Say My Name Response

Ilene Lee
English 1B
27 August 2009
Tuesday-Thursday

“Say My Name” is an independent film about the lives of female Hip-hop artists that went through the struggle of finding respect in the entertainment industry. The intertwining stories of each individual artist captured the essence of a women’s struggle to fulfill her dream as a rap artist and to earn the respect she deserves. Women who shared their stories provided a glimpse into the ups and downs of their lives and ultimately the success they achieved despite the male-dominating scene in the Hip-hop business. These women stood tall with their talent and demanded the spotlight on them – demanded the attention and respect they wanted.

In the film, Roxane Shante portrayed her story as an overnight sensation. She grew up not very rich and learned about the hardships a young girl needed to face as an upcoming Hip-hop artist. She wanted to share her story and express the truths of her life- the personal experiences and emotions that she was dealing with. Drugs, violence and preganancy were just a few of the struggles she had to face. Although she experienced peer pressure, she dedicated most of her efforts in rapping. At a young age, she had talent as a rapper. She did not let anything hold her back and rapped with passion to fulfill her dreams. Fame was inevitable with her vocal lyrics. When she shared her success with others, some did not respond with the same enthusiasm-a man beat her and brutally punched her out of envy. Despite the hardships she faced, she turned her experiences into motivation and beautiful lyrics that shared a part of her life.

Say My Name. Dir. MAMAMESS. 2009.