One of hip-hop's pioneers discusses her journey from the Queensbridge Projects in New York to becoming an iconic emcee. Roxanne Shante opens up on "Salon Talks" about why she's now ready to tell her story, which is filled with adversity and pain. Shante's life story takes center stage in the new Netflix biopic, "Roxanne Roxanne," which debuts March 23.

"There comes a time and a place where your story needs to be told, especially if you are going to be in a position to assist others," Shante told Salon's D. Watkins. "It was also therapeutic because of all things I went through and being able to look back at the film and say you know what, I survived that, I'm a survivor."