Rap Pioneer Blondy of The Sequence Dies at 66

Gwendolyn Chisolm, a groundbreaking artist known as Blondy and a founding member of the pioneering rap group The Sequence, died on April 6 in Atlanta at the age of 66. The Sequence achieved significant commercial success with their 1979 hit "Funk You Up," a song that became the first gold record for a female rap act. This achievement predated the rise of other prominent female rappers like Salt-N-Pepa and Queen Latifah by several years. The group originated from Columbia, South Carolina, with its members having been high school cheerleaders together. Their unexpected success came shortly after the release of the Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight," establishing hip-hop as a commercial genre. The Sequence released two more Top 40 R&B singles before disbanding in 1985 due to royalty disputes with their label. Following the group's dissolution, Chisolm remained active in the music industry. The Sequence's legacy endures through numerous samples of their music by contemporary artists, solidifying their status as innovators.