Angie Stone’s voice was always more than a sound — it was an emotion, a truth-teller, a vessel for love, pain, and survival. She sang with the wisdom of someone who had lived, who had seen and felt it all, and who, through her music, was determined to help others feel less alone. Hers was a voice that carried the weight of Black womanhood — its joys, its burdens, its victories — wrapped in melodies that resonated deep in the marrow of the soul.

On Saturday, the world lost more than just a singer in a tragic car crash. We lost a cornerstone of modern soul music, a woman whose legacy stretches across decades, genres and generations. Angie Stone was the bridge — between hip-hop and soul, between past and future, between the raw and the refined. Her impact on music is immeasurable, her influence undeniable.

The birth of a pioneer: The Sequence and hip-hop’s earliest days

Before she became a soul icon, Angie Stone was a hip-hop pioneer. Long before the world knew her sultry alto, she was spitting rhymes as a member of The Sequence, one of the first female rap groups in history. Their 1979 hit “Funk You Up” wasn’t just a song — it was a statement. The Sequence helped carve out space for women in hip-hop before the genre even knew what it could be. Without The Sequence, there’s no Salt-N-Pepa, no Queen Latifah, no Nicki Minaj.

Even then, Stone’s artistry was ahead of its time. She was a visionary, blending rhythm and poetry in ways that would later become standard in neo-soul. Her ability to move seamlessly between rapping and singing would set the foundation for her future career — one that would redefine soul music at the turn of the millennium.

The soul revival: Vertical Hold and the birth of a sound

In the early ’90s, Stone stepped into the world of contemporary R&B with Vertical Hold, a group that saw her transition from hip-hop to the layered, groove-heavy sound that would later define her solo career. Their hit “Seems You’re Just Too Busy” showcased Stone’s knack for storytelling, her ability to make the everyday feel profound.

But Stone wasn’t meant to be confined to a group. Her voice, her pen, her essence — they all needed a stage of their own. And when she stepped out as a solo artist, the game changed.

‘Black Diamond’: A new dawn for soul music

In 1999, ‘Black Diamond’ arrived like a revelation. At a time when mainstream R&B was chasing glossy, radio-friendly hits, Stone brought back depth, texture and raw emotion. The album was a masterclass in storytelling, with Stone’s honeyed vocals pouring over warm, live instrumentation, giving us a new language for love and longing.

Her breakout hit, “No More Rain (In This Cloud),” was a masterpiece of resilience, flipping a sample of Gladys Knight’s “Neither One of Us” into a declaration of emotional survival. This wasn’t just heartbreak music — it was healing music.

Her sound, her aesthetic, her approach to music would later be grouped under the neo-soul banner, a movement led by artists like D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and Maxwell. But make no mistake — Angie Stone was one of its architects.

‘Mahogany Soul’: An undeniable legacy

If ‘Black Diamond’ announced her arrival, 2001’s ‘Mahogany Soul’ cemented her status as a force in contemporary soul music. With songs like “Brotha” — an unapologetic ode to Black men — and “Wish I Didn’t Miss You,” which turned a Rolling Stones sample into one of the most gut-wrenching heartbreak anthems of the 2000s, Stone proved that her music was both timeless and timely.

‘Mahogany Soul’ was a statement of identity, a love letter to Black love, Black struggle, Black endurance. This was music that healed, that affirmed, that reminded its listeners of their inherent beauty and worth.

A songwriter’s Hall of Fame career

Beyond her own music, Stone’s pen was legendary. She had a hand in shaping some of R&B’s most defining moments, writing for artists across the spectrum, from D’Angelo (yes, she played a role in Brown Sugar’s magic) to Mary J. Blige, Raphael Saadiq and Lenny Kravitz.

Her ability to craft lyrics that cut straight to the soul eventually earned her a place in the Songwriters Hall of Fame — a long-overdue recognition for an artist whose pen was just as powerful as her voice.

‘Stone Love,’ ‘The Art of Love & War,’ and the 2000s soul renaissance

Through the 2000s, Stone continued delivering music that spoke to the full spectrum of love and life.

• 2004’s ‘Stone Love’ saw her lean into sensuality and groove, blending classic influences with contemporary production.
• 2007’s ‘The Art of Love & War’ earned her a No. 1 album on the Billboard R&B charts, proving that even as the industry evolved, Stone’s voice remained essential.
• 2012’s ‘Rich Girl’ and 2015’s ‘Dream’ saw her expanding her sound while staying true to the warmth and depth that made her music a refuge for so many.

Beyond music: Advocacy and impact

Stone’s impact wasn’t limited to the studio. She was a fierce advocate for diabetes awareness, speaking openly about her own struggles with the disease and working to educate the Black community about health and wellness.

She also mentored younger artists, offering wisdom that only someone who had seen every side of the industry could provide. She had a deep knowledge of the music business, understanding that music was bigger than record sales — it was about telling truth and touching lives.

A final bow, a lasting echo

Stone’s music was like a well-worn book — pages full of wisdom, love and survival that we turned to time and time again. She sang our stories, the ones we lived and the ones we were still learning to navigate. Her voice carried the weight of experience, yet it wrapped itself around us like an old friend, always knowing exactly what to say.

But storytellers like her don’t fade away. Their words, their melodies, their spirit settle into the cultural mosaic of our lives, playing on long after they’re gone. Stone’s music will always be there — on late-night drives, on Sunday mornings, in the quiet moments when we need it most.

So when “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” comes on, let it be more than a song — let it be a reminder that she’s still here, in every note, in every lyric, in every heart she ever touched.

Rest well, Angie. Your song will never stop playing.

This week’s pick is a tribute to timeless artistry.

Dean Beanz, a Detroit producer, musician, and artist, has been a creative force and cornerstone of the city’s music scene for decades. Known as a renaissance man with an eclectic perspective, Beanz has shaped and influenced generations of Detroit music with his unique blend of styles and relentless creativity.

His latest track, “Play (Like We Used To),” is a nostalgic ride back to the golden age of hip-hop — a time when beats were lush, grooves were undeniable, and storytelling reigned supreme. This throwback gem is more than just a song; it’s a love letter to an era that shaped the sound of a movement. With soulful production and impeccable storytelling, Beanz reminds us why that era remains iconic and why his influence continues to ripple through the Detroit music scene.

Let’s vibe out to “Play (Like We Used To)” — my Pick of the Week.

That was Dean Beanz with “Play (Like We Used To)” — a track that blends nostalgia with mastery, taking us back to a time when hip-hop was raw, real and resonant.

If you’re into progressive, eclectic hip-hop sounds like this, make sure you tune in to The Progressive Underground every Saturday at 6 p.m. on 101.9 WDET. From future soul to nu-jazz, b-sides to rare grooves, we’ve got your musical journey covered.

For The Progressive Underground, I’m Chris Campbell. Until next time, keep the beats timeless, the vibes fresh, and your soul tuned to the music that moves you.

Read more from The Progressive Underground:

• Pick of the Week (Feb. 17): ‘Treat Me Right’ by Carl Bias feat. Miyan Bryant
• Pick of the Week (Feb. 10): ‘Aurora’s Light’ by Kathy Kosins
• Exploring the evolution of maestro Zo! in 5 tracks