Remembering The Voice And Songs of Trailblazer Angie Stone After Her Death at 63 in a Weekend Crash
Grammy-nominated R&B singer and hip-hop pioneer Angie Stone died early Saturday in a car crash at the age of 63. The accident occurred around 4 a.m. on Interstate 65 in Alabama, as Stone was traveling back to Atlanta following a performance. According to her longtime manager, Walter Millsap III, the vehicle she was in flipped over and was struck by a big rig. While others in the vehicle survived, Stone tragically did not.
Her children, Diamond and Michael Archer, expressed their heartbreak in a statement, saying, “Never in a million years did we ever expect to get this horrible news. We are still trying to process and are completely heartbroken.” Millsap echoed their grief, calling the loss “devastating beyond words.”
Angie Stone- A Pioneer for Women in Hip-Hop
Stone’s legacy in the music industry began with The Sequence, an all-female hip-hop trio she co-founded in 1979. Alongside Cheryl “The Pearl” Cook and Gwendolyn “Blondy” Chisolm, the group made history as the first female rap act signed to Sugar Hill Records. Their debut single, “Funk You Up,” became a hip-hop classic, later influencing artists like Dr. Dre and Bruno Mars. The Sequence helped pave the way for women in rap, proving that female voices belonged in the male-dominated genre.
Neo-Soul Royalty
Though she started in hip-hop, Stone seamlessly transitioned into R&B and neo-soul, solidifying her place among legends like Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill. Her debut solo album, Black Diamond (1999), featured the hit “No More Rain (In This Cloud),” and her follow-up, Mahogany Soul (2001), included the beloved song “Wish I Didn’t Miss You.”
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Throughout her career, Stone collaborated with industry giants, including Prince, Alicia Keys, and Snoop Dogg. She was also a key creative force behind D’Angelo’s acclaimed albums Brown Sugar and Voodoo.
More Than Just Music
Beyond her contributions to music, Stone showcased her talents in acting, appearing in films like The Hot Chick and The Fighting Temptations. She also took on Broadway, starring as Big Mama Morton in Chicago. Her presence extended to reality television, where she appeared on R&B Divas: Atlanta and Celebrity Fit Club.
In 2023, she released her final album, Love Language, proving her artistic drive never waned. Her influence spans generations, and her contributions to music, particularly for women in hip-hop and neo-soul, will not be forgotten.
As tributes continue pour in, one thing remains clear—Angie Stone’s voice and impact will live on forever in the hearts of those she touched.
