“When I was younger, I was taught that a winner never quits, and a quitter never wins.” --Angie Stone
“Funk You Up,” has lost its glowing star
in Angie Stone.
...it ultimately led to the creation of the R&B/hip hop group It's Us, which was later renamed Vertical Hold. In 1988, they released their debut single "Summertime" under Criminal Records.
After Mack departed from the group, Stone, Bright, and Bruno secured a new recording contract with A&M Records. Their first album, A Matter of Time, released in 1993, was preceded by the top 20 R&B hit "Seems You're Much Too Busy" and reached the top forty on the US Top R&B Albums chart, selling over 62,000 copies in the United States.
Angie Stone was like us - Her beautiful dark skin complimented all colors. Her love for The Lord was unmatched. Now, that you know all about how Angie became The Queen of Neo Soul, let’s go back to see how this great entertainer is just like you! Rodney Stone, Lil’ Rodney C entered the scene, and he was affectionately known as Little Rodney C. This young man would soon capture Angie’s heart, leading to marriage and the birth of their child. Initially, he educated Angie, and they eventually tied the knot. Although Angie remarked that they conducted business well together, she felt their marriage was flawed. Despite this, the couple collaborated on three self-written albums in 1984. When Sequence sought answers, Rodney and Angie welcomed a daughter named Diamond. Angie found opportunities performing in commercials and playing the saxophone for Lenny Kravitz. Subsequently, MCA Universal signed her to write songs for another artist, earning her $25,000. In 1993, Angie joined Vertical Hold, channeling her emotions into her music. The song "Seems You’re Much Too Busy" solidified her musical career. Despite facing challenges, Angie persevered in pursuit of her aspirations. After releasing two albums with Vertical Hold, she ventured out on her own but also contributed to D’Angelo’s "Brown Sugar," recognizing their deep connection. However, falling in love meant that Angie had to pause her career. By the late 1990s, her relationship with D’Angelo had ended. Angie recorded demos that reached Arista Records, eventually catching the attention of Peter Edge and Clive Davis. This led to a deal for her first solo album, "Black Diamond," which included the hit "No More Rain." After two decades in the industry, Angie finally embraced her identity as a solo artist. "Black Diamond" achieved gold status, and as Clive Davis launched J Records, he brought Angie along. She later found success with the powerful track "Brotha," dedicated to Black men, and although it didn’t make it onto the album, "Wish I Didn’t Miss You" soared to number one on the dance charts. Angie is known to have said that this was a song she didn’t even like. Angie Stone was amazed how popular it became. We learned this tune was inspired by the O’Jay’s' "Back Stabbers." Angie Stone celebrated two gold albums by the year 2000. She advised Jazzy not to revisit her earlier work, leading to the creation of another single, "I Wanna Thank You," which also reached number one on the dance charts...
Music: “Love Language” - Angie did an interview that showed her softer side and I really want to share this with you. On June 20, 2023, June Archer did a charming interview with Angie Stone. She was a remarkable woman. She told Archer that one notable aspect of my mother was her ability to stay true to herself. She navigated life on her own terms, never intruding on others' paths. She discovered her niche, focused on it, and pursued her endeavors in her unique way. As a result, she found great satisfaction in her life choices, and I believe I have inherited that trait from her.
I, too, carve out my own space, finding happiness in my independence and the decisions I have made. Then Archer said: “You have also made remarkable choices, Angie, and I must commend you for your body of work, which has helped many individuals through challenging times. When you share your experiences, people turn to you, your music, and your lyrics, finding hope and inspiration. Thank you for your resilience and for being a strong, unapologetically remarkable Black woman.
I would like to discuss your new album, "Love Language." To begin, I want to ask you: what is your love language, Angie? Is it expressed through music, food, a stroll in the park, or something else?” Archer asked. And then Ms. Stone chimed in: “It’s interesting that you pose this question, as many have been inquiring about it since the album's title is "Love Language." My love language encompasses all of those elements. Each track on this album reflects my essence—how I move, act, and think, as well as what stirs my emotions. You can gain insight into who I am simply by listening to my music. My love language embodies a humble spirit, one that seeks to avoid unnecessary drama and instead fosters joy and generosity. I resonate with those who are eager to give and share abundantly.
Angie Stone’s Famous Quotes
“Let us have some more fun with some very interesting quotes we found on line by Angie Stone. Be prepared to laugh and remember Angie Stone the way she’d love for her fans to remember her.
Because I am just a giving person spiritually, I feel that if your intentions are to use or abuse or take advantage of, then you might get what you’re getting in the meantime; but there’s still a price to pay.”
“Music always hits me when I’m driving so, I keep a recorder in my bag.”
“I’m the kind of woman you might say is too good. I’ll massage a man’s feet, have dinner cooked when he gets home. But once they leave, the door is closed, and the locks are changed.” “They always come back when they learn that no other woman’s going to treat them this good!” – Angie Stone
After I had finished Carol Denise Mitchell's latest book about Angie Stone, I wasn't quite sure how to begin to share about the book... You see, given my emphasis on reading/books, I don't have the knowledge to talk about those who specialize in other creative arts... People like Angie Stone... But, after reading what Mitchell had written, I knew two things: that Carol was one of the greatest fans Angie Stone had ever had... And, two, when a fan like Carol Denise Mitchell gets angry about what was done to a friend, she's going to write about it... after doing a lot of research!
At one point in her book, Carol writes to her readers that she knows she's repeating herself. And then adds, she is so shocked that she can't ever forget all that she discovered, or similar words... Now, from a book reader, I noticed more about her format rather than repetition of material. And, to me, that was more important...
She started out by talking about her own relationship with Angie... and shares as much as she wants. She has titled each chapter and becomes repetitive as she "bundles" material to talk about in each chapter... thus, each reader may decide a chapter is more significant and want to emphasize it more. One of the things that I didn't know even at hearing of the tribute being made was the breadth and scope of Angie Stone's accomplishments!
Carol talks about each of her activities from songwriting, singing (on Soul Train and other shows) as well as television performances, being spotlighted by Rolling Stone and so much more...
If you have not heard of author Carol Denise Mitchell, you will learn that her writing is more based upon what she wants and needs to write about rather than one or two genres... She's written fiction as well as nonfiction and so you will find that her books can be separated by topic as well as reading straight through. But no matter how she presents it, Mitchell has a specific purpose to writing this tribute--that is, besides expressing her emotional feelings about Stone.
Mitchell has experienced much abuse as we all know happens with those who are different in some way... meaning, not being a white man... And, she has written enough and done research to show how Black people, in particular, can be scammed by those individuals who are producers and/or hired to take care of specific duties and financial affairs while the creative artist does what she is being paid to do.
Mitchell refers often to what is found as documentation on YouTube. I found quite a bit that was not allowed to be shared from that site, including several recent posts to followup after Stone's accident. . I made no effort to learn more than the fact that I saw that there were many people talking about Stone's beginning to speak out about where her money had gone... And, a possible correlation to the fact that she was killed in a car accident...
What I do know is that, although I had never heard of Angie Stone before, I took the time to listen to her wide variety of music and I found her, in my opinion, a wonderful multi-talented role model for young girls and others. I was totally entertained by spotlighting all that I've shared with you all today! Angie's ability to move from one type of music to another, without any problem reveals just how much her talent exceeded many other singers who stick within, say, a country genre... Her obvious writing skills in poetically setting thoughts to music places her, also, above those who did not write and sing her creations... In fact, from what I've read, it is quite easy to see just how others had decided to, on an ongoing basis, take advantage of her generous nature, so much so that, as she was looking toward retirement, she was unable to do so because of lack of money... I couldn't help but think of similar situations where young, beautiful creatives have been manipulated to the point that they are being ignored once the funds begin to run dry...
While I am making no accusations myself, I suggest to those who are close to Stone, that they find somebody to trust and start looking, based upon the groundwork in this book... Carol is a great researcher--she's found more to write this book than necessary as a fan... But, Carol, is not just a fan of Angie, She's a black woman that cares about how all women and others who are being ignored or purposely taken advantage of based upon some bias or prejudice that has no foundation of Truth... To find her on this blog, you may need to use a variety of her name in the right column--I read Carol's first book and as many as I've been able since then... I've been honored to support her writing career...
For those those who are interested in music as a career, or music in general, this book will be fascinating for fans of Blues, R&B, Jazz and just about any beat, including one that sounded Latino... Stone had no limits to what she was able to "dream up..." This would also be a valuable educational book for those in the music business... There is every evidence from her "sound" as well as how she was "slid out" on some activities for one reason or another, that this woman could have been even more of a star than she was as evidenced by this Fan Tribute! At a minimum, have as much delight as I did as I listened to this playlist I was able to find relatively easily... Each recording was an amazing discovery of a supremely talented female singer! And I didn't even get into her television and other activities! Angie Stone deserves to be remembered! And she's probably already singing in the heavenly choir!
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