Madonna Talks About Being Raped at Knife Point While Living in New York City

Madonna's style, music and influence have shaped pop music for the last three decades. A fearless and rebellious artist, the 55-year-old icon has never been afraid to push the envelope. However, before she began topping the charts in the 80's she endured a rough start in her journey to stardom.

In the cover story essay of the November issue of Harper's Bazaar the pop legend revisits her rough beginnings. After dropping out of college in 1978, she moved to New York City where she was mugged, robbed and raped.

"New York wasn't everything I thought it would be. It did not welcome me with open arms. The first year, I was held up at gunpoint. Raped on the roof of a building I was dragged up to with a knife in my back," writes Madonna, who adds that she "had my apartment broken into three times. I don't know why; I had nothing of value after they took my radio the first time."

After several very lean years, she signed a deal with Sire Records in 1982, with her debut single, "Everybody," coming out that October. The original Material Girl writes of her first few years of fame: "When you're 25, it's a little bit easier to be daring, especially if you are a pop star, because eccentric behavior is expected from you."

Now a mother of four -- biological kids Lourdes and Rocco, and adopted children David and Mercy -- she reveals in Harper's Bazaar that her decision to adopt son David Banda in Malawi was "an eye opening experience" and "a real low point in my life."

"I didn't know that trying to adopt a child was going to land me in another sh-- storm," she says. "I was accused of kidnapping, child trafficking, using my celebrity muscle to jump ahead in the line, bribing government officials, witchcraft, you name it."

The "Vogue" singer continues: "I could get my head around people giving me a hard time for simulating masturbation onstage or publishing my Sex book, even kissing Britney Spears at an awards show, but trying to save a child's life was not something I thought I would be punished for. . . In any case, I got through it. I survived."

"One of the many things I learned from all of this," she concludes of the ordeal. "If you aren't willing to fight for what you believe in, then don't even enter the ring."