Hip-hop legend MC Sha-Rock, widely recognised as the first female MC and one of the Hip hop culture’s founding voices, will add another milestone to her remarkable career this fall when she is inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame as a member of its Class of 2026. The induction ceremony is set to take place on October 15 at the Charles Mack Citizen Center in Mooresville, North Carolina.
Born Sharon Green Jackson in Wilmington, North Carolina, MC Sha-Rock became a pioneering force in hip-hop as a founding member of The Funky 4 + 1 More. The group made history in 1981 as the first hip-hop act to perform on national television during an appearance on Saturday Night Live, helping introduce the emerging genre to audiences across America. Her innovative microphone technique, lyrical delivery and commanding stage presence set the standard for generations of MCs who followed.
While the Hall of Fame induction celebrates her remarkable contributions to music, Sha-Rock’s influence continues well beyond the stage.
Since joining Bowie State University in 2022, Sha-Rock has served as an adjunct professor, Resident MC and Hip-Hop Historian in the Department of Fine and Performing Arts. There, she teaches in the university’s Hip-Hop Studies and Visual Culture program, mentoring students through the history, artistry and cultural significance of hip-hop from the perspective of someone who helped create it.
In her own words “My induction into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame is more than a personal honor,” Sha-Rock said. “It is recognition of a history that helped shape a culture heard and felt around the world. As the first female MC of hip-hop culture, I have dedicated my life to preserving the truth about our beginnings and ensuring that the pioneers who built this movement are never forgotten.”
Faculty at Bowie State say her presence has transformed the program by giving students direct access to one of hip-hop’s original architects. Rather than studying the culture solely through books and recordings, students learn firsthand from a pioneer whose career spans nearly five decades.
Her induction into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame not only recognizes her groundbreaking achievements as an artist but also acknowledges her ongoing commitment to preserving hip-hop’s legacy through education. As both a performer and professor, MC Sha-Rock continues to ensure that the history of hip-hop is celebrated, documented and passed on to future generations.
Salute MC Sha-Rock on this great achievement. We salute you and your work and contribution to Hip-hop culture over the years.
