Rapper Miss Melodie Dead at 43

Ramona Parker (née Scott; c. 1969 – July 17, 2012), known as Ms. Melodie, was an emcee married to KRS-One in July 1987, and was associated with his group Boogie Down Productions (BDP) until the couple's divorce in 1992. She was raised in the Flatbush section of the New York City borough of Brooklyn.

Her first release was the 1988 12-inch single "Hype According to Ms. Melodie", which, like most of her records, was produced by KRS-One. While they began recording her debut album, Ms. Melodie and the rest of BDP appeared in the Keenen Ivory Wayans film I'm Gonna Git You Sucka. 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. 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 was the older sister of former BDP member Harmony.

According to news reports, Parker died on July 17, 2012 at the age of 43. The cause of her death has not yet been revealed publicly.

Former Boogie Down Productions rapper Ms. Melodie has died.

The ex-wife of hip-hop icon KRS-One passed away on Tuesday and her good friend, R&B singer/songwriter Monifah, has since confirmed the sad news via her Twitter.com blog.

In a series of posts on Wednesday, she writes, "RIP Miss Melody. Please keep her children, family & loved ones in ur (sic) prayers. HipHopRoyalty... A friend of ours told me she went last nite (sic)."

Def Jam Records co-founder Russell Simmons has also paid tribute to the late star, tweeting, "RIP Ms. Melodie. a dope MC".

No further details about Melodie's passing were available as WENN went to press.

The star, real name Ramona Scott, wed KRS-One in 1987 and became an influential member of his Boogie Down Productions crew.

She released her only album, Diva, in 1989 and scored hits with her tracks Live On Stage, Hype According to Ms. Melodie, Wake Up, Wake Up and 1989's Self Destruction.

Scott also made a cameo appearance in the video for her pal Queen Latifah's Ladies First tune and guest starred in comedian Keenen Ivory Wayans' film I'm Gonna Git You Sucka in 1988. Scott and KRS-One divorced in 1992.