Rap pioneer and Brooklyn native Ms. Melodie, member of Boogie Down Productions, has died at 43. Born Ramona Scott, she was once married to iconic hip-hop artist KRS-One. The cause of her death is currently unknown.

Ms. Melodie hit the rap scene in the late 80s as part of a rap collective that was known for socially conscious rap.

Her first single, “Hype According to Ms. Melodie,” debuted in 1988, and her first album Diva was released on Jive Records a year later. She was featured in the legendary rap single “Self Destruction” and had a short cameo in Queen Latifah’s “Ladies First” music video.