The community spent the weekend honoring Brownsville, Brooklyn legend MC Sparky D (Doreen Broadnax), who passed away.
The full story: Peers like DJ Premier spent the weekend paying tribute to her foundational legacy as one of the genre’s earliest prominent female battle rappers. Sparky D broke through in the 1980s with “Sparky’s Turn (Roxanne, You’re Through)” — her answer to UTFO’s “Roxanne, Roxanne” — becoming a key voice in the Roxanne Wars.
Premier posted: “Rest in Power to the Queen. She paved the way.” Fans and historians noted her influence on battle rap and women in hip-hop. She was 56.
