Sparky D
Birth nameDoreen C. Broadnax
Also known as
  • Sparky Dee[1][2]
  • MC Sparky Dee
  • MC Sparky D
Born (1965-06-02) June 2, 1965[3]
Brooklyn, New York City, New York City
GenresHip–Hop
Occupation(s)Emcee
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1983–1990
2015–present
Labels

Doreen C. Broadnax, known professionally as Sparky D, or spelled Sparky Dee[2][1] (born June 2,[3] 1965) is an American hip–hop musician and rapper. Broadnax is noted as one of the first female battle rappers, first gaining attention through the Roxanne Wars; when she responded to Roxanne Shante's "Roxanne's Revenge" with "Sparky's Turn (Roxanne, You're Through)" in 1985.[4]

Biography

Early life

Born in Brooklyn, Broadnax was born to a Caucasian mother and African-American father.[5] Broadnax was raised in the Van Dyke Housing Projects in the Brownsville neighborhood.[6][7]

Career

Broadnax began her music career around 1983 when she became a member of a local hip-hop group, The Playgirls. The group, which consisted of Lisa (whose stage name was City Slim) and Mona (whose stage name was Mo Ski) recruited Broadnax to join after listening to her rap at a local hangout. After joining the group, The Playgirls recorded "Our Picture of a Man" for Sutra Records in 1983; later released in 1984.[7] During her time with the group, Broadnax was introduced to rapper and music producer Spyder D.[8]

In 1984, 14-year-old rapper Roxanne Shante released "Roxanne's Revenge," a response to U.T.F.O.'s record "Roxanne, Roxanne," a song about a woman who would not respond to their advances.[9] After listening to Shante's song on WBLS' Mr. Magic's Rap Attack on New Year's Eve 1985,[10] Spyder-D decided that Broadnax would respond to Shante's record the following day. Taking offense to Shante's attack on a fellow Brooklyn crew, Broadnax responded with "Sparky's Turn (Roxanne You're Through)"[1] under the NIA Records label; It was produced by Spyder-D. The single sold more than 300,000 copies in days of its release, later becoming certified gold.[10]

This, in turn, kicked off the Roxanne Wars, is a well-known series of hip hop rivalries during the mid–1980s, yielding perhaps the most answer records in history.[2] In 1985, capitalizing off the success of both records, Roxanne Shante and Broadnax released "Round One, Roxanne Shanté vs Sparky Dee" on Spin Records which included a battle track, in which the two rappers freestyle and diss each other.[10] In subsequent years, Broadnax released a few tracks including d "He’s My DJ" b/w "She’s So Def" with Kool DJ Red Alert in 1985 and "Throwdown" in 1987.[7] The year 1988 saw the release of her first full-length album on B-Boy Records, This is Sparky D's World.[7] Broadnax continues to stay active in the hip hop community, working with various old school artists on hip hop gospel records including MC Shy D, Spyder D, Roxanne Shante, Kool DJ Red Alert and K Wiz.[6][11][1]

Personal life

Broadnax has stated in interviews that she was a victim of domestic abuse, struggled with a crack cocaine addiction and was involved in prostitution sometime after the height of her career.[5] In 2017, Broadnax was portrayed by Cheryse Dyllan in Netflix film Roxanne, Roxanne, a biopic about the life of Roxanne Shante.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Issues in African American Music: Power, Gender, Race, Representation – edited by Portia K. Maultsby, Mellonee V. Burnim
  2. 1 2 3 SPIN – Oct 1988
  3. 1 2 Broadnax, Doreen "Sparky D". "Thank you guys. 6/2". Instagram.com. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  4. ↑ Clover, Hope (April 2, 2021). "Women made early hip-hop what it is today — here are the unsung rappers you should know about". Insider. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
  5. 1 2 SPARKY D AND DJ C BOOGIE INTERVIEW WOMEN OF HIP HOP
  6. 1 2 "FRESH, BOLD, & SO DEF – SPARKY D was born Doreen Broadnax in Brooklyn, New..." FRESH, BOLD, & SO DEF. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Sparky D Biography | OldSchoolHipHop.Com". www.oldschoolhiphop.com. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  8. ↑ SPARKY D: HER CAREER IN HIP HOP, RAP BATTLES, ROXANNE SHANTE, HIP HOP HONORS, BET AWARDS & NEW BOOK
  9. ↑ "Roxanne Shante Biography | OldSchoolHipHop.Com". www.oldschoolhiphop.com. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 Skillz, Mark (2013). So You Wanna Be A Rapper: The Trials, Tribulations and Triumphs of Spyder D. BookBaby.
  11. ↑ Icons of Hip Hop: An Encyclopedia of the Movement, Music, and Culture edited by Mickey Hess
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