Hip-hop lost a real one. Angie Stone, the soulful voice behind some of the smoothest R&B joints of the ‘90s and 2000s, was also one of the first female MCs ever to do it. Before she blessed us with hits like “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” and “Brotha,” she was spitting rhymes as part of The Sequence—hip-hop’s first all-female rap group.
Back in 1979, The Sequence—made up of Angie B (Angie Stone), Cheryl “The Pearl” Cook, and Gwendolyn “Blondy” Chisolm—put ladies on the rap map when they dropped “Funk You Up.” That track made history as one of the first rap records ever released by a female group and later became one of the most sampled songs in hip-hop (yes, that’s the same groove Dr. Dre flipped on “Keep Their Heads Ringin’”).
At a time when hip-hop was just getting started, The Sequence kicked in the door for female MCs, proving that women had bars, style, and influence. Without them, we might not have seen the rise of legends like Salt-N-Pepa, MC Lyte, or Queen Latifah.
Angie Stone wasn’t just about rapping—her voice was straight-up magic. When she transitioned into R&B, she brought that hip-hop energy, crafting smooth, soulful joints that hit deep. Songs like “No More Rain (In This Cloud)” and “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” were anthems, blending old-school vibes with modern-day soul.
She worked with legends like D’Angelo, Lenny Kravitz, and Mary J. Blige, helping shape the neo-soul movement while keeping her hip-hop roots alive. Angie wasn’t just a singer—she was a vibe, a storyteller, and a game-changer.
Losing Angie Stone is a significant blow to the culture. She was a hip-hop and soul trailblazer who gave us timeless music. Whether rocking the mic with The Sequence or pouring her heart into R&B, she always kept it honest.
Her legacy will live on through every beat, every lyric, and every artist she inspired.
