MC Sparky D, one of the earliest female battle rappers and a key figure in hip-hop’s formative years, has died at the age of 61.
Born Doreen C. Broadnax, the Brooklyn artist helped shape battle rap in the 1980s and became widely known for her role in the Roxanne Wars, one of the genre’s first major rivalries. Her death was confirmed by multiple music outlets. A cause of death has not been announced.
Sparky D rose to national attention with her 1985 track “Sparky’s Turn (Roxanne You’re Through)”, a response to Roxanne Shanté. The song became one of the most notable releases in the Roxanne Wars, a series of diss tracks that helped establish battle rap as a central part of hip-hop culture.
At the height of the rivalry, Sparky D and Roxanne Shanté performed on the same stages, often wearing boxing gloves to emphasise the competitive nature of their exchanges. They later collaborated on “Round 1” in 1985, turning their feud into a historic partnership.
Before her solo success, Sparky D was part of the all-female group The Playgirls. She went on to release several tracks during the 1980s, including “He’s My DJ” with Kool DJ Red Alert, which further expanded her reach in the hip-hop scene.
In 1988, she released her debut album, This Is Sparky D’s World, which featured a mix of battle rap energy and mainstream appeal. The project remains one of her most recognised works.
Beyond her early success, Sparky D continued to record music and later transitioned into gospel rap. After moving to Atlanta in 2004, she founded Treasure Ministries and focused on faith-based projects. Her song “This Is for the Church” earned her a Gospel Choice Award in 2007.
Tributes have been shared across the hip-hop community following news of her death. Producer DJ Premier praised her “relentless voice and delivery,” while Nas had previously acknowledged her influence in their collaborative track “BOUQUET.”
MC Sparky D is widely regarded as a pioneer who helped open doors for women in rap. Her work during the Roxanne Wars and beyond remains an important part of hip-hop history.
