Doreen C. Broadnax, known by her stage name Sparky D, a pioneering figure in 1980s hip-hop who played a key role in one of the genre’s earliest and most influential rap battles, died on July 4 at the age of 61, her family announced on social media. The cause of death and location were not disclosed.

Broadnax rose to prominence during the mid-1980s as a central participant in the Roxanne Wars, a highly publicized and groundbreaking rap feud with Lil’ Roxanne Shanté, born Lolita Shanté Gooden. The two women, both teenagers at the time, exchanged diss tracks over about a year, a rivalry that helped establish the template for battle rap and underscored hip-hop’s commercial potential in conflict-driven narratives.

The feud originated in 1984 after Shanté released “Roxanne’s Revenge” in response to the hit “Roxanne, Roxanne” by the Brooklyn group UTFO. Seeking to defend her borough and capitalize on the moment, Broadnax and her mentor, producer Duane Hughes (Spyder-D), quickly recorded “Sparky’s Turn (Roxanne You’re Through),” directly challenging Shanté. Despite never meeting during the height of the rivalry, the two quickly became adversaries within hip-hop circles.

The Roxanne Wars attracted widespread attention, selling out venues across the United States and spawning numerous answer songs from other artists. The rivalry culminated in a 1985 collaborative EP, "Round One: Roxanne Shanté vs. Sparky Dee," which showcased the two artists trading verses in a stylized battle format. Over time, the antagonism between them gave way to mutual respect and eventual friendship, with accounts of Broadnax stepping in to assist Shanté during a backstage dispute.

Born on June 2, 1965, in Brooklyn, Broadnax grew up in the Van Dyke Houses housing project. She was raised in an interracial family and spoke about the complexities of her identity and experiences with racism. Early in her career, she was part of the trio the Playgirls, which recorded the 1984 single “Our Picture of a Man” under Russell Simmons’s Rush Productions before disbanding.

Broadnax released her solo album, “This Is Sparky-D’s World,” in 1988, but struggled with substance abuse, which she later described as a long and difficult battle. After experiencing domestic violence and addiction, she eventually relocated to Atlanta, where she embraced the Apostolic Pentecostal church and shifted her music focus to gospel rap.

Her impact on hip-hop has been acknowledged by peers, including rapper Big Daddy Kane, who cited her as a trailblazer in female battle rap. The Roxanne Wars remain recognized as a foundational moment in hip-hop history, marking one of the first major recorded rivalries between women in the genre.

Details about survivors have not been released.