions – Roxanne’s Dis
- The Invasions – Roxanne’s Man
- The Overnite Bandits – Roxanne’s Baby
- Zelee ft. Osé – No More Roxanne (Roxanne No More)
- Toddy Tee – Rockman, Rockman
- Starrlite – Watch Out Roxanne
Isolated callouts in assorted songs that didn’t focus entirely on the topic:
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 3.Roxanne, Roxanne
- 5.Lisa Lips
- 6.Hanging Out
- 7.Bite It
Credits
Produced By
Written By
Mastered by
Vocals By
Engineer
Release Date
December 31, 1983
Songs That Sample Roxanne, Roxanne
Mind Blowin' (Remix) by The D.O.C., No More Roxanne (Roxanne No More) by Zelee (Ft. Marvin Floyd), Where Are They Now (80's Remix) by Nas (Ft. Dana Dane, The Fearless Four, Funky 4 + 1, Grandmaster Caz, Just-Ice (Rap), Kool Moe Dee, Lin Que, MC Shan, Pebblee Poo, Rahiem (Furious Five) & UTFO), D.J. K La Boss by EPMD, Leader of the Pack by UTFO, Roxanne ('97 Puff Daddy Remix) by The Police (Ft. Diddy & Pras), (Version: Whisper: Courage) by Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, Walking Through by Ted Leo and The Pharmacists, The Real Roxanne by The Real Roxanne (Ft. UTFO), Mack 10, Mack 10 by Mack 10 (Ft. AllFrumTha I & The Comrads), Roxanne's Revenge by Roxanne Shanté & Urban Sound Surgeon by 4-Ever Fresh
Songs That Interpolate Roxanne, Roxanne
Sweet Susanne by Ronnie Gee, The Saga of Roxanne (It's Fresh) by Korner Boyz, Rockman, Rockman by Toddy Tee, Sparky’s Turn (Roxanne, You’re Through) by Sparky D, Roxanne's Doctor — The Real Man by Dr. Freshh, Do The Roxanne (Dance) by Doctor Rocx And Co., I'm Little Roxanne by Tanganyika, Yo, My Little Sister (Roxanne’s Brother) by Crush Groove, Roxy (Roxanne's Sister) by D.W. & The Party Crew, The Final Word - No More Roxanne (Please) by The East Coast Crew, Roxanne Is A Man by Anthony (80s rap), Roxanne (Is My Girl) by G-Mann (Albert Green), Do It Ricardo (Roxanne's Man) by Ricardo & Chocolate Boogie, She Died by Rocksann, Roxanne's Dis by The Invasions, Roxanne’s Man by The Invasions, Roxann’es Baby by The Overnite Bandits, Blowfly Meets Roxanne by Blowfly, Roxann'es Real Fat (Vocal) by The Potato Chips, If U Can't Dance (Slide) by Will Smith (Ft. Nicole Scherzinger), Twin City Rapp (A True Story) by Twin City Rappers, The Parents of Roxanne by Lacey Lace (Ft. Gigolo Tony), Roxanne’s a Man (The Untold Story—Final Chapter) by Ralph Rolle, Nuthin' But Music by Krayzie Bone & Funky Fresh Dressed by Missy Elliott (Ft. Ms. Jade)
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