Gwendolyn "Blondy" Chisolm, a cofounder of the pioneering female hip-hop trio The Sequence, has passed away at the age of 66.

Chisolm, who formed the group with Cheryl "The Pearl" Cook and the late Angela "Angie B" Brown, succumbed to a brief illness on Monday, April 6, in Atlanta.

Her sister, Monica Scott, issued a heartfelt statement on behalf of the Chisolm and Scott families, remembering Gwendolyn as a creative force.

Scott emphasized Blondy's significant contributions to the music industry, noting that her iconic lyrics and melodies continue to bring joy to millions.

She added, "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."

The Sequence holds a significant place in music history, recognized as the first female hip-hop act and the first such group to sign with the legendary Sugar Hill Records.

Their groundbreaking 1979 Gold-certified hit, "Funk You Up," propelled them to fame, and this single peaked at No. 15 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, making history as the first chart hit released by a female hip-hop group.

"Funk You Up," with its distinctive bass-thumping, body-bopping beat, was instrumental in shaping hip-hop's early evolution.

Its enduring appeal is evident in its continued influence, having been sampled by renowned artists like Dr. Dre for "Keep Their Heads Ringin'," En Vogue for "Whatever," and Erykah Badu for "Love of My Life Worldwide."

Pop superstar Katy Perry even interpolated the song in a commercial for a food delivery service, demonstrating its lasting cultural resonance.

The creative spark for The Sequence ignited when Chisolm, Cook, and Brown, all friends from C.A. Johnson High School, teamed up.

Their big break came in 1979 when they performed an impromptu audition for Sugar Hill Records CEO Sylvia Robinson backstage at a Sugarhill Gang concert, and impressed, Robinson promptly signed them to the label and went on to produce their self-penned hit, "Funk You Up."

Before disbanding in 1985, The Sequence continued to make their mark with two additional singles charting on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs list: "Funky Sound (Tear the Roof Off)," which reached No. 39, and "I Don't Need Your Love (Part One)," peaking at No. 40.

The trio also released three albums: Sugar Hill Presents The Sequence (1980), The Sequence (1982), and The Sequence Party (1983).

Even after The Sequence, Chisolm remained deeply involved in the music industry, collaborating with both established and emerging artists, dedicated her time to booking and producing shows, and continued to write and record her own music.

Notably, she released the song "On Our Way to the Movies" in 2011 with fellow Sequence member Cheryl Cook.

Relocating from Charlotte, N.C., to Atlanta, Chisolm passionately engaged with students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), sharing insights into hip-hop's profound influence and the intricacies of the music business.

At the time of her passing, she was diligently working on completing her memoir and collaborating with Nashville's National Museum of African American Music to establish a permanent exhibit dedicated to preserving The Sequence's iconic legacy.

A private memorial service is planned for a future date to honor her memory.