In Memoriam
Honoring the women whose voices, vision, and presence helped shape the culture.
The history of Hip-Hop is paved with the courage, lyricism, and unapologetic power of women who rose against the tide. This space is a dedicated space where we celebrate the eternal resonance of the queens who have transitioned but whose flows remain immortal.
MC Trouble
1970–1991
The first female rapper signed to Motown, MC Trouble was known for Gotta Get a Grip and bringing a sharp West Coast voice to early ’90s rap. She died in 1991 after an epileptic seizure connected to complications from a brain tumor.
Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes
1971–2002
Left Eye was the rapper, writer, and creative spark of TLC. She died in 2002 from injuries sustained in a car crash in Honduras Honduras.
GANGSTA BOO
1979–2023
A Memphis rap icon and former Three 6 Mafia member, Gangsta Boo helped define Southern female rap with fearless delivery and street authority. She died in 2023 from an accidental overdose.
MS. MELODIE
1969–2012
A Brooklyn MC tied to Boogie Down Productions and the Stop the Violence Movement, Ms. Melodie was known for her 1989 album Diva. Her cause of death was not publicly confirmed, though reports said she passed away in her sleep in 2012.
MAGNOLIA SHORTY
1982–2010
A New Orleans bounce pioneer and early Cash Money Records signee, Magnolia Shorty was known for her raw bounce energy and local legend status. She was shot and killed in New Orleans in 2010.
Natina Reed
1980–2012
A rapper, singer, actress, and member of Blaque, Natina Reed brought hip-hop attitude to the group’s R&B/pop sound. She died in 2012 after being struck by a car in Georgia.
Hurricane G
1970–2022
A Brooklyn-born Nuyorican rapper, Hurricane G was known for bilingual East Coast rhymes and her single “Somebody Else.” She died in 2022 after a battle with lung cancer, according to public family and music-industry reports.
Bo$$
1969–2024
One of Def Jam West’s first major female rappers, Bo$$ was known for her 1993 album Born Gangstaz and hard-edged gangsta rap style. She died in 2024 from kidney failure after years of renal disease.
Enchanting
1997–2024
A Texas-raised rapper and singer signed to Gucci Mane’s 1017, Enchanting was known for blending trap, R&B melody, and street-centered vulnerability. She died in 2024 from an accidental overdose.
Bloody Mary /
Nini X
1970 – 2006
Bloody Mary was known as the only female member of the Bloods & Crips rap project and for her solo album She’s Dangerous. She died from injuries after a motorcycle crash.
Special One
1967 – 2011
“Special One” was one half of The Conscious Daughters, known for Bay Area classics like “Somethin’ to Ride To (Fonky Expedition).” She died from complications associated with blood clots.
Overweight Pooch
1970–2021
Overweight Pooch was known for her 1991 album Female Preacher and the club-charting single “I Like It” featuring CeCe Peniston. Her public obituary confirms she died in 2021, but a reliable public cause of death is not clearly documented.
DJ Pam The Funkstress
1966–2017
Pam Warren was a Bay Area DJ known for her work with The Coup and later as Prince’s DJ, “Purple Pam.” She died from organ failure after complications related to transplant surgery.
Blondy of The Sequence
1959–2026
Gwendolyn “Blondy” Chisolm co-founded The Sequence, one of the first all-female hip-hop groups, best known for “Funk You Up.” She died after a brief illness.
Boog The Bandit
1994–2021
Boog The Bandit was an emerging Columbus rapper known for “Lonely,” “Heart Away,” and “Risky.” She was shot and killed during an attempted robbery.
Chynna
1994–2020
A Philadelphia rapper and A$AP Mob affiliate, Chynna was known for moody alternative hip-hop, “Glen Coco,” and brutally honest writing. She died in 2020 from an accidental drug overdose.
Lexii Alijai
1998–2020
A Saint Paul rapper and songwriter, Lexii Alijai was known for emotional lyricism, Growing Pains, and her feature on Kehlani’s “Jealous.” She died in 2020 from mixed fentanyl and alcohol toxicity.
Princess Loko
1979–2020
Princess Loko was a Memphis underground rap figure and Ten Wanted Men member, known for her fast flow. She died in 2020 from complications of congestive heart failure.
Samantha Lawrence / TY Tim
1969–2024
One half of the U.K. duo Wee Papa Girl Rappers, Samantha Lawrence helped bring women’s rap into the British charts with “Wee Rule.” She died in 2024 after a secondary cancer diagnosis.
Angie Stone
1961–2025
Best known as a soul singer, Angie Stone also belongs to hip-hop history as Angie B of The Sequence, one of the first recorded women’s rap groups. She died in 2025 in a highway crash in Alabama.
Petty Levels
2000–2024
Petty Levels was known for her viral personality, social media presence, and songs like “Ain’t It” and “Malibu.” She passed away in Tampa, Florida, leaving behind a growing legacy and a devoted online following.
Sparky D
1965–2026
Sparky D, born Doreen C. Broadnax, was a Brooklyn MC and hip-hop pioneer remembered as one of the first prominent female battle rappers.
HONOR THE LEGACY
We invite you to share your memories of these women and help us keep the archive accurate and growing by submitting a correction, name and story of a woman whose impact on the culture deserves to be forever remembered in this memorial space.