Roxanne Shanté's Netflix Biopic Trailer Gives Due Respect

Roxanne Shanté became a battle rap star at 14 years old and proceeded to have a career that’s been largely under-appreciated. The trailer for her Netflix biopic, Roxanne Roxanne, stars Chanté Adams as Roxanne, a then-teenager wading into the rap industry with a classic diss track, “Roxanne’s Revenge,” but without a major record deal. Nia Long plays what looks to be a fiercely stern role as Chanté’s mother Peggy Gooden, who’s concerned about her daughter growing up too fast. And Mahershala Ali (and that smile) reenters our lives, as young Roxanne’s boyfriend Cross.

Written and directed by Michael Larnell, the movie screened at last year’s Sundance, where Adams won the Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Performance (the role was her first-ever audition out of school). The movie hits Netflix on March 23, produced by the team behind Fruitvale Station and Dope.