Wee Papa Girl Rappers member Samantha Lawrence passed away at 55
- Samantha Lawrence has died peacefully in London after being diagnosed with secondary cancer.
- She was just 55.
- Samantha rose to prominence as a singer of the U.K. hip-hop duo Wee Papa Girl Rappers.
RIP! Samantha Lawrence has died
Samantha Lawrence, a member of the U.K. hip-hop duo Wee Papa Girl Rappers, is no longer alive among us. She died at the age of 55.
Her sister, Sandra Lawrence, confirmed in a statement to The Independent that Samantha died peacefully in London after being diagnosed with secondary cancer earlier this year.
Sandra expressed her sorrow, stating,
“It is with great sadness that we announce that beloved sister and mother Samantha Lawrence passed away on Sunday,”
She also highlighted Samantha’s legacy as a successful artist known for her work with the duo she co-founded, saying,
“Samantha, aka TY Tim, was known for her chart success with Wee Papa Girl Rappers, a hip-hop pop duo that she founded with her older sister Sandra Lawrence, aka Total S.”
DJ Dave Pearce, who collaborated with the hip-hop duo Wee Papa Girl Rappers, also paid tribute to Samantha Lawrence on Instagram on December 3.
In his heartfelt message, Pearce expressed his sadness over the loss of Samantha, also known as TY Tim. He wrote,
“Very sad to announce the passing of Samantha Lawrence aka TY Tim of pioneering 80’S UK HIP HOP pop duo Wee Papa Girl Rappers. (Together with her sister Sandra they were best known for the 1988 top ten hit ‘Wee Rule’). Sam was part of a defining and ground breaking era of trailblazing British female rappers who against the odds conquered the UK charts alongside the likes of Cookie Crew – It was a really exciting time for me and always a pleasure to work with them on my Radio London Hip Hop Show back in the day their positive energy was infectious,”
Furthermore, Pearce mentioned their willingness to experiment with music genres, blending dancehall and reggae in their work.
He reflected on how Samantha’s success inspired others to pursue their dreams and extended his thoughts to her sister Sandra and daughter KeeKee.
He then concludes the statement with a message of rest in peace.
A Look Back at Samantha Lawrence’s Career
Samantha began her career with her sister Sandra as a backup singer for Feargal Sharkey before signing with Jive Records.
The Lawrence sisters rose to fame in the U.K. hip-hop scene with their 1988 single “Wee Rule,” which peaked at No. 6 on the UK singles chart.
They also performed the theme song for “Jim’ll Fix It” but disbanded in 1991 after releasing their second album, Jive, Be Aware.
In 2023, the Lawrence sisters appeared in the three-part BBC documentary series, First Ladies of Hip-Hop, narrated by Neneh Cherry. The series also featured artists like Eve and Lisa Maffia from So Solid Crew.
In the second episode, Samantha shared their background, revealing,
“We were born in Hammersmith, west London, brought up in South Ealing and had our teenage years in Acton.”
Sandra reflected on her early influences, stating that she was inspired by rap music and thought it was something she wanted to pursue.
She further encouraged her younger sister, who was just four years her junior, to join her in becoming “bedroom rappers,” expressing her enjoyment of rapping with her sister, whom she described as “amazing.”
Similarly, she expressed that she felt like an “underdog” while performing with her younger sister, saying,
“She just inspired me,”
On the other hand, Samantha discussed their “unique” individual styles.
She shared that people often confused them over the phone, saying, “Hi Sandra,” to which she would reply, “No, it’s Timmy,” highlighting how they sounded similar yet distinct in their rap flow.
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