# The Def Dames

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**Def Dames** were an [American](/source/United_States) female [rap](/source/Rap) [duo](/source/Musical_duo) from [Bakersfield, California](/source/Bakersfield,_California). The duo consisted of Marilyn Smith, known as "Kandy Kane" she also goes by her [Sacramento](/source/Sacramento) alias "Touch," and Yolanda Sugart, known as "Special T" or "The Ace Senorita." She was replaced by Petrina Walker known as "Larissa" in 1991, now residing in Las Vegas, Nv. The Def Dames are best known for their first album, *2-4-The Bass*, and their three top singles: "976 Boom," "Set it Off," and "The King of Romance," from the late 1980s and early 1990s.

## History

The Def Dames was founded in [Bakersfield](/source/Bakersfield), [California](/source/California) by former "[Black Diamond](/source/Black_Diamond_Band)" and "Uncle Famous Band" member, Stephen Ewers, he is best known by his stage name DJ Sparkle, in the mid-to-late 1980s. The original Def Dames duo consisted of Marilyn Smith, best known by her stage name Kandy Kane. who generated a local buzz at the time and caught the attention of local hip hop music producer DJ Sparkle. The other member of the duo was Yolanda Sugart, who is known (as Special T.), or by her alias the Ace Senorita. Due to monetary disputes Special T quit the Def Dames, and was later replaced by Petrina Walker aka (Larissa) also known as Pretty Poizon, who made her first appearance with the Def Dames filling in for Special T, in "The King of Romance" video in 1991. The Def Dames is also among the first female rap duo's from the [Central Valley](/source/Central_Valley_(California)), and the first ever from Bakersfield to make the [Top 20](/source/Top_20) on the [*Billboard*'s Hot Rap Singles chart](/source/Hot_Rap_Songs). The Def Dames is known for their six releases and remixes they did of popular [Top-40](/source/Top-40) hits in the late 80s and early 90s. The group released two albums: *2-4-The Bass*, and *2-Large*. They also released four singles: "Set it Off," "976 Boom," "The King of Romance," and "Whip It," a [remake](/source/Remake) of [Devo](/source/Devo)'s [popular song](/source/Whip_It_(Devo_song)). They also released "Irresistible Bitch," a [remix](/source/Remix) of the original track by [Prince](/source/Prince_(musician)).[1]

In 1989 the Def Dames signed a deal with the "Sedona Recording Company" a division of the [Bertelsmann Music Group](/source/Bertelsmann_Music_Group), and recorded their debut album, *2-4-The Bass*. The 2-4-The bass album was written and produced by Stephen "DJ Sparkle" Ewers. The "2-4-The Bass," album was the only album by the Def Dames that made the [Billboards R&B Albums Charts](/source/Billboard_charts) to date. The "2-4-The Bass," album debuted at No. #76. The album's first single, "976-Boom," peaked at No. #19 on *Billboard*'s Hot Rap Singles chart, their highest chart appearance to date. The follow-up single, "Set it Off," peaked at No. #20. That same year, DJ Sparkle and The Def Dames performed live in concert at the Throw Down Fest 89 Dance Concert. The event was presented by North Side Records and Mix-Tapes, and powered by radio stations [B95 (94.9 FM)](/source/KBOS-FM), and [KUFW (90.5 FM)](/source/KLXY_(FM)).[2] The concert was held at the [Visalia Convention Center](/source/Visalia_Convention_Center). The Def Dames shared the stage with artist such as [Bay Area](/source/Bay_Area) performer Colin, [Fresno](/source/Fresno) [freestyle](/source/Freestyle_music) performer [Timmy T](/source/Timmy_T) and Bakersfield's DJ. Sparkle was also among the performing acts; he took first place in the battle of the deejay's competition.

In 1991, the duo released their sophomore album, *2-Large*, written by the Def Dames and produced by [DJ Gil](/source/DJ_Gil). It did not make *Billboard'*s R&B albums chart.[2] The only single to chart from *2-Large* was "The King of Romance," which peaked at #26 on *Billboard*'s Hot Rap Singles chart. The other single release from the album, "Whip It," did not chart. In October of that year the Def Dames had performed at the pay-per-view concert event called *[Sisters In The Name of Rap](/source/Dee_Barnes)* they performed "Set it Off " live.[3][failed verification] Also featured at the historic rap event were some of hip hop's legendary female artists from both the [east](/source/East) and [west](/source/West) coasts, including [Salt-N-Pepa](/source/Salt-N-Pepa), [Queen Latifah](/source/Queen_Latifah), [Yo-Yo](/source/Yo-Yo_(rapper)), [MC Lyte](/source/MC_Lyte), [Roxanne Shante](/source/Roxanne_Shante), [Tam Tam](/source/Tam_Tam_(rapper)), and [Shelly Thunder](/source/Shelly_Thunder).[4] The event was a [pay-per-view](/source/Pay-per-view) TV concert produced and directed by Chris Balton Productions. The show was hosted by [Dee Barnes](/source/Dee_Barnes), and taped in front of live audience at [The Ritz](/source/The_Ritz_(rock_club)) in [New York City](/source/New_York_City).

In 1992 the Def Dames' single "Set it Off" appeared on the *Various Artists: – 1st Ladies Of Rap* CD compilation. Also featured were other popular hits by early female rap artists such as:"[Ladies First (song)](/source/Ladies_First_(song))" by ([Queen Latifah](/source/Queen_Latifah)), featuring Monie Love; "I Wanna.. Make You Mine by ([MC Trouble](/source/MC_Trouble)); "[Smooth & Legit](/source/Smooth_%26_Legit)," by ([MC Smooth](/source/Smooth_(singer))); "Daddy's Little Girl" by ([Nikki D](/source/Nikki_D)); "We In The House" by ([J.J. Fad](/source/J.J._Fad)); "We Like It" by ([Oaktown's 3-5-7](/source/Oaktown's_3-5-7)); "Pump It Up ...Get Busy" by Get Fresh Girls; and "Monie In The Middle" by [British hip hop](/source/British_hip_hop) star [Monie Love](/source/Monie_Love).[5] The Def Dames single "Set it Off," along with [Tony! Toni! Toné!](/source/Tony!_Toni!_Ton%C3%A9!)'s smash hit, "[Feels Good](/source/Feels_Good)," were featured on the TV sitcom *[In Living Color](/source/In_Living_Color)*'s Season 2 episode 1–4, titled *Fly Girls*. The Def Dames are also west coast hip hop pioneers, in terms of being female rappers and is also among the first female rap duo's from Central California to chart on the [mainstream rap](/source/Mainstream_rap) Billboard's "r&b albums" and "hot rap singles" charts. The Def Dames is arguably the first female rap duo to emerge from the [Central Valley](/source/Central_Valley_(California)) coming out of [Kern County](/source/Kern_County).

## Discography

### Albums

- *2-4-The Bass* (1989)
- *2-Large* (1991)

### Appearances

- Various artists: – *1st Ladies Of Rap* CD compilation (1992)
- *SDR Compilation* (2007)
- Pay-per-view concert - "Sisters In The Name of Rap" (1991)
- Living Color - "Fly Girls," Season 2. Episode 1-4 (1991)

### Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Album U.S. 1989 "976 Boom" 19 2-4-The Bass 1989 "Set it Off" 20 1991 "The King of Romance" 26 2-Large 1991 "Whip It" — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that country.

## External links

- [The Def Dames: "*2-4-The Bass*" album 1989](https://www.amazon.com/2-The-Bass-Def-Dames/dp/B0002BLNX0/ref=ntt_mus_dp_dpt_1) www.amazon.com July 3, 2015
- [YouTube - "The King Of Romance"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COIMNMrlEek)
- [Pay-per-view concert - "Sisters In The Name of Rap" (1991)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSLTnvF9eEc)

## References

1. [2-Large Album, 1991](http://www.allmusic.com/album/2-large-mw0000268715/credits) www.allmusic.com 22-05-2015 Retrieved May 22, 2015

1. [The King of Romance, No. #26 Billboards 100 charts](https://www.billboard.com/music/def-dames) www.billboards.com Jun 28, 2018 Retrieved May 22, 2015

1. ["Sisters in the Name of Rap"](http://www.ew.com/article/1992/04/24/sisters-name-rap). *[Entertainment Weekly](/source/Entertainment_Weekly)*. April 24, 1992. Retrieved 20 August 2015.

1. [YouTube: "Sisters In The Name of Rap," pay-per-view concert event. (1991)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yf71H1wxdOw#t=66) www.youtube.com Retrieved June 3, 2015

1. [*The 1st Ladies of Rap*, by Various Artists](http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,40035,00.html) www.artistdirect.com 22-05-2015 Retrieved May 22, 2015

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Def Dames](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Def_Dames) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Def_Dames?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.