The music and entertainment industry is mourning the loss of Angie Stone, the legendary singer-songwriter and hip-hop pioneer, who tragically passed away in a car accident early Saturday morning in Montgomery, Alabama. She was 63.
Stone’s publicist, Deborah R. Champagne, confirmed the heartbreaking news, expressing that her family is devastated.
“Many of her loved ones had spoken to her just last night,” Champagne told TMZ.
Born Angela Brown, Stone gained recognition as a member of The Sequence, hip-hop’s first all-female rap group. Their 1979 hit Funk You Up was one of the earliest rap songs to enter the mainstream, later sampled in Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk and Dr. Dre’s Keep Their Heads Ringin’. Transitioning to a solo career in the late 1990s, she earned Grammy nominations and released celebrated R&B hits such as Brotha, No More Rain, and Wish I Didn’t Miss You.
With a career spanning decades, Stone seamlessly fused hip-hop, soul, and R&B. Her debut solo album, Black Diamond, achieved gold status, and she received multiple Grammy nominations, including Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for U-Haul and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group for collaborations with Joe (More Than a Woman) and Betty Wright (Baby).
Tributes poured in from fellow artists and industry figures following the devastating news.
Chuck D, Public Enemy’s legendary frontman and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, described Stone as a foundational figure. “Angie Stone was a powerful pioneer,” he told Black Press USA. “A cornerstone of modern soul, hip-hop, and women’s empowerment—one who remains vastly under-credited. This is a tremendous loss.”
Rocky Bucano, executive director of the Hip Hop Museum, honored Stone’s legacy. “As a member of The Sequence, Angie B paved the way for generations of women in hip-hop,” he said in an email to Black Press USA. “Her influence on hip-hop culture is immeasurable, and her absence will be deeply felt. Rest in power, Angie Stone. Your voice and impact will endure.”
DJ Ralph McDaniels also shared his sentiments. “Wishing our sister Angie Stone a peaceful journey,” he said. “Her voice was distinct—whether with hip-hop’s pioneering female group Sequence or in her soulful solo work.”
Dr. Mario Dickens of Mario Dickens Ministries also expressed his condolences as well. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of this era’s most memorable voices,” he said.
“We extend our prayers to her loved ones and fans,” adding that his company would provide memorial printing services to Stone’s family at no cost.
