AceShowbiz - Gwendolyn Chisolm, known as "Blondy," the cofounder of the groundbreaking female hip-hop trio The Sequence, passed away at age 66 on Monday, April 6, in Atlanta after a brief illness.

The Sequence was formed by Chisolm alongside Cheryl "The Pearl" Cook and the late Angela "Angie B" Brown, who was also known as Angie Stone. The trio was a pioneering force in hip-hop, especially as the first female hip-hop act signed to Sugar Hill Records.

Monica Scott, Chisolm’s sister, spoke on behalf of the family, saying, "My sister gave a lot of herself to the music industry. Everyone knows her famous lyrics and melodies, which continue to bring joy to millions of people." She described Chisolm as a "creative force who touched countless hearts."

Scott further honored her sister as "the star of our family," expressing the family’s heartbreak but also their comfort in knowing that Chisolm’s spirit endures through her music. She encouraged fans to celebrate her legacy by playing her songs and remembering her as a passionate artist and a voice for a generation.

The Sequence is best remembered for their 1979 hit "Funk You Up," which was certified Gold and peaked at No. 15 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. This single holds historic significance as the first charting hit by a female hip-hop group. Its infectious, bass-heavy beat played an influential role in the development of hip-hop music.

Over the years, "Funk You Up" has been sampled and interpolated by numerous artists, including Dr. Dre in "Keep Their Heads Ringin'," En Vogue in "Whatever," and Erykah Badu in "Love of My Life Worldwide," which also featured Sequence member Angela Brown. More recently, Katy Perry used elements of the song in a commercial titled "Did Somebody Say" for a food delivery service.

The formation of The Sequence began when Chisolm teamed up with her high school friends Cook and Stone at C.A. Johnson High School. Their big break came in 1979 backstage at a Sugarhill Gang concert, where they performed an impromptu audition for Sugar Hill Records CEO Sylvia Robinson. Robinson signed the group and produced "Funk You Up," which was penned by the trio themselves.

Before disbanding in 1985, The Sequence released two additional singles: "Funky Sound (Tear the Roof Off)" and "I Don't Need Your Love (Part One)," which reached No. 39 and No. 40, respectively, on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The group also recorded three studio albums: Sugar Hill Presents The Sequence (1980), The Sequence (1982), and The Sequence Party (1983).

After the group parted ways, Chisolm remained active in the music industry. She collaborated with both established and emerging artists, booked and produced shows, and continued writing and recording music. Notably, she reunited with Cook in 2011 for the song "On Our Way to the Movies."

Following the death of Angela Brown in 2025, Chisolm worked closely with Tyler Perry to arrange Brown’s memorial and funeral services, underscoring her enduring commitment to her bandmates and their legacy.

Having moved from Charlotte, North Carolina, to Atlanta, Chisolm also dedicated time to educating students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) about hip-hop’s cultural impact and the music business. At the time of her passing, she was in the process of completing her memoir and collaborating with Nashville’s National Museum of African American Music on a permanent exhibit celebrating The Sequence's significant contribution to hip-hop history.

A private memorial service for Chisolm will be held at a later date, honoring her life, artistry, and lasting influence on music and culture.