Blondy

Artist Bio:

Grocery store worker and high school cheerleader turned pioneering hip-hop vocalist who helped lay the foundation for female emcees as a founding member of rap trio The Sequence; teamed with Cheryl “The Pearl” Cook and Angie B (Angela Brown) to form the first all-female group signed to the legendary Sugar Hill Records; the group’s debut “Funk You Up” (R&B #15, 1979) was the first rap single released by a female group and a foundational track in the genre’s history; continued to bridge the gap between disco, funk, and nascent hip-hop on tracks like “Funky Sound (Tear the Roof Off)” (R&B #39, 1981) and “I Don’t Need Your Love (Part One)” (R&B #40, 1981); disbanded in the late-80s but remained active in the background as a concert producer and artist manager, including as Stone’s personal assistant; died in a hospital from septic shock after a brief illness on 4/6/2026, age 66.

Artist Website:

Wiki:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sequence

Obituary Link:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/19/arts/music/gwendolyn-chisolm-who-rhymed-on-raps-first-female-hit-dies-at-66.html