Hip-Hop Media TrainingThe Sequence: Best Soul Girl Groups Countdown
The Sequence made history as the first female rap group to release a record that achieved nationwide acclaim. Their 1979 song "Funk You Up" was the sister track "Rapper's Delight" by their labelmates The Sugarhill Gang. In an exclusive interview with Yahoo! Music, Angie Stone recalls the group's early days. "It was an amazing feeling with the likes of the underground hip-hop superstars from the Bronx like the Funk 4 Plus 1 More, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5, Kool DJ Herc, Busy B, Charlie Ahearn from the first hip-hop movie, 'Wild Style,' all of these things, I was actually there to walk the pavement, stay in the room, The T-Connection, The Disco Fever. I was actually there when it was ground breaking. "
Original Members: Angie Brown Stone (Angie B.), Cheryl Cook (Cheryl The Pearl) and Gwendolyn Chisolm (Blondie)
Hometown: Columbia, South Carolina
Founded: 1979
Biggest Hits: "Funk You Up," "Monster Jam" with Spoonie Gee, "And You Know That" and "Here Comes The Bride"
Style: Hip-hop, funk, R&B
Label: Sugar Hill Records
Bragging Rights: Their 1979 hit "Funk You Up" was the first song released by a female rap group. In 1995, Dr. Dre used elements of "Funk You Up" for his song "Keep Their Heads Ringin'" for the "Friday" soundtrack. In 2003, Erykah Badu united Angie Stone, Queen Latifah and Bahamadia for the song, "Funk You Up! (Love Of My Life Remix)." In 1988, Angie Stone formed the R&B group Vertical Hold and made her solo debut in 1999. Stone also has a son with R&B singer D'Angelo.
The Latest: In 2011, The Sequence reunited to record the song "On The Way To The Movies" that samples The Staple Singer's "Let's Do It Again." Angie Stone is scheduled to release a new album, "Rich Girl," on September 25.
