Dimples D: The Bronx Hip-Hop Pioneer

Dimples D, born Doreen Moore, is an American rapper from The Bronx, New York, who emerged as a key early female voice in hip-hop. Her 1988 single, Sucker DJ's (I Will Survive), became a foundational track in the genre, blending rap with a classic disco sample and achieving significant club and radio play.

Early career

Growing up in the birthplace of hip-hop, Doreen Moore was immersed in the culture from its earliest block party days. Her career began in earnest when she connected with producer and radio DJ Marley Marl, joining his legendary Juice Crew collective, which was a pivotal move for any aspiring MC in the mid-1980s.

Breakthrough

Dimples D's breakthrough arrived in 1988 with the release of Sucker DJ's (I Will Survive) on the New York-based label Posse Records. The track, produced by Marley Marl, cleverly flipped the melody from Gloria Gaynor's classic anthem over a booming hip-hop beat, creating an instant club hit that resonated on urban radio and in dance clubs nationwide.

Key tracks

Sucker DJ's (I Will Survive) — This 1988 single is her signature song, a landmark record that successfully fused hip-hop with a iconic disco sample.

Get It Off — Featured on the 1990 compilation In Control, Volume 1, this track further showcased her confident flow over another Marley Marl production.

She's Rocking the Beat — This B-side and album cut solidified her status within the Juice Crew's roster of talented artists.

Following her initial success, Dimples D continued to record, contributing to important compilations like Marley Marl's In Control series. While a full-length album did not materialize at the peak of her fame, her influence as one of the first prominent female rappers from the influential Juice Crew remains a significant part of hip-hop history.

Artists with a similar foundational East Coast hip-hop style and era include MC Lyte, another pioneering female lyricist who rose to prominence in the late 1980s. Roxanne Shante, a fellow Juice Crew member known for her battle records and sharp wit, shares a direct collaborative link. The production style of her mentor is echoed in the work of Big Daddy Kane, another Juice Crew legend whose sophisticated rhymes defined the era.

Dimples D's classic hip-hop anthems are regularly featured on old-school rap and classic hip-hop radio stations, keeping the sound of late-80s New York alive for new generations of listeners. Her music is a staple on stations dedicated to the golden era, from dedicated online streams to terrestrial FM broadcasts that celebrate the genre's roots.

The music of Dimples D, a pioneer of Bronx hip-hop, can be heard on radio stations featured on our website. Listeners can discover her influential tracks by tuning into the classic hip-hop stations available on onairium.com.