Grammy-nominated R&B and hip-hop songstress Angie Stone, known for her sultry vocals and timeless hits, has died at the age of 63. The beloved singer, whose career spanned over four decades, was tragically killed in a car crash on March 1, according to her record label, SRG/ILS Group. Music producer Walter Millsap III confirmed that Stone was travelling from Alabama when the vehicle she was in overturned and was subsequently hit by a big rig around 4 a.m.
Stone first gained recognition in the late 1970s as a member of the pioneering female hip-hop trio The Sequence, known for their 1979 hit Funk You Up, which became one of the earliest rap songs to chart. However, she found widespread success as a solo R&B artist with her 1999 debut album Black Diamond, followed by Mahogany Soul in 2001, which featured the platinum-certified single Wish I Didn’t Miss You. Over the years, she earned three Grammy nominations, including Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for U-Haul in 2005.
Her influence extended beyond music, as she was celebrated for blending neo-soul with classic R&B. SRG/ILS described her as a “true light to everyone she touched.” Her most recent album, Love Language, released in 2023, showcased her enduring talent and ability to connect with audiences across generations. With over 2 million albums sold in the U.S. alone, according to Nielsen SoundScan, her legacy remains firmly cemented in music history.
Fans and fellow artists have flooded social media with tributes, mourning the loss of a woman who shaped the sound of modern R&B. From her early days in hip-hop to her reign in neo-soul, Angie Stone’s voice was more than just a melody—it was a movement. As the music world remembers her, her soulful catalogue will continue to resonate with listeners for years to come.
