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Angie Stone’ s debut
Angie Stone grew up in a musical family where her father was a member of a gospel group. It was here that she developed her love of music. At the age of 16, she co-founded The Sequence, an all-female hip-hop trio that was one of the first all-female rap groups to sign with Sugar Hill Records. Their single,“ Funk You Up”, released in 1979, caused a sensation and paved the way for other women in rap, establishing Angie as a pioneer in a male-dominated field.
Angie has often said that her experience with The Sequence was formative and helped her work on her stage presence. In one interview, she said,“ It was incredibly gratifying to be part of a group that not only made an impact, but also opened doors for other female artists”.
During this period, she wrote for MC Lyte and Salt-N-Pepa.
Her flow influenced generations of female rappers, from Lauryn Hill to Missy Elliott.
In a memorable interview with The Guardian( 2019), she confides:“ The church was our Broadway. That’ s where I learned to sing with my guts, to make souls vibrate. But in the evenings, I would secretly listen to Aretha and Stevie records that my aunt would bring home. These two worlds made me the artist I am today.”
Flashmag! Issue 159 April 2025
After The Sequence disbanded, Angie turned her attention to R & B. In the 1990s, she joined the group Vertical Hold, which released several albums, including“ A Matter of Time” in 1993. Their success culminated in the single“ Seems You’ re Just Too Busy”, which reached the Top 40 of the Billboard R & B chart. However, it was her first solo album,“ Black Diamond”, released in 1999, that propelled her to the forefront of the neo-soul movement. She declared:“ The‘ Black Diamond’ album not only represented a new chapter in my career, but also marked my resilience as an artist after leaving Vertical Hold. It allowed me to explore my creativity without compromise”.
Angie Stone Black Diamond photography: Ruven Afanador styling: Michaela Angela Davis hair: Chuck Amos- makeup: Nzingha prop styling: Jocelyn Beaudoin
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