Robin Yvette Allen (born June 11, 1968), better known by her stage
name The Lady of Rage, is an American rapper and actress best known
for collaborations with several Death Row Records artists, including
Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg on the seminal albums The Chronic
and Doggystyle. She is considered "one of the most skillful
female MCs" with a "mastery of flow" and "hard-core
lyrics".
In the summer of 1988, the lady of rage met Shahkim of the Original
Outlaw Brothers. An upstart rap group from East Elmhurst/Corona Queens
New York. From the moment Shahkim heard her rap he was convinced
she was the best female rapper around and after convincing her he
could get her a record deal, he brought her to his group. The members
of the Outlaw Brothers made Rage a member of the group and they eventually
were signed to a production deal with the L.A. Posse ( who went on
to produce several big hits for LL Cool J). At the time, the LA Posses
had several artist in the camp. MC Breeze, The Real Roxanne, and
they also had several relationships with different labels. Rage,
along with all the artists in the camp worked diligently out of Chung
King Studios in lower Manhattan recording , writing and more recording.
In 1991, Lady of Rage met with Chubb Rock, providing vocals for his
track, "Bring Em Home Safe" on his The One album, which
she recorded under the name of 'Rockin’ Robin'.[3]
Dr. Dre then discovered her after the L.A.Posse were letting him
listen to some of the tracks on their album and the vocals she recorded
for the L.A. Posse's They Come in All Colors in 1991.[4] She appeared
on several tracks from Dr. Dre's 1992 classic The Chronic album,
and on Snoop Doggy Dogg's Doggystyle in 1993.[5]
In 1994, she had a hit single with "Afro Puffs" (from
the soundtrack to Above the Rim) which reached #5 on the Billboard
Hot Rap Singles chart.[6] Her debut solo album, Necessary Roughness,
was released in June 1997 and peaked at #7 on the Billboard R&B
Album chart and 32 on the Billboard 200 Albums chart.[7] Her solo
album was originally called Eargasm and was continually pushed back
- it was meant to have been the next album on Death Row Records after
The Chronic, and then after Doggystyle, before finally being released
in 1997.[8]
After the release of her album and a guest-appearance with Gang
Starr alongside Kurupt ("You Know My Steez (Three Men and a
Lady Remix)") in 1998,[9] Rage left Death Row Records and the
music industry generally to focus on acting, appearing in an episode
of Kenan & Kel.[10] The Lady of Rage also went on to be featured
in several television sitcoms, most notably as Coretta Cox in the
very well received The Steve Harvey Show on The WB from 1996 to 2002
- she also had a small part in Next Friday as Baby D, little big
sister of Day Day's ex girlfriend.[11]
In 2000, she made another rapping appearance on Snoop Dogg's "Set
It Off" on his album Tha Last Meal, a solo track "Unfucwitable" on
Snoop Dogg Presents...Doggy Style Allstars Vol. 1 and "Batman & Robin",
which appeared on Snoop Dogg's Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss album.[12]
In 2007 she signed to Shante Broadus's label, Boss Lady Entertainment,
and recorded a street album called From VA 2 LA.[13] She also made
appearances on Bigg Snoop Dogg Presents…Welcome to tha Chuuch:
Da Album and Cali Iz Active.[14]
She is currently a part of the FEM (Females Earning Money) Movement
along with fellow female rappers Babs (of Da Band), Lady Luck, and
Amil.[15] In 2008, she performed with MC Lyte, Yo-Yo, and Salt-n-Pepa
at the BET Hip Hop Awards.[16] In the summer of 2010 she joined Snoop
Dogg during his headlining set at the Rock the Bells festival concert
series, along with Warren G, RBX and Tha Dogg Pound for a performance
of the classic Doggystyle album in its entirety.
[edit] Rapping technique
Lady of Rage describes much of her rapping technique in the book
How to Rap - she notes the importance of having a strong vocabulary,[17]
writing poetry,[18] having different styles of flow,[19] using 'rests',[20]
researching lyrics,[21] taking your time to write lyrics,[22] working
with producers,[23] doing guide vocals,[24] and her compound rhymes
in the track 'Unfucwitable' are broken down.[25]
[edit] Discography
1997 Necessary Roughness
Released: 1997
Label: Death Row / Interscope
2005 Va to La
Released: 2005
Label: Boss Lady Entertainment
2011 Verbal Abuse Released: 2011 TBC
Label: TBC
[edit] Filmography
The Steve Harvey Show
Kenan & Kel
Next Friday
Ride (film)