Angie Stone

Angela Laverne Stone (née Brown; December 18, 1961 – March 1, 2025) was an American singer-songwriter, rapper, actress, and record producer. With a career spanning over four decades, she has been recognized for her contributions to the development of hip-hop and neo-soul. Originally known as Angie B., she rose to fame in 1979 as a member of The Sequence, the first female music act in hip hop music.

In the early 1990s, she became a member of the R&B group Vertical Hold. By the end of the decade, she pursued a solo career as Angie Stone and signed with Arista Records to release her debut solo album Black Diamond (1999). The album received a gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and spawned the single "No More Rain (In This Cloud)". Afterwards, she co-wrote D'Angelo's album Voodoo (2000), and released her second album, Mahogany Soul (2001), under J Records, which spawned the hit single "Wish I Didn't Miss You". It was followed by Stone Love (2004) and The Art of Love & War (2007), the latter becoming her first and only number-one album on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.<ref name="Billboard-bio">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Stone ventured into acting in the 2000s, making her film debut in the 2002 comedy film The Hot Chick, and her stage debut in 2003, in the role of Big Mama Morton in the Broadway musical Chicago. She then went on to appear in supporting roles in films and television series as well as several musical productions, including VH1's Celebrity Fit Club and TV One's R&B Divas, and movies such as The Fighting Temptations (2003), Pastor Brown (2009), and School Gyrls (2010).<ref name="Billboard-bio" />

Her accolades included two Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards and an Edison Award,<ref name="Billboard-bio" /> alongside nominations for three Grammy Awards and three Soul Train Music Awards. In 2021, she was honored with the Soul Music Icon Award at the Black Music Honors, followed by her induction into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2024. Over the course of her career, she earned two Gold-certified studio albums with total solo sales exceeding five million records worldwide.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Early life

Angela Laverne Brown was born in Columbia, South Carolina, to Iona Williams (Template:Née), a hospital technician, and Bobby Williams, a lawyer's assistant and gospel singer.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She attended W.A. Perry Middle School and later C.A. Johnson High School. Brown was also a member of the choir at First Nazareth Baptist Church in Columbia where she sang her first solo.

Career

1979–1985: Career beginnings and The Sequence

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} In 1979, Brown formed a female hip-hop group known as The Sequence. Brown, along with her childhood friends and group mates Gwendolyn Chisolm and Cheryl Cook, attended a concert by hip-hop group The Sugarhill Gang.<ref name=EL-PR-FACE /><ref name="rollingstone">Weingarten, Christopher R. (2017). The Sequence: The Funked-Up Legacy of Hip-Hop's First Ladies. Rolling Stone, May 24. Retrieved on March 27, 2025</ref> The group made their way backstage and met Sylvia Robinson who was the CEO of hip hop label Sugar Hill Records.<ref name=Ebony-2012-3part /><ref name="rollingstone"/> They auditioned for Robinson who signed them to the label as their first female act.<ref name="rollingstone"/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> While in the group, Brown adopted the stage name Angie B. They released their debut single "Funk You Up" in December 1979. The song became one of the first original hip hop songs to be released without sampling.<ref name="Greenberg1999">Greenberg, Steve; Light, Alan [ed.] (1999). The VIBE History of Hip Hop. Three Rivers Press. p. 28. Template:ISBN</ref> "Funk You Up" peaked at number fifteen on the Hot Soul Singles.<ref name="rollingstone"/><ref name=Ebony-2012-3part>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1980, The Sequence released their debut album Sugarhill presents The Sequence, which received positive reviews from music critics.<ref>The Sequence - Sugarhill Presents the Sequence Template:Webarchive. AllMusic. Retrieved on March 27, 2025</ref>

In 1981, the group began doing session work for other music acts on Sugar Hill Records. They wrote and provided background vocals for "Sing a Simple Song" and "Let's Dance (Make Your Body Move)" by West Street Mob, the latter of which peaked at number eighty-eight on Billboard's Hot 100 chart and number eighteen on the Hot Soul Singles. In 1982, The Sequence released their self-titled second album, which peaked at number fifty-one on the Black LPs chart. The album's first single "I Don't Need Your Love (Part One)" peaked at number forty on Billboard's Hot Soul Singles chart. In 1983, they released their third album The Sequence Party. The Sequence followed up with the release of their single "I Just Want to Know". In 1985, they released their final singles: "Funk You Up '85" and "Control".

In 1985, the group refused to renew their recording contract after a dispute with Sugar Hill Records CEO Sylvia Robinson.<ref name="rollingstone"/> The group's dispute with the label stemmed from not being paid their royalties from the songs they wrote and recorded. The group also felt like the money from their royalties were being used to support other musical acts on Sugar Hill Records.<ref name="rollingstone"/> Stone briefly pursued a solo music career and also began working at Kiss-FM radio station in New York.<ref>Angie Stone Music Review Template:Webarchive. New York Times. Retrieved on March 27, 2025</ref> Angie B. began performing as Angie B. Stone and later simply Angie Stone, carrying the last name of her first husband Rodney "Lil' Rodney C" Stone.

1986–1996: Vertical Hold and DeVox

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Following her departure from Sugar Hill Records, Stone made attempts to start a solo career.<ref name="soulandjazzandfunk">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She began writing solo material and booked studio time at her own expense.<ref name="soulandjazzandfunk"/> Through the studio's engineer Gordon Mack III, Stone was introduced to musicians David Bright and Willie Bruno Jr., who were impressed by her songwriting abilities and asked her to write on their songs.<ref name="soulandjazzandfunk"/> While she initially saw the collaboration as just an opportunity to work in the studio for free and have access to a team of musicians, it eventually led to the formation of the R&B/hip hop quartet It's Us.<ref name="Facebook">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Renamed Vertical Hold, they released their first single "Summertime" in 1988 on Criminal Records.<ref name="Whitburn">Template:Cite book</ref> The group secured a recording deal with A&M Records.<ref name="Billboard_April 8, 1995">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1990, Stone performed as the saxophonist for Lenny Kravitz's Let Love Rule Tour.

In June 1993, the group released their debut album A Matter of Time. The album peaked at number thirty-three on the US Top R&B Albums chart, selling over 62,000 copies in the first week of its release.<ref name="Billboard_April 8, 1995"/> The album's lead single "Seems You're Much Too Busy" peaked at number seventeen on the US Hot R&B Singles chart.<ref name="Billboard_April 8, 1995"/> Their follow-up single "A.S.A.P." peaked at number eighty-three on the US Hot R&B Singles chart.<ref name="Whitburn"/> Through their parent label Universal Records, Stone was offered a songwriting deal with Midnight Songs LLC. She was eventually brought in to help newly signed singer D'Angelo complete his first album Brown Sugar.

In early 1995, Stone vocally arranged the single "Freedom (Theme from Panther)", which became the theme song for drama film Panther. In May 1995, Vertical Hold released their second and final album Head First.<ref name="Billboard_April 8, 1995"/> Due to a lack of promotional support from their record label, Vertical Hold parted way at the end of 1995. Also in the same year, Stone toured as a background vocalist for D'Angelo's Brown Sugar Tour. One of their concerts was recorded at Jazz Café in London, England, on September 14, 1995, and released as D'Angelo's live album Live at the Jazz Cafe (1998). In 1996, Stone became a featured vocalist for Gerry DeVeaux and Charlie Mole who had formed a group called DeVox.<ref name="soulandjazzandfunk"/> The group released an album titled Devox featuring Angie B. Stone, exclusively in Japan.<ref name="Billboard_November 9, 1996">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The project caught the attention of Arista Records A&R manager Peter Edge, which lead to Stone being offered a solo recording contract with Arista Records.<ref name="soulandjazzandfunk"/><ref name="latimes">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="davis">Template:Cite book</ref>

1997–2004: Black Diamond, Mahogany Soul, and career breakthrough

File:Angie Stone 1997.jpg

Stone in 1997

In September 1999, Stone released her debut solo album Black Diamond on Arista Records.<ref>Angie Stone - Black Diamond Template:Webarchive. AllMusic. Retrieved on June 4, 2025</ref> Black Diamond peaked at number forty-six on the Billboard 200 chart and number nine on the US Top R&B Albums chart.<ref name="billboardchart">Angie Stone Billboard Chart History Template:Webarchive. Billboard. Retrieved on June 4, 2025</ref> The album's lead single, "No More Rain (In This Cloud)", peaked at number fifty-six on Billboard Hot 100 and also became Stone's first number-one song on the US Adult R&B Songs chart, spending ten weeks atop of the chart.<ref name="billboardchart"/> The singles "Life Story and "Everyday" peaked in the top twenty on the UK Hip Hop and R&B Singles chart.<ref name="officialcharts">Angie Stone Official Chart History Template:Webarchive. Official Charts. Retrieved on June 4, 2025</ref> Black Diamond was eventually certified gold by both the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).<ref name="riaa">Angie Stone Gold & Platinum Certifications Template:Webarchive. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved on June 4, 2025</ref><ref>Angie Stone Black Diamond BRIT Gold Certification Template:Webarchive. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on June 4, 2025</ref> Stone also won Best Solo R&B/Soul New Artist and Best Solo R&B/Soul Single for "No More Rain (In This Cloud)" at the 2000 Soul Train Music Awards.<ref name="soultrainawards2000">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2000, Stone transitioned from Arista to music manager Clive Davis's venture J Records.<ref name="bw">Template:Cite news</ref> She recorded the theme song for American sitcom television series Girlfriends. Stone's second solo album, Mahogany Soul, was released on October 16, 2001.<ref>Angie Stone - Mahogany Soul Template:Webarchive. AllMusic. Retrieved on June 4, 2025</ref> The album debuted and peaked at number twenty-two on the US Billboard 200, selling 71,000 copies in its first week of release.<ref name="billboardchart"/><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The album's lead single, "Brotha", reached number fifty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number on the US Adult R&B Songs chart.<ref name="billboardchart"/> The second single, "Wish I Didn't Miss You", reach the top-ten on the charts in several territories worldwide, including the U.S. on the Dance Club Songs chart.<ref name="billboardchart"/><ref name="spin">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The song also became certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).<ref>Angie Stone - Wish I Didn't Miss You BRIT Gold Certification Template:Webarchive. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on June 4, 2025</ref> The album also produced several additional singles, including "More Than a Woman" and "Bottles and Cans". At the 2003 Grammy Awards, "More Than a Woman" received a nomination for Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocal.<ref name="grammy">Angie Stone Grammy Award Nomination History Template:Webarchive. Grammy. Retrieved on June 4, 2025</ref> Mahogany Soul earned a gold certification by both the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).<ref name="riaa"/><ref>Angie Stone - Mahogany Soul BRIT Gold Certification Template:Webarchive. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved on June 4, 2025</ref> In November 2001, Stone embarked on the BK Got Music Summer Soul Tour alongside Luther Vandross, Gerald Levert, and Michelle Williams.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

In December 2002, Stone made her theatrical film debut, portraying the character Madame Mambuza alongside Rob Schneider in the comedy The Hot Chick.<ref>The Hot Chick (2002) Overview Template:Webarchive. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on June 4, 2025</ref> The film debuted at number five at the U.S. box office and earned $7 million during its opening weekend.<ref name="mojo">Template:Mojo title</ref> She later starred alongside Cuba Gooding Jr. in the musical comedy The Fighting Temptations (2003), portraying Alma; a singing laundromat employee. It received mixed reviews from critics and underperformed at the box office.<ref name="c559">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="j444">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Stone performed several songs for the film's soundtrack, including "Rain Down" and "Time to Come Home".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Stone made her theatre debut as Matron Mama Morton in the Broadway production of Chicago.<ref>This Day in Music Template:Webarchive. Billboard. Retrieved on June 4, 2025</ref>

Her third studio album, Stone Love, was released on June 28, 2004, in the U.S. and debuted at number fourteen on the Billboard 200,<ref name="billboardchart"/> selling 53,000 copies in its first week.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Stone Love included her number one US dance single "I Wanna Thank Ya" and top-twenty US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs song "U-Haul",<ref name="billboardchart"/> the latter which received a nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance at the 2005 Grammy Awards.<ref name="grammy"/> By 2005, Stone became dissatisfied with her record label J Records. She released a compilation album Stone Hits: The Very Best of Angie Stone in June 2005, which anthologized her previous singles along with new single "I Wasn't Kidding".<ref name="bb1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Following the release of the compilation album, Stone left J Records.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2006–2017: The Art of Love and War and subsequent releases

File:Angie Stone (2668662658).jpg

Stone performing live at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, Netherlands, on July 11, 2008

In 2006, Stone appeared on the VH1's reality television series Celebrity Fit Club for the fourth season, which began on August 6, 2006. While on the show, she lost eighteen pounds, the second lowest loss in the history of the show.<ref name=Essence-wow>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Later that year, she signed a recording contract with Stax Records.<ref>Stax Relaunches With Hayes, Stone, White Tribute. Billboard. Retrieved on June 4, 2025</ref> In January 2007, Stone embarked on the Sisters in the Spirit Tour alongside Shirley Caesar, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Nicole C. Mullen, and Kelly Price.<ref>And It Stoned Her. Cleveland Scene. Retrieved on June 4, 2025</ref> On October 15, 2007, she released her fourth album The Art of Love & War.<ref name=Essence-ArtofLoveWar>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album debuted at number eleven on the Billboard 200, selling 45,000 copies in its first week, becoming Stone's highest-charting album to date, as well as her first and only album to top the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The album's lead single, "Baby", a duet with Betty Wright, became her second number-one hit on the US Adult R&B Songs chart. The singles "Sometimes" and "Pop Pop" both peaked within the top thirty on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, respectively.<ref name="billboardchart"/> The song "Baby" earned a nomination for Best R&B Performance By A Duo or Group With Vocal at 50th Annual Grammy Awards in 2008.<ref name="grammy"/>

In April 2009, she released a cover of "Wade in the Water" for the soundtrack of the documentary film Soundtrack for a Revolution.<ref name=NYT-WadeWater>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Soundtrack for a Revolution Template:Webarchive. AllMusic. Retrieved on June 4, 2025</ref> Stone continued to expand her acting career by portraying strip-club owner Rick Fredericks in the drama film Pastor Brown (2009).<ref name=B&S-1063>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In November 2009, she released her fifth album Unexpected.<ref>Angie Stone - Unexpected Template:Webarchive. AllMusic. Retrieved on June 5, 2025</ref> "I Ain't Hearin' U", the album's lead single, reached number fourteen on BillboardTemplate:'s Adult R&B Songs.<ref name="billboardchart"/> In May 2011, Stone co-starred in the stage production Loving Him is Killing Me.<ref name=Essence-LovingHim>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In the summer of 2012, Stone also toured nationally in a Hinton Battle production of Love Lies.<ref name=Playbill-LoveLies>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In September 2012, she released her sixth album Rich Girl on Saguaro Road Records.<ref name=WaPo-RG>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Angie Stone - Rich Girl Template:Webarchive. AllMusic. Retrieved on June 4, 2025</ref> The following year, she joined the cast of TVOne's R&B Divas: Atlanta.<ref name=Essence-RBDivas>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Okay-RBDivas>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=RickeySmiley>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=eurweb-RBDivas>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=Ebony-Diva>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2014, Stone began working with music producer Walter Millsap III on her next album.<ref name="thesource">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In November 2015, she released her seventh album Dream on Shanachie Entertainment.<ref name="okayplayer">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="rnbjunkieofficial">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Received well by music critics,<ref name="exclaim">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> the album debuted at number fifty-nine on the US Billboard 200 and number three on the US Top Hip-Hop/R&B Albums chart,<ref name="billboardchart"/><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> her highest-charting album since The Art of Love & War (2007). The album's lead single "2 Bad Habits" peaked at number twenty on the Adult R&B Songs chart.<ref name="billboardchart"/> The following year, she released her eighth album Covered in Soul on Goldenlane Records in August 2016. The album featured cover versions of popular R&B and soul music songs. In the same year, she co-starred alongside Rodney Perry in the drama film To Love the Soul of a Woman.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2018–2025: Final years

Stone changed labels again for her 2019 album Full Circle, which saw her reteaming with her collaborators from the Dream album and was issued through Conjunction Entertainment in partnership Cleopatra Records. Released to generally positive reviews,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> it debuted and peaked at number 34 on the US Independent Albums chart and produced the Adult R&B songs top 30 hit "Dinosaur."<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In 2021, she co-starred in the comedy film Entanglement.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Love Language, her tenth and final solo album, was released in May 2023 through Conjunction and SoNo Recordιng.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Once again largely penned by Milsap and his team, it failed to chart but was met with a warm response from music critics, who noted a slight increase of grain in Stone's voice.<ref name="AllMusic">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Also in 2023, she scored a supporting role in the Urbanflix television series Heaux Phase, in which she played the main character's mother,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and appeared as a featured vocalist on singer Damon Little's song "No Stressing," which peaked at number one on US Gospel Airplay chart in early 2024, becoming her first song to do so.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In November 2024, Stone released her final single "All I'm Missing", which featured J. Brown and Juanita Wynn.<ref>All I'm Missing (feat. Jaunita Wynn & J. Brown) - Single. Apple Music. Retrieved on June 7, 2025</ref> In December 2024, Stone made an announcement via live stream that she was preparing to sue Universal Records for unpaid royalties.<ref>Angie Stone Calls Out UMG For Allegedly Stealing Her Money Template:Webarchive. WBLS Radio. Retrieved on June 7, 2025</ref>

Death

Stone was killed in a car crash near Montgomery, Alabama, on March 1, 2025, at the age of 63.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She and her band members were traveling in a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van to Atlanta following a Mardi Gras concert in Mobile, Alabama, when it overturned on Interstate 65. The stationary vehicle was then hit by a Freightliner Cascadia semi-trailer truck while the passengers were trying to exit. Stone was the only fatality.<ref name="ajc"/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="variety1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Remembrances and reactions

Numerous musicians and cultural figures reacted to Stone's death.<ref>Tributes pour in for R&B singer Angie Stone after her death at 63 in a highway crash Template:Webarchive. AP News. Retrieved on June 5, 2025</ref><ref>Angie Stone Tribute: 8 Artists To Honor The Late Soul Songstress. Vibe. Retrieved on June 5, 2025</ref><ref>Stars Remember Angie Stone: Jamie Foxx, Fantasia, Nick Cannon, Queen Latifah, Snoop Dogg, Marlon Wayans, & More Template:Webarchive. That Grape Juice. Retrieved on June 5, 2025</ref> Stone's funeral was held on March 14, 2025, at the Word of Faith Cathedral in Austell, Georgia. The memorial service was televised and live streamed.<ref>Memorial service held for Grammy-nominated R&B singer Angie Stone Template:Webarchive. AP News. Retrieved on June 5, 2025</ref> Kirk Franklin, Anthony Hamilton, Tamela Mann, Darlene McCoy, and Keke Wyatt performed at the memorial, and former Sequence groupmates Cheryl "the Pearl" Cook and Gwendolyn "Blondy" Chisholm gave tearful eulogies.<ref>Angie Stone memorial service Template:Webarchive. Fox 5 Atlanta. Retrieved on June 5, 2025</ref> Tyler Perry receiving a standing ovation with cheers when he addressed the crowd: "I'm tired of seeing us struggle. All of those years, all of those songs, all of that money that was owed to her — where is it? It’s wrong, this is wrong, and I’m tired of seeing us struggle and go through things and work hard and not reap the benefits of what we were supposed to reap. Fair is not too much to ask."<ref>‘I Shouldn’t be Having to Pay for Funerals…’: Tyler Perry Didn’t Just Mourn Angie Stone He Paid for Her Funeral Template:Webarchive. Atlanta Black Star. Retrieved on June 5, 2025</ref> In June 2025, Brittney Spencer performed "No More Rain (In This Cloud)" at the BET Awards 2025.<ref>Angie Stone gets soulful tribute at 2025 BET Awards. Yahoo News. Retrieved on June 14, 2025</ref> A second ceremony was held in her hometown, Columbia, South Carolina, on March 15, 2025. However, the BET Awards came under fire as Stone was not mentioned or featured during the "In Memoriam" segment of the show; a tribute honoring and remembering Black entertainers who died from 2024 through 2025.<ref>"Leaving out Angie Stone was disrespectful": Netizens call out BET Awards over 'Memoriam' segment Template:Webarchive. Sports Keeda. Retrieved on June 14, 2025</ref> Historic Columbia, a non-profit organization in the hometown of Angie Stone, organized a special tribute act dedicated to Angie Stone for the annual Jubilee: Festival of Black History & Culture which took place on September 20, 2025.<ref>The Legacy of Angie Stone: A Tribute from Her Hometown Template:Webarchive. Historic Columbia. Retrieved on June 6, 2025</ref>

On September 2, 2025, a wrongful death lawsuit was filed in Gwinnett County State Court that contained allegations that Stone was alive after the Sprinter van she was in overturned, she tried to escape, and the tractor-trailer truck that crashed into the van caused her death.<ref name="ajc"/><ref name="peoplemagazine"/> The lawsuit defendants include the drivers and owners of both the truck and the van, the truck manufacturer Daimler Truck North America, the truck driver Jared Wilkinson, and the van driver Leethel Carter, as well as the producer of the collision mitigation system that was in the truck.<ref name="ajc">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="peoplemagazine">Angie Stone's Family Makes Devastating New Claims About Her Death While Escaping Car Wreck in Lawsuit. People. Retrieved on September 5, 2025</ref>

Posthumous sales

Stone's music catalog earned over 621,000 official on-demand American music streams in the week preceding her death from February 21 to February 27.<ref name="billboardstreams">Angie Stone’s Catalog Up Nearly 1,300% in Streams, 10,700% in Sales Following R&B Great’s Death Template:Webarchive. Billboard. Retrieved on June 5, 2025</ref> During the week of her death, the figure rose 1,263% to over 8.4 million official streams.<ref name="billboardstreams"/> Her song "No More Rain (In This Cloud)" became one of her biggest streaming song during the week of her death, collecting 2.1 million official on-demand American streams — a 538% boost from the week prior.<ref name="billboardstreams"/> The song "Wish I Didn't Miss You" rose 1,008% during the week of February 28 to March 6, collecting 1.44 million official on-demand American streams.<ref name="billboardstreams"/> Her song "Brotha" also experienced one of the biggest streaming boosts in Stone's catalog following her death. During the week of February 21 and February 27, the song earned just over 42,000 official on-demand American steams. The following week, that figure leapt 2,026% to over 907,000 official streams.<ref name="billboardstreams"/> Additionally, all three songs debuted in the top five of the R&B Digital Song Sales chart dated March 15: "No More Rain (In This Cloud)" debuted at number one, "Wish I Didn't Miss You" debuted at number two, and "Brotha" debuted at number five.<ref name="billboardchart"/> The former two remained on the chart for two weeks.<ref name="billboardchart"/>

Personal life

Marriage and relationships

In 1980, Stone began dating rapper Lil' Rodney C! of the hip-hop group Funky Four Plus One More. In 1983, the couple married without publicity. In 1984, Stone gave birth to her daughter Diamond Stone, who became a singer and songwriter. Stone eventually named her first solo album Black Diamond after her daughter. In late 1980s, Stone and Lil' Rodney C! divorced. In the early 1990s, Stone began dating her Vertical Hold groupmate David Bright. The couple's relationship began to dissolve in 1992. In response, Stone wrote the song "Seems You're Much Too Busy", which became the lead single of Vertical Hold's debut album A Matter of Time.

In 1994, Stone began dating singer D'Angelo after the couple met while working on his first album Brown Sugar. Inspired by their relationship, the couple wrote several songs together, including "Send It On". In 1997, Stone gave birth to their son Michael Archer Jr, who became a musician who performs under the stage name Swayvo Twain.<ref name=Essence-SouthernComfort>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1999, Stone ended her relationship with D'Angelo, citing infidelity after the birth of his second child. In 2009, she began dating Ashanti Graves who became her manager. Although the couple became engaged, the relationship ended when Stone discovered that Graves had an alleged affair with a staff member of the production crew on the set of R&B Divas: Atlanta.<ref>The Buzz: Matthew Knowles' Alleged Babymama Was Friends With Solange, Angie Stone Dumps Manager Boyfriend, and More. BET. Retrieved on June 5, 2025</ref>

Activism

In 2009, Stone disclosed that she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 1999.<ref name=Essence-Unexp>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She later became part of the F.A.C.E Diabetes (Fearless African-Americans Connected and Empowered) program sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company,<ref name=EL-PR-FACE>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=rolling-diabetes>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> which helps African Americans understand their risk for diabetes and how to control it.<ref name=Talk-Audrey>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Stone said that both her mother and her mother's sister were diabetic.<ref name=BET-diabetes>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=dLife-bio>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Stone founded a national non-profit organization called Angel Stripes.<ref>Angie Stone, ‘No More Rain (In This Cloud)’ Singer & Co-Founder of The Sequence, Dies in Car Crash at 63 Template:Webarchive. Billboard. Retrieved on June 5, 2025</ref> The organization aimed to bring awareness of the arts to local communities and preserve art programs for the youth.<ref name="angelstripes">Angel Stripes: The Angie Stone Foundation Template:Webarchive. Angel Stripes. Retrieved on June 5, 2025</ref> The organization also aimed to protect the voting rights of senior citizens.<ref name="angelstripes"/>

Legacy

Angie Stone has been recognized as a pioneer of both hip-hop and neo soul music.<ref>Angie Stone, Neo-Soul Singer, Dead at 63 Template:Webarchive. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on June 5, 2025</ref><ref>Angie Stone, Hip-Hop Pioneer Turned Neo-Soul Singer, Dies at 63 Template:Webarchive. New York Times. Retrieved on June 5, 2025. access is limited.</ref> As part of the female hip hop group The Sequence, Stone became one of the first female rappers to have an original hip-hop record "Funk You Up" sell over a half of a million copies worldwide, as well as to be released on vinyl by a female act.<ref>Weingarten, Christopher R. (2017). The Sequence: The Funked-Up Legacy of Hip-Hop's First Ladies Template:Webarchive. Rolling Stone, May 24. Retrieved on March 27, 2025</ref> "Funk You Up" has become one of the most frequently sampled songs in music history, most notably in hip hop music.<ref>Songs that sampled "Funk You Up" by The Sequence Template:Webarchive. Who Sampled. Retrieved on April 11, 2025</ref>

In June 2021, Stone was presented with the Soul Music Icon Award at the Black Music Honors.<ref>Angie Stone, Ramsey Lewis & More to Receive 2021 Black Music Honors Template:Webarchive. Billboard. Retrieved on June 5, 2025</ref> In June 2024, Stone was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> An honorary member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority, she was also inducted at the sorority's Boulé in Indianapolis, Indiana in July 2024.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In September 2025, Stone was selected for induction into the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame due to her trailblazing 45-year career.<ref name=R&B25>Template:Cite news</ref>

Discography

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Studio albums

• Black Diamond (1999)
• Mahogany Soul (2001)
• Stone Love (2004)
• The Art of Love & War (2007)
• Unexpected (2009)
• Rich Girl (2012)
• Dream (2015)
• Covered in Soul (2016)
• Full Circle (2019)
• Love Language (2023)

Filmography

Films

List of films and roles

Year	Title	Role
2002	The Hot Chick	Madame Mambuza
2003	The Fighting Temptations	Alma
2008	Caught on Tape	Diane
2009	Pastor Brown	Rick Fredericks
2010	School Gyrls	Headmaster Jones
2010	Baby Mama's Club	Mrs. Jackson
2012	The Wonder Girls	Betty
2012	A Cross to Bear	Sunshine
2013	Dreams	Marlene
2014	Ride Along	Market Shopper
2016	To Love the Soul of a Woman	Ursula Sanders
2021	Entanglement	Sadie

Television

List of television appearances and roles

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2000	Moesha	Herself	"D-Money Loses His Patience" (season 5, episode 22)
2002	Girlfriends	Darla Mason	"Blinded by the Lights" (season 3, episode 7)
2004	One on One	Herself	"It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Hip Hop World" (season 3, episode 14)
2008	Lincoln Heights	Octavia	"Prom Night" (season 3, episode 9) "The Ground Beneath Our Feet" (season 3, episode 10)
2013–2014	R&B Divas: Atlanta	Herself	(season 2 – 3, main)
2014	Celebrity Wife Swap	Herself	1 episode
2023	Heaux Phase	Margaret

Theatre

List of stage roles

Year	Title	Role
2003	Chicago	Big Mama Morton
2011	Loving Him Is Killing Me	Mutha
2013	Love Lies	Victoria Davis

Tours

Headlining tours

• Mahogany Soul Tour (2002)

Co-headlining tours

• BK Got Music Summer Soul Tour (with Luther Vandross, Gerald Levert, and Michelle Williams) (2002)
• Silk and Sandpaper Tour (with Anthony Hamilton) (2004)
• Sisters in the Spirit Tour (with Shirley Caesar, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Nicole C. Mullen, and Kelly Price) (2007)

Opening act

• Now Tour (2001)

Residencies

• Blue Note Tokyo (2007)

Awards and nominations

Template:Awards table |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2000 | rowspan="2"| Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards | Best Solo R&B/Soul New Artist | Angie Stone | Template:Won | rowspan="2"|<ref name="soultrainawards2000"/> |- | Best Solo R&B/Soul Single | "No More Rain (In This Cloud)" | Template:Won |- ! scope="row" | 2000 | Soul Train Music Awards | Best New Artist | Angie Stone | Template:Nom | <ref name="Billboard_February 19, 2000">Template:Cite magazine</ref> |- ! scope="row" | 2001 | MOBO Awards | Best Jazz Act | Angie Stone | Template:Nom | <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | 2002 | Soul Train Music Awards | Best R&B/Soul Single – Female | "Brotha" | Template:Nom | <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | 2003 | Black Reel Awards | Best Original or Adapted Song | "Bring Your Heart" (from Brown Sugar) | Template:Nom | <ref name="auto">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |- ! scope="row" rowspan="2"| 2003 | rowspan="2"| DanceStar Awards | Best Chart Act | Angie Stone | Template:Nom | rowspan="2"|<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |- | Best Remix Award | "Wish I Didn't Miss You" | Template:Nom |- ! scope="row" | 2003 | Grammy Awards | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals | "More Than a Woman" (with Joe) | Template:Nom | <ref name="Grammy">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | 2003 | Soul Train Music Awards | Best R&B/Soul Album – Female | Mahogany Soul | Template:Nom | <ref name="auto"/> |- ! scope="row" | 2004 | Edison Awards | R&B/Hip Hop | Stone Love | Template:Won | <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | 2005 | Grammy Awards | Best Female R&B Vocal Performance | "U-Haul" | Template:Nom | <ref name="Grammy"/> |- ! scope="row" | 2008 | Grammy Awards | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals | "Baby" (with Betty Wright) | Template:Nom | <ref name="Grammy"/> |- ! scope="row" | 2008 | BET Awards | BET Centric Award | Angie Stone | Template:Nom | <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | 2021 | Black Music Honors | Soul Music Icon Award | Angie Stone | Template:Won | <ref name="blackmusichonors">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> |-

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