\n<\/p>\n
\n\tGwendolyn \u201cBlondy\u201d Chisolm, the rapper and singer-songwriter who co-founded the Sequence<\/a>, has died, Rolling Stone<\/em> has confirmed. She was 66.<\/p>\n \n\tChisolm formed the hip-hip group with Cheryl \u201cThe Pearl\u201d Cook and Angie Stone in 1979 and quickly scored a hit with \u201cFunk You Up.\u201d (Stone died in March 2025 <\/a>at the age of 63 following a car accident). As Billboard<\/a><\/em> reports, Chisolm endured a brief illness prior to her death on Monday, April 6.<\/p>\n \n\t\u201cMy sister gave a lot of herself to the music industry,\u201d Chisolm\u2019s sister Monica Scott said in a statement shared with the publication on behalf of the Chisolm and Scott families. \u201cEveryone knows her famous lyrics and melodies, which continue to bring joy to millions of people. She was a creative force who touched countless hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tRaised in Columbia, South Carolina, Chisolm grew up with her group mates and attended C.A. Johnson High School, where they were all cheerleaders. As teenagers, the extracurricular activity gave them the cheers that became the basis for their music. \u201c\u2018Funk You Up\u2019 comes from a cheer,\u201d Chisolm told Rolling Stone <\/a><\/em>in 2017. \u201c\u2018Funk You Up\u2019 was [sings]: \u2018We\u2019re gonna blow you, right on out. We\u2019re gonna blow you right on out.\u2019\u201d Chisolm also sang with Stone in their church choir.<\/p>\n \n\tThe Sequence became the first female hip-hop act to sign with Sugar Hill Records and released three albums before disbanding in 1985. \u201cFunk You Up\u201d was notably interpolated by Dr. Dreon \u201cKeep Their Heads Ringin\u2019\u201d and influenced Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars\u2019 \u201cUptown Funk.\u201d <\/p>\n \n\tThe trio made their way to the label after finding a way backstage at a Sugarhill Gang concert. Chisolm had received the tickets from her boss at the Super Saver she worked at, but had to defy her mother\u2019s wishes in order to attend. \u201c[My mom] said, \u2018If you walk out this door, don\u2019t you ever come back,’\u201d she said. \u201cI never went back.\u201d After all of that, the tickets weren\u2019t waiting at the box office like she believed they would be when she got there. <\/p>\n