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Angie Stone

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Angie Stone
Stone in 2019.
Stone in 2019.
Background information
Birth nameAngela Laverne Brown
Born (1961-12-18) December 18, 1961 (age 63)
Columbia, South Carolina, United States
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • record producer
  • actress
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
Years active1979–present
Websitehttp://theangiestone.com/

Angela Laverne Brown (born December 18, 1961), known professionally as Angie Stone, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. She rose to fame in the late 1970s as member of the hip hop trio the Sequence. In the early 1990s, she became a member of the R&B trio Vertical Hold. Stone then signed with Arista Records to release her debut solo album Black Diamond (1999), which received gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and spawned the single "No More Rain (In This Cloud)".

After transitioning to J Records, she released her second album, Mahogany Soul (2001), 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), her first number-one album on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[1]

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 has since appeared 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).[1]

Stone has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, and has won two Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.[1] In 2021, she received the Soul Music Icon Award at the Black Music Honors. In 2024, she was a featured vocalist on Damon Little's "No Stressing", which peaked at #1 on Billboard's Gospel Airplay chart.[2]

Early life

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Stone was born in Columbia, South Carolina, where she began singing gospel music at First Nazareth Baptist Church, under the leadership of Reverend Blakely N. Scott. Her father, a member of a local gospel quartet, took Stone to see performances by gospel artists such as the Singing Angels and the Gospel Keynotes.[1]

Career

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1979–1985: The Sequence

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Main article: The Sequence

In the late 1970s, when Stone was 16, she formed the rap trio The Sequence, a female hip-hop act, also consisting of Cheryl "The Pearl" Cook and Gwendolyn "Blondie" Chisolm.[3] They were the second rap group signed to the Sugar Hill Records after auditioning for manager Sylvia Robinson backstage at a Sugar Hill Gang concert in South Carolina.[4] In 1980, The Sequence scored a hit with their single "Funk You Up", which reached number 15 on the US Top Black Singles chart.[4] The trio enjoyed a series of rap hits as the first female rap group during the early years of hip hop. Singles such as "Monster Jam" featuring rapper Spoonie Gee and "Funky Sound (Tear The Roof Off)" kept the band touring, with Robinson acting as their mentor.[4] The group faded into obscurity as hip hop changed from its original party sound to a more gritty street art form and the trio eventually disbanded in 1985.[4]

1986–2005: Vertical Hold, Black Diamond and career breakthrough

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Stone then worked with hip hop and electro funk music group Mantronix, before becoming the lead vocalist of the trio Vertical Hold which released the popular single "Seems You're Much Too Busy" as well as two albums: A Matter of Time (1993) and Head First (1995).[5] In 1996, Stone teamed up with Gerry DeVeaux, singer Lenny Kravitz's cousin, and Charlie Mole to form the group Devox. They recorded one album, Devox featuring Angie B. Stone, released in Japan by Toshiba EMI. Selected cuts were featured on Gerry DeVeaux's Front of the Line via the Expansion Records, which also included Stone-penned material.[6] Signed to Jocelyn Cooper's Midnight Songs, Stone also shared songwriting credits on D'Angelo's first two studio albums, Brown Sugar (1995) and Voodoo (2000), as well as provided backing vocals when on tour with him.[7] She also served as a backing vocalist on Lenny Kravitz's fifth studio album, 5 (1998).[7]

Stone in 1997

In the late 1990s, Arista Records then A&R manager Peter Edge brought Stone to label head Clive Davis's attention.[8] He offered her a solo recording contract with the label and in September 1999, her debut solo album, Black Diamond, was released. Named after her then-teenage daughter Diamond Ti'ara,[9] it was released to positive reviews from music critics, and reached the top ten on Billboard's US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[10] Black Diamond was eventually certified gold by both the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) and spawned the Adult R&B Songs number-one hit "No More Rain (In This Cloud)". The single earned Stone two nominations at the 2000 Soul Train Music Awards.

In 2000, Stone transitioned from Arista to music manager Clive Davis's venture J Records.[11] Also that year, she recorded the theme song for the UPN/The CW sitcom Girlfriends, starring Tracee Ellis Ross, as well as a cameo appearance from the third season episode "Blinded by the Lights". She then released her second album Mahogany Soul on October 16, 2001, with the label. Involving a wider range of contemporary R&B musicians, Stone collaborated with Carvin & Ivan, Raphael Saadiq, Swizz Beatz, Alicia Keys and Eve on much of the album. Released to favorable reviews,[12] [13][14] it peaked at number four on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, while reaching the top twenty of the Dutch, Finnish and Flemish Album Charts.

Again, Stone was awarded gold by BPI and RIAA for Mahogany Soul.[15] "Wish I Didn't Miss You", the album's second single, became her biggest international hit yet, reaching the top ten in Australia and Belgium as well as the top of Billboard's Dance Club Songs.[15] "More Than Woman", a duet with singer Joe, earned Stone her first Grammy Award nomination in the Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals category at the 45th ceremony.

In 2002, Stone had a guest role on Girlfriends and played store owner Madame Mambuza in the American teen comedy The Hot Chick, starring Rob Schneider. The film scored generally negative reviews from film critics for its vulgar and lowbrow humor,[16] but became a moderate box office success in the US.[17] The following year, the singer appeared in the role of Alma in the Jonathan Lynn's musical comedy-drama The Fighting Temptations alongside Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Beyoncé. Released to mixed reviews, it was commercially less successful than The Hot Chick.[18] Stone recorded "Rain Down", a duet with Eddie Levert, for the accompanying soundtrack.

Stone Love, her third album, was released in June 2004. Davis consulted Warryn Campbell, Jazze Pha and Missy Elliott to work with Stone, who penned and produced half of the final track listing herself. The album debuted at number 14 on the US Billboard 200, selling 53,000 copies in its first week of release, and entered the top twenty in Belgium, Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands.[19] Its release was preceded by the single "I Wanna Thank Ya" featuring Snoop Dogg, a top five hit in Belgium and Stone's second chart topper on the US Dance Club Songs. In 2005, Stone began recording what as expected to become her fifth regular album, but to save costs J Records asked her to transfer her new material, including the previously unreleased single "I Wasn't Kidding",[20] to her first compilation album Stone Hits: The Very Best of Angie Stone, compromising songs from her first three albums.[20] After five years with the company, Stone subsequently asked for and received an unconditional release from the label at the end of 2005.[21]

2006–2014: The Art of Love and War and subsequent releases

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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.[22] The same year, Stone signed to the reworked Stax Records. Her fourth studio album The Art of Love & War, a reference to her experiences in her final days at J Records, where it had become expected that she would help develop new talent, was released on October 15, 2007.[23] The album debuted at number eleven on the US 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 date to top the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[24] Lead single "Baby", a duet with Betty Wright, became her second number-one hit on the US Adult R&B Songs and earned Stone her third nomination at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards.

Stone's second effort with Stax Records, her fifth studio album Unexpected, was released in November 2009.[25] With its title partly referencing Stone's sudden and devastating loss of her father who unexpectedly died in the midst of her recording sessions for the album, it marked a slight move away from Stone's signature sound in favor of more upbeat R&B and funk influences.[25] A commercial failure, the album debuted and peaked at number 133 on the US Billboard 200 and failed to chart elsewhere. "I Ain't Hearin' U", the album's lead single reached number 14 on Billboard's Adult R&B Songs. In 2009, Stone had a minor role as a strip-club owner in Rockmond Dunbar's comedy drama Pastor Brown.[25] Also that year, she sang "Wade in the Water" in the civil rights documentary Soundtrack for a Revolution (2009).[26] In 2010, Stone then played the head matron of an all-girls school in the film, School Gyrls (2010), directed by Nick Cannon, which featured many Def Jam artists.

In May 2011, along with NeNe Leakes, Stone co-starred in the play Loving Him is Killing Me that was performed in Washington, DC, Miami, and Philadelphia. The play was written by Theo London and also starred Tyson Beckford and Christopher Williams.[27] In 2012, Stone signed to Saguaro Road Records, an in-house music recording label of Time-Life, and released Rich Girl September 25, 2012.[5] actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner contributed a poetry-slam-style spoken-word interlude to the record.[28] Stone and Brian McKnight, who starred together in Chicago on Broadway, toured nationally in a production of Hinton Battle's Love Lies, which started with an engagement at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C. in April 2013. The cast also included Crystal Aikin and Elise Neal.[29] Also in 2013, Stone appeared on season two of TVOne's R&B Divas.[30][31][32][33] Stone's role was that of a mentor and life coach.[7]

2015–present: Dream and Full Circle

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In November 2015, Stone released her seventh studio album Dream on Shanachie Entertainment in collaboration with TopNotch Music and Conjunction Entertainment.[34] Producer Walter Millsap III and Stone co-wrote the majority of the album with a core group that also included former The Clutch members Candice Nelson, Balewa Muhammad and producer Hallway Productionz.[35][36] The album received positive reviews from critics who called the record "another solid and empowering effort,"[37] and debuted at number three at Top Hip-Hop/R&B Albums chart, with approximately 9,000 copies sold in its opening week.[38]

The album's first single, "2 Bad Habits" became a minor hit on the Adult R&B Songs chart.[39] Following another label change, Stone released the cover album Covered in Soul through Goldenlane Records, comprising renditions of popular Phil Collins, Hot Chocolate, and Neil Diamond songs. Preceded by the single "These Eyes", a cover of the same-titled The Guess Who song, it failed to chart.[40][41]

In July 2019, Stone released her ninth studio album Full Circle, on Conjunction Entertainment and Cleopatra Records. The album features the lead single "Dinosaur", produced by Walter Millsap III & Hallway Productionz.[42]

In June 2024, Stone was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame.[43]

Personal life

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Stone has two children. Stone's daughter, Diamond, was born in 1984 and is from her marriage to Rodney Stone, also known as Lil' Rodney C!, from the hip-hop group Funky Four Plus One. Diamond contributed background vocals to Stone's 2007 song "Baby".[44] Diamond gave birth to Stone's grandson in 2008 and another grandchild in July 2012.[5]

During the 1990s, Stone was in a relationship with neo soul singer D'Angelo. They have a son named Michael D'Angelo Archer II.[45] He was born in 1998.

Stone lives in Atlanta, Georgia with her son, Michael and her daughter, Diamond.[23][46][47]

In March 2015, it was reported that Stone had been arrested for assaulting her 30-year-old daughter.[48]

In 1999, Stone was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes[49] and, along with comedian-actor Anthony Anderson,[50] was part of the F.A.C.E Diabetes (Fearless African-Americans Connected and Empowered) program sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company,[3] which helps African Americans understand their risk for diabetes and how to control it.[51] Stone said that both her mother and her mother's sister were diabetic.[52][53]

Stone is an honorary member of Zeta Phi Beta sorority. She was inducted in July 2024 at the sorority's Boulé in Indianapolis, Indiana.[54]

Discography

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Main article: Angie Stone discography

Studio albums

Filmography

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Films

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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

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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

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

Awards and nominations

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Wins

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Nominations

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Angie Stone / Biography". Billboard.com. Archived from the original on May 3, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  2. ^ "Cody Carnes Scores His First Christian AC Airplay No. 1 With 'Firm Foundation' - Plus, Damon Little's "No Stressing," featuring Angie Stone, leads Gospel Airplay by Jim Asker". Billboard 2. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Neo-Soul Singer Angie Stone Belts a New Tune: Be Fearless in the FACE of Diabetes". Eli Lilly and Company. PR Newswire. April 15, 2008. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d SOULEO (August 16, 2012). "INTERVIEW – Angie Stone: Soul on the Outside". Ebony. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c Mitchell, David A. (June 4, 2012). "Angie Stone: Doing What She's Gotta Do!". Amalgamation Magazine. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  6. ^ "angie stone". Soulwalking. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  7. ^ a b c Carter, Kelley L. (May 8, 2013). "R&B Diva Deluxe: Angie Stone Schools the Young Guns". Ebony. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  8. ^ Davis, Clive (February 19, 2013). Soundtrack of My Life. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9781476714806. Retrieved March 27, 2019.
  9. ^ Easlea, Daryl (2012). "Review of Angie Stone – Black Diamond". BBC Music. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  10. ^ LaVeck, Theresa E. "Black Diamond – Angie Stone". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  11. ^ "Superstar Monica Selects Self-Titled Album". Business Wire. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  12. ^ Promis, Jose F. "Mahogany Soul – Angie Stone". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  13. ^ Pareles, Jon (November 10, 2001). "SOUL REVIEW; Straight Talk and Uplift". The New York Times. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  14. ^ Powers, Ann (April 26, 2000). "POP REVIEW; Gospel and Earthy Asides by a Preacher of the Everyday". The New York Times. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  15. ^ a b Aaron, Charles (January 2003). "Singles of The Year". Spin. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  16. ^ "The Hot Chick". rottentomatoes.com. December 13, 2002. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  17. ^ The Hot Chick at Box Office Mojo
  18. ^ "The Fighting Temptations". rottentomatoes.com. September 19, 2003. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  19. ^ Whitmire, Margo (July 14, 2004). "Banks Secures Another Week At No. 1". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  20. ^ a b "Reviews: Singles". Billboard. December 10, 2005. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  21. ^ "Angie Stone talks music, weight and reality TV". MTV News. October 26, 2007. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  22. ^ "Angie Stone: The Wow Factor". Essence. December 16, 2009. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  23. ^ a b "The Stone Age: Angie Stone on her new album, fiance and D'Angelo". Essence. December 16, 2009. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  24. ^ Hasty, Katie (October 24, 2007). "Springsteen Returns To No. 1 In Slow Sales Week". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Retrieved October 25, 2007.
  25. ^ a b c Lewis, Pete. "Angie Stone: Hard Act to Follow". Blues & Soul. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  26. ^ None, None (January 21, 2010). "Video: Angie Stone Sings 'Wade in the Water'". The New York Times. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  27. ^ Melton, Nicole Marie (May 9, 2011). "NeNe Leakes and Angie Stone Star in New Play". Essence. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  28. ^ Friskics-Warren, Bill (September 24, 2012). "Angie Stone, 'Rich Girl' album review". Washington Post. Archived from the original on October 24, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  29. ^ Gioia, Michael (April 2, 2013). "Brian McKnight and Angie Stone Star in National Tour of Hinton Battle's Love Lies, Beginning April 2 in D.C." Playbill. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  30. ^ Sangweni, Yolanda (June 6, 2013). "EXCLUSIVE: Angie Stone on 'R&B Divas,' Saving Soul Music, and Waiting for D'Angelo's Comeback". Essence. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  31. ^ "Angie Stone Talks Divas & D'Angelo On The Ricky Smiley Morning Show". Okayplayer. May 20, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  32. ^ The Rickey Smiley Morning Show (May 20, 2013). "Angie Stone Explains What She's Trying To Do On "R&B Divas" Reality Show [EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW]". Rickey Smiley Morning Show. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  33. ^ Croom, Tene’ (May 8, 2013). "Angie Stone's Bringing A Legacy of Leadership to 'R&B Divas: Atlanta' (Listen)". Lee Bailey's eurweb.com. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  34. ^ Dream by Angie Stone, retrieved January 14, 2020
  35. ^ Mitchell, Gail. "Angie Stone Talks About Her 'Dream' Album, D'Angelo and More: 'I Wanted to Quit'". Billboard. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  36. ^ "Dream – Angie Stone | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  37. ^ Bauer, Matt (November 6, 2015). "Angie Stone – Dream". Exclaim!. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  38. ^ "Angie Stone's 'Dream' Debuts on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
  39. ^ "Angie Stone Announces New Album for Release This November". YouKnowIGotSoul. August 18, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  40. ^ Cragg, Michael (August 7, 2016). "Angie Stone: Covered in Soul review – one for completists only". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  41. ^ "Review: Angie Stone Is 'Covered In Soul' | ThisisRnB.com – Hot New R&B Music, Videos, News". www.thisisrnb.com. August 5, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  42. ^ "Full Circle". iTunes. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  43. ^ CCM News (June 11, 2024). "Award-Winning Artist Martha Munizzi To Be Inducted Into Women Songwriter's Hall of Fame". CCM Magazine. Retrieved June 25, 2024.
  44. ^ Angie Stone Interview on Michael Baisden Radio show
  45. ^ "Angie Stone Delivers Southern Comfort". Essence. December 16, 2009. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  46. ^ "Angie Stone Planning To Wed In The Bahamas". Starpulse.com. August 13, 2007. Archived from the original on July 30, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  47. ^ Broddie, Cedric (December 20, 2011). "Angie Stone 50th Birthday Surprise". GospelCONNOISSEUR.COM. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  48. ^ "Angie Stone arrested on suspicion of knocking out daughter's front teeth". NME. March 11, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  49. ^ Ford, Sabrina (November 23, 2009). "'Unexpected': Angie Stone's New Album and Lifestyle". Essence. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  50. ^ "Anthony Anderson and Angie Stone F.A.C.E. Diabetes and Encourage African Americans to 'Make Over Your Sunday Meal'". Rolling Out. Steed Media Group, Inc. December 9, 2010. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  51. ^ "Angie Stone: Grammy Nominated Artist Speaking Out About Diabetes". TALK! with AUDREY. The Adams Report. 2009. Archived from the original (audio interview) on August 9, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  52. ^ "Angie Stone Interview: Learning to Deal With Diabetes: Body and Soul". BET. June 14, 2010. Retrieved October 23, 2013. 'My mom was a diabetic. Her sister was a diabetic, so I was already a candidate,' said Stone.
  53. ^ "Angie Stone Biography". dLife.com. November 28, 2012. Archived from the original on March 31, 2013. Retrieved October 23, 2013.
  54. ^ Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated Announces Newest Class of Honorary Members
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