Report: Bay Area hip-hop star Pam the Funkstress, who was Prince’s DJ, has died

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Bay Area hip-hop star Pam Warren, who was better known as Pam the Funkstress, died Dec. 22.

Warren was an influential DJ who spun for Prince and was a longtime member of The Coup, the politically charged East Bay hip-hop duo also featuring Boots Riley.

She had recently undergone organ transplant surgery and had been in critical condition.

Her death was confirmed on a Facebook post by KBLX radio station, which was Warren’s former employer.

“The KBLX Family would like to send our love, prayers and condolences to the family and friends of Pam Warren, AKA Pam the Funkstress, The Turntable Queen, who passed away on Friday,” the post read. “She was one of the finest DJs on the planet, a true legend and she was family! Information about public services will be forthcoming. We will miss you Queen. Her mother and her family need our support, if you’re able, please donate at: https://www.gofundme.com/djpurplepam.”

Word of her passing initially spread via social media, with her own personal Facebook page filled with RIP messages. Others, such as KBLX DJ Sterling James, mourned the loss via social media.

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“Dear Queen, Sister, Friend … I will miss you so,” James wrote on a Facebook post of a picture showing the two of them together.

Others also tweeted about her passing.

Warren had long been battling medical problems and was hospitalized recently. Information about what she was going through was posted on her Facebook page earlier this month, directing people to a GoFundMe page to help with the medical expenses.

“Purple Pam recently underwent organ transplant surgery and remains in critical condition. Your immediate donation will help to offset the growing medical expenses for her prolonged medical care and her road to recovery,” read a Facebook post.

The GoFundMe page can be found here.

Warren’s condition was initially publicized after her friend, Bay Area actor and musician Daveed Diggs, reported it on Twitter in November.

“Please send all your love and good energy out to Pam The Funkstress who in the hospital in critical condition,” Diggs wrote in a Tweet. “She is a Bay Area legend who has always loved and supported young artists. We love you Pam.”

Warren was a music trailblazer, who ranked among the first female DJs in hip-hop. She also has been known as a leader and generous mentor in the Bay Area hip-hop scene.

Her talent was recognized by none other than Prince, who called upon Warren to DJ for him not long before his death in 2016. She reportedly jammed with the Purple One and DJ’ed several after-concert gigs during Prince’s final tour.

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