Hip-hop's history is littered with indispensable game-changers, but few have dug themselves as deep into the genre's fabric as Angie Stone. From the gritty streets of the Bronx to the soulful sounds of Neo-Soul, Stone's influence is irrefutable. Still, her contributions get overlooked in mainstream narratives. As legends of Hip-Hop culture look back upon her still-momentous legacy, the time has come to clear the air.
It was 1981, and Angie Brown, better known as Angie B, was riding high from a hit record with The Sequence. She stood shoulder to shoulder with MC Sha-Rock, Hip-Hop's first female rapper, backstage at the legendary Disco Fever in the Bronx. The two were young, ambitious, and at the forefront of a volatile movement.
Gunshots rang out, and then Panic erupted. In the disorder, Sha-Rock fell. Angie immediately covered her to protect her from the stampede while they exited. This bravery wasn't a moment of friendship but a testament to who Angie Stone was at her core: a protector, leader, and force.
Before Salt-N-Pepa, before Queen Latifah, there was The Sequence. Hip-hop's first all-female rap group, Angie Stone, Cheryl "The Pearl" Cook, and Gwendolyn "Blondy" Chisolm, knocked down doors. Discovered by the legendary Sylvia Robinson, the adolescent trio signed to Sugar Hill Records, quickly making history.
Their hit "Funk You Up" (1979) was the second rap song the label ever released, following the Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight." Its influence rippled through decades, and Dr. Dre sampled it for "Keep Their Heads Ringin'." They didn't merely rap to the beat, they weaved Southern soul into Hip-Hop, mixing R&B with funk and cutting lyricism well before the commercial formula wrote its own rules.
MC Debbie D highlights The Sequence's importance in her own right: "They were proof that women in Hip-Hop were marketable. They were doing things the rest of us could only dream of. National tours, TV appearances."
It was 1981, and Angie Brown, better known as Angie B, was riding high from a hit record with The Sequence. She stood shoulder to shoulder with MC Sha-Rock, Hip-Hop's first female rapper, backstage at the legendary Disco Fever in the Bronx. The two were young, ambitious, and at the forefront of a volatile movement.
Gunshots rang out, and then Panic erupted. In the disorder, Sha-Rock fell. Angie immediately covered her to protect her from the stampede while they exited. This bravery wasn't a moment of friendship but a testament to who Angie Stone was at her core: a protector, leader, and force.
Before Salt-N-Pepa, before Queen Latifah, there was The Sequence. Hip-hop's first all-female rap group, Angie Stone, Cheryl "The Pearl" Cook, and Gwendolyn "Blondy" Chisolm, knocked down doors. Discovered by the legendary Sylvia Robinson, the adolescent trio signed to Sugar Hill Records, quickly making history.
Their hit "Funk You Up" (1979) was the second rap song the label ever released, following the Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight." Its influence rippled through decades, and Dr. Dre sampled it for "Keep Their Heads Ringin'." They didn't merely rap to the beat, they weaved Southern soul into Hip-Hop, mixing R&B with funk and cutting lyricism well before the commercial formula wrote its own rules.
MC Debbie D highlights The Sequence's importance in her own right: "They were proof that women in Hip-Hop were marketable. They were doing things the rest of us could only dream of. National tours, TV appearances."
Angie Stone didn't fade away when The Sequence disbanded in 1985 but She evolved. Her work with the group Vertical Hold produced the hit "Seems You're Much Too Busy," but her collaboration with D'Angelo established her as an R&B powerhouse.
She also co-wrote and sang background on his 1995 classic Brown Sugar, a song that initiated what would become the Neo-Soul movement. With her hits like "Brotha" and "I Wanna Thank Ya" (feat Snoop Dogg), she showed too that Hip-Hop and soul were forever linked.
Angie Stone was fighting even in her final days not just to be respected, but to be compensated. She shamed Universal Records on social media for unpaid royalties, a battle too many artists fight. She was a grandmother concerned about her legacy and called for accountability.
Her early death has led to renewed discussions about how the industry treats its legends. But make no mistake: Angie Stone changed the game of music forever. We will never forget her voice, her vision, and her fight. So, next time you speak of Hip-Hop's greats, mention her name. Without Angie Stone, today's sound would have been much different.
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