Angela Laverne Brown (December 18, 1961 – March 1, 2025), known professionally as Angie Stone, was an American singer-songwriter, rapper, actress, and record producer renowned for her contributions to R&B, neo-soul, and hip-hop music over four decades.

Born in Columbia, South Carolina, she began her career in the late 1970s as Angie B., a member of The Sequence, the first female rap group to release an album, scoring a hit with "Funk You Up" in 1980 before the group disbanded in the mid-1980s.

In the early 1990s, she joined the R&B group Vertical Hold, which released the album "A Matter of Time" in 1993, and she contributed as a songwriter and backing vocalist for artists including Lenny Kravitz before launching her solo career in the late 1990s.​

Angie Stone signed with Arista Records and released her debut solo album, "Black Diamond," in 1999, which achieved gold certification and featured the hit single "No More Rain (In This Cloud)," establishing her signature blend of soulful vocals and hip-hop influences. She followed with critically acclaimed albums such as "Mahogany Soul" (2001), "Stone Love" (2004), "The Art of Love & War" (2007), and "Unexpected" (2009), earning Grammy nominations and Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards for her rich, emotive style often compared to Aretha Franklin.

Later releases included "Dream" (2015), "Full Circle" (2019), and "Love Language" (2023), while she was inducted into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2024, cementing her legacy as a pioneer in neo-soul.​

In addition to music, she ventured into acting, debuting in the 2000 film "Love & Basketball" and appearing in "The Hot Chick" (2002), "The Fighting Temptations" (2003), "Ride Along" (2014), and television projects including her Broadway role as Big Mama Morton in "Chicago" (2003) and reality series like VH1's "Celebrity Fit Club" and TV One's "R&B Divas."

Her multifaceted career showcased her versatility across genres and media, with a focus on themes of love, resilience, and empowerment.​

Her personal life included marriage to rapper Lil' Rodney Cee and raising a daughter, Diamond Stone, who pursued music as Ashé. She faced health challenges in later years but remained active until her death. Angie Stone died in a car crash on Interstate 65 near Montgomery, Alabama, on March 1, 2025, at the age of 63, leaving a profound impact on contemporary R&B and soul music.