Who was Latasha Rogers?
Latasha Rogers, better known as MC Trouble, was a rap artist and the first female rapper signed to Motown Records. She was born on July 30, 1970, in Los Angeles, California. She started rapping at the age of 14 and joined a group called The Mighty Rockers. She later became a solo artist and caught the attention of Motown Records, who signed her in 1990.
MC Trouble released her debut album, Gotta Get a Grip, in 1990, which featured the hit single “(I Wanna) Make You Mine” with R&B group The Good Girls. The song reached number 15 on the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart. MC Trouble also appeared on the House Party 2 soundtrack with the song “Big Ol’ Jazz”, which became her second and final charting single.
MC Trouble was known for her aggressive and witty lyrics, as well as her singing and dancing skills. She was influenced by artists like Run-DMC, LL Cool J, Salt-N-Pepa, and Queen Latifah. She was also praised by her peers and fans for her talent and charisma.
How did Latasha Rogers die?
Latasha Rogers died on June 4, 1991, at the age of 20. She had a history of epilepsy and required daily treatment to prevent seizures. She was also diagnosed with a brain tumor, which she kept secret from most people. She was working on her second album when she died in her sleep at a friend’s house in Los Angeles. According to an autopsy report, she suffered a self-inflicted intraoral shotgun wound, which resulted in heart failure. The report also stated that she had no drugs in her system at the time of her death.
Latasha Rogers’ death shocked and saddened the hip hop community, who paid tribute to her in various ways. Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest mentioned her in the song “Vibes and Stuff” from their album The Low End Theory. Nefertiti dedicated her song “Trouble in Paradise” to MC Trouble. Boyz II Men dedicated the video for their song “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday” to MC Trouble. Many other artists and fans expressed their condolences and respect for MC Trouble.
Latasha Rogers was buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Los Angeles. Her tombstone incorrectly lists 1992 as the year of her death.
What is MC Trouble’s legacy?
MC Trouble is remembered as one of the pioneers of female rap and one of the first female artists to sign with Motown Records. She paved the way for other female rappers to follow and inspired many generations of hip hop fans. She is also regarded as one of the most talented and underrated rappers of her time.
MC Trouble’s music and personality have been celebrated and honored by various media outlets and organizations. In 2008, she was inducted into the Hip Hop Hall of Fame. In 2010, she was featured in the documentary My Mic Sounds Nice: A Truth About Women in Hip Hop. In 2016, she was honored by the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN) at their annual awards ceremony.
MC Trouble’s life and career were cut short by a tragic illness, but her spirit and legacy live on through her music and her fans. She was a rap star who made history and left a mark on the hip hop culture. She was MC Trouble, and she had no trouble making her voice heard.
