Angie Stone was a celebrated singer-songwriter and actress, known for her contributions to the soul, R&B, and hip-hop genres. Born Angela Laverne Brown on December 18, 1961, in Columbia, South Carolina, she began her career as a member of the pioneering all-female hip-hop trio, The Sequence. The group gained fame with their 1979 hit single "Funk You Up," which was one of the first rap songs by a female group.
In the early 1990s, Stone transitioned to R&B and became the lead vocalist for the trio Vertical Hold. She later launched a successful solo career, releasing her debut album "Black Diamond" in 1999, which went gold in the United States. Her 2001 album "Mahogany Soul" included hits like "Brotha," "No More Rain (In This Cloud)," and "Wish I Didn't Miss You".
Stone's career spanned nearly five decades, during which she earned multiple Grammy nominations and won two Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards. She was also inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2024. Tragically, Angie Stone passed away on March 1, 2025, in a car accident.
Her legacy continues to inspire and influence artists in the music industry. You can find more about her life and career on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angie_Stone).