The late Angie Stone was many things: an artist, an actress, a songwriter, and a record producer. To many people in the music community, she was a pivotal figure in the Neo-Soul movement. Hit songs such as “No More Rain(In This Cloud),” “Wish I Didn’t Miss You,” and “Baby” showcased her balance at continuing classic soul traditions while fusing them with Hip Hop sonics. An average eye might deem her collaborations with Hip Hop artists such as Eve, Snoop Dogg, and Guru to be of the norm in Urban Contemporary in the time of Late 90s – Mid-00s. However, it’s interesting to note how passionate she was in those songs. It is very clear she loved hip-hop, but what if I tell you that the late Ms. Stone was, at first, a rapper?
In the Late 1970s, the South Carolina native formed “The Sequence”, an all female rap trio. The group consisted of Angie Stone, Cheryl Cook, and Gwendolyn Chisolm. The trio’s careers were launched when they auditioned for CEO of Sugar Hill Records, Sylvia Robinson. The trio were signed to the label and the rest is history.
The 1980 single “Funk You Up”, began a series of hits for the group. The song’s butter bred, gritty nature and in sync harmonies became a blueprint not only for their success, but for female Hip Hop. The trio paved the way for female artists such as Salt’ N” Peppa, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, Mary J. Blige, and more.
The Sequence’s first two albums (1980 and 1982) were a launching pad for the late Angie Stone at the time. The funky, soulful grooves were a sneak peek of the successful career that she would later embark on. The collaborations in her Neo-Soul era weren’t by the numbers. They were odes to her past and history as a female pioneer in Hip Hop. Without the contributions, the genre would have never gained a female perspective. May the late Angie Stone forever rest in beats.
