Ms. Melodie, the stage name of Ramona Parker (née Scott; March 21, 1969 – July 17, 2012), was an American emcee. She was associated with KRS-One's group Boogie Down Productions (BDP) and was for a time married to KRS-One.[3] She was described by Vibe as "one of the ladies who could sonically spar with the fellas, spit raw lyrics, rhyme from a female's perspective, and hold their own."[4]
Ms. Melodie | |
|---|---|
 Ms Melodie and KRS One in 1988 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ramona Scott[1] |
| Born | March 21, 1969[2] |
| Origin | Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | July 17, 2012 (aged 43) |
| Genres | hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | rapper |
| Years active | 1988–1992 |
| Labels | Jive/RCA Records |
Career
Scott participated in the 1989 "Self Destruction" piece created by the Stop the Violence Movement.[5] AllMusic said that her single, "Hype According to Ms. Melodie", featured an "aggressive style" and was "excellent".[6] Ms. Melodie and the rest of BDP appeared in the Keenen Ivory Wayans film I'm Gonna Git You Sucka.[6] Her only album, Diva, was released the following year by Jive/RCA Records and was largely produced by KRS-One, with contributions from Sam Sever and the Awesome 2's DJ Teddy Tedd.[6] The single "Wake Up, Wake Up" reached the Top 20 of Billboard's Hot Rap Singles chart; the music video to its follow-up single "Live on Stage" was a hit on video stations. She appeared in the music video for Queen Latifah's single "Ladies First".[7]
Discography
- Diva (1989)[8]
Personal life
Scott was raised in the Flatbush section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn.[6] She was the younger sister of former BDP member Harmony (Harmony, born Pamela (Scott) Pettway went on to sing gospel as a lead vocalist for Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir - winning six Grammy awards, the most of any gospel choir).[9]She was married to KRS One from 1987 to 1992.[3] She had two sons. Scott died on July 17, 2012, at the age of 43 of complications from an undisclosed illness.[10]