Gwendolyn “Blondy” Chisolm, Pioneering Member of The Sequence, Dies at 66

By:Mollie Dominy

Gwendolyn “Blondy” Chisolm helped shape the earliest era of recorded hip‑hop alongside Cheryl “The Pearl” Cook and the late Angela “Angie B” Brown (known today as Angie Stone). Together, The Sequence became the first female hip‑hop act and the first women signed to Sugar Hill Records, carving out space in a genre that was still defining itself.

Her sister, Monica Scott, shared a statement on behalf of the Chisolm and Scott families, remembering Blondy as both an artist and a force of nature.

“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,” Scott said. “She was a creative force who touched countless hearts.”

Scott added that Chisolm was “the star of our family,” and spoke to the grief of losing her while also celebrating the legacy she leaves behind.

“We’re heartbroken right now. But we take comfort in knowing that her beautiful spirit lives on through the songs she shared with the world. We hope the world will remember her as a passionate artist and a voice for a generation. You can honor her memory by turning up her music.”

A Legacy That Helped Shape Hip‑Hop

The Sequence pose confidently against a white background. They wear black outfits, with one in a leather jacket and another in a hat, all holding up one finger.
Image of The Sequence, Courtesy of Sugar Hill

The Sequence made history with their 1979 hit “Funk You Up,” the first charting single by a female hip‑hop group and a Gold‑certified track that helped define the sound of early rap. Its bass‑heavy groove and chant‑driven hook became a cornerstone of the genre, later sampled by Dr. Dre (“Keep Their Heads Ringin’”), En Vogue (“Whatever”), and Erykah Badu (“Love of My Life Worldwide”), among others. Even Katy Perry interpolated it in a commercial decades later — proof of its staying power.

The group’s origin story is the kind of hip‑hop lore that feels almost mythic now: three high‑school friends from Columbia, South Carolina, landing an impromptu backstage audition for Sugar Hill Records CEO Sylvia Robinson at a 1979 Sugarhill Gang show. Robinson signed them on the spot and produced “Funk You Up,” launching The Sequence into the history books.

Before disbanding in 1985, the trio released three albums and charted additional singles, including “Funky Sound (Tear the Roof Off)” and “I Don’t Need Your Love (Part One).”

A Lifelong Creative Force

“Simon Says” by The Sequence, Courtesy of Sugarhill Records

Chisolm never stepped away from music. She continued writing, recording, producing, and collaborating with both established and emerging artists. She reunited with Cheryl Cook in 2011 for “On Our Way to the Movies,” and after Angie Stone’s passing in 2025, Chisolm worked closely with Tyler Perry to help arrange her memorial and funeral services.

She also poured her time into education, speaking at HBCUs about hip‑hop’s cultural impact and the realities of the music business. At the time of her death, she was completing her memoir and working with the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville on a permanent exhibit honoring The Sequence’s legacy.

Remembering Blondy

Gwendolyn Chisolm’s contributions to hip‑hop are woven into the genre’s foundation — not just through the music she made, but through the doors she helped open. Her work continues to echo through decades of artists who sampled, studied, or simply grew up loving the sound she helped create.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Mollie is an article writer and editor for Total Apex Gaming. She's loved playing and talking about games since she played her first game, Mortal Kombat, much to the dismay of those around her. She loves all forms of video games and uses her research skills to find out about every game she sees so that fangirling can commence.