Queen Mother of Neo-Soul and Beloved SisStar
by NZINGHA CEO,
QUEENNZINGHA Entertainment LLC
As I write this tribute, I am devastated and in a state of disbelief about the passing of my Beloved Soul SisStar Lady, the great Angie Stone. Not only was she a client of mine, but she was also my spirit SisStar and friend.
The world’s musical journey with Lady Stone began during the ‘70s with the number one hit, “Funk You Up.” Performed by The Sequence featuring Angie B (Stone) who penned the chart-topper, Blondie and Cheryl the Pearl, that song also became the anthem of the early years of Hip Hop movement.
The Sequence also enjoyed a golden place in music history, too, as the first female rap group to ever hit the music charts, and it was in 1979 with Angie ‘s song. Sequence was the first female rap artists group signed to a major record label — the iconic Sugar Hill Records founded by recording artist Sylvia Robinson (now record label owner), who gave us the R&B classic tune “Pillow Talk.”
The Sequence shared great success with their Sugar Hill label mates, The Sugar Hill Gang who had the hit song “Rappers Delight.” which sampled the song “Good Times” originally recorded by the R&B group CHIC. The Sequence also ghost wrote the rap song “Apache” for The Sugar Hill Gang. The rap scene was founded in The Bronx, NY and was predominantly male, at the time, but these beautiful, stylish super-talented belles came with the southern funk!
I was a little girl, 12 years old, who loved the music that was coming through my graffiti painted yellow boom box. I was 12 years old. Who knew that years later I would wind up working with Angie, one of the founders of this history-making group that influenced and shaped my young musical taste.
The music that was playing on my radio was the beginning of a genre of music that some wanted to go away but, little did they know, it was just the beginning.
“Funk You Up” was so impactful because it was performed by a girl group! A first! Pioneering! A blueprint! Unique! It was the foundation on which women of the genre would later stand and build their own careers!
Angie was a pioneer. She gave us great songs that became anthems that we sing along to and identify with, to this day. She was the first of firsts in her field. We can’t and won’t overlook her legacy and her gifts.
After parting from a sketchy record deal The Sequence, Angie continued to expand her musical gifts by gracing us through the groups Mantronix and one of my favorite 90’s groups, Vertical Hold.
Nineties groups like The Brand-New Heavies featuring lead vocalist N’Dea Davenport and the group The Family Stand featuring lead vocalist Sandra St. Victor had strong lead vocalists as well. All these ladies would later have solo albums.
But Vertical Hold definitely had the rhythm that laid the groundwork for what would later become a musical genre we now call Neo Soul.
Vertical Hold had a major hit that was played in heavy rotation on radio called “Seems You’re Much to Busy” also written and sung by Angie about unrequited love.
It was released in 1992 on the A&M record label. Angie, as the lead vocalist for the group, gave them that bop that only Angie brings to a song. I distinctly remember the music video because the tune had a similar vibe to the music group out of the UK in the 80’s called Loose Endz.
With this video I was a bit upset because they strangely filmed the lead vocalist Angie in the shadows. Her solo vocals that were the verses of the song were inserted as vignettes during the song.
Angie performed “Seems You’re Much Too Busy” live at The Apollo Theater in Harlem and, yes, again the irony. I was in the audience never knowing we’d meet some years later and that I would become her Makeup Artist for her first solo project. I was blown away, that evening, by the performance and Angie’s unique voice and vocal styling.
Fast forward. The first time I met Angie Stone was on the day of the photo shoot for her first solo album called “Black Diamond”. Now, she and I spoke on several occasions prior to the photoshoot, and I was privy to the music as it was in its final mixing stages.
Her speaking voice was thick and rich with a bounce to it much like her singing voice. She spoke with confidence about her project. She called it her baby “Diamond”. I knew it would be an album that would split the sky! It was pure musical genius.
I have the privilege to say that Angie chose to work with me out of all the make-up artists out there. I was honored that she trusted me. In our corporate meeting with the record label executives, I presented the concept that Neo Soul has a sound indeed AND an aesthetic and I wanted to build that Feminine Aesthetic with Angie Stone.
I presented “Black Is Beautiful,” my family’s mantra and lifestyle ethos. The working title for her album title was “Black Diamonds and Blue Pearls”. I loved it!! What an amazing title! We both said it at the same time; we were in perfect synch from the beginning. We understood that both jewels are the most expensive jewels on the market and rare to mine. I thought to myself, this lady is really an unsung GENIUS!
I assured her that my glam squad team would pull together top-shelf artists – make-up, photography, hairstylists and others — who were in high demand. Chuckie Amos (hairstylist), Michaela Angela Davis (wardrobe stylist), Ruven Alfanador (photographer) and I (makeup designer), were among them. She told me she wanted me because I understood her project and she trusted me implicitly.
I got the official call to work with Angie from her management to my agent. In those days, my schedule was double-, and triple-booked, some days, but all else I had to do Angie’s project. This was a personal project that I knew in my spirit was going to really solidify Neo-Soul and anyone else who would come in after.
So I am preparing for my shoot with Angie in my makeup studio and I’m listening to the final mix of the music and I’m in love with this album. It was raw and emotional and a total vibe. I’m playing track after track, over and over, I hear something familiar in the sound, something I had heard before, somewhere. It was the similar groove musician D’Angelo has. (D’Angelo was also a client of mine, so this was naturally familiar and what I call family.)
The day of the shoot I set up my station to do the makeup and waited for my beloved Artist to arrive. When Angie entered the room, we immediately hugged each other as if we were sisters and hadn’t seen each other in years. The first thing I noticed about her was how clear, glowing and smooth her skin was! She looked like family to me.
I thought this will be such an easy application: look at her eyes, her nose, her beautiful smile. She is so beautiful as is. But I’m paid to do makeup so I have to put some on but she was naturally beautiful. I wanted to keep her makeup look glowing and dewy with pops of color in strategic fashion.
Our shoot day was just like yesterday in my mind because our bond was instant. She knew my work, I knew hers; we talked about everything from cooking to our love for GOD. The first click of the camera started going and we were on a roll. Ruven, the photographer, a quiet man, was listening, like the rest of us, to the music and even he was excited about what he was seeing through the lens!
We got to look at the first few Polaroids and I almost fell on the floor because Ruven captured what I saw when Angie walked in the door and sat in my chair…he saw her, he saw, Angie! He caught the beauty of her skin, hair, eyes, mouth, face…he got it! Black Is Beautiful! Indeed!
I was right as usual this was incredible to work on at the release of the album and the music video drop.
The first song released was “No More Rain” directed by Andrew Donsomu, a visionary art house director who was in love with the album’s artwork. Andrew caught the vibe and created and established a look for the song. We immediately went into work on the second track released titled “Everyday”.
My place with Angie was set. We went on to ultimately do it again with her sophomore solo project called “Mahogany Soul” and we did it again! The images from this shoot are my favorites. She was radiant. It showed in every click of Ruven’s camera. Angie was again about to ride a wave she created — with the release of the anthem “Brotha.”
Are you noticing a theme in Angie’s music? Her songs are all anthems! What is an anthem? An anthem is a musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group. Angie wrote songs not only for herself but also wrote songs for and with other outstanding Artists: Prince, Mary J Blige, Toshinobu Kubato, Lenny Kravitz. And more.
Now, many may not know this, but Angie knew how to play instruments as well as sing. She played saxophone for superstar Lenny Kravitz (also a client of mine) on his Let Love Rule tour. Angie was a songwriter, singer, instrumentalist and actress she hit all cylinders and definitely the musical trifecta that is so rare to find.
She was a true collaborator and generous with her time and gifts. And every tune she worked on was a hit! But she was humble and generous in everything she did within the entertainment industry.
She wrote a song called “Freedom” for the film “Panther” released in 1995 directed by Mario Van Peebles. This was around the time she was writing and working with D’Angelo. The song featured over 60 of my SisStars in Hip Hop and R&B who came together to record “Freedom”, the theme song for the 1995 PANTHER film.
The anthem features a chorus of popular hip-hop, pop and R&B artists and groups including; En Vogue, Aaliyah, Vanessa L. Williams, Mary J. Blige, MC Lyte, SWV, TLC, Monica, Felicia Adams, May May Ali, Amel Larrieux, Az-Iz, Blackgirl, Tanya Blount, Brownstone, Casserine, Changing Faces, Tyler Collins, N’Dea, Davenport, Da 5 Footaz, E.V.E., Emage, Eshe (of Arrested Development) ,For Real Penny Ford Lalah Hathaway, Jade Laurneá *Jamecia, Jazzyfatnastees, Queen Latifah, Billy Lawrence, Joi Brigette McWilliams, Milira, Miss Jones, Cindy Mizelle, Me’Shell NdegéOcello, Natasha Nefertiti, Patra, Pebbles, Pure Soul, Raja-Nee, Brenda Russell, Salt-N-Pepa, Chantay Savage, Sonja Marie, Tracie Spencer, Sweet Sable, Terri & Monica, Vybe, Crystal Waters, Caron Wheeler, Karyn White, Vanessa Williams, Xscape, Yo-Yo, N-Vee and Zhané.
Yes, I did the makeup for the music video, and, thanks to Angie, worked on ALL of the women in the video! And in the video, you will see Angie leading this choir of beautiful Ladies and all are in synch.
Angie was loved and respected by her peers who knew her gifts and talents.
Angie was a hit maker from her first album in 1979 to her last single in 2024 with “Music Soul Child.”
Lady Angie, you and your music will be missed, here on earth but, we all know you’re now singing with the holiest choir before The Lord in heaven.
Rest In Rhythm
Queen Nzingha Gumbs is an author, writer, magazine editor, graphic designer, make up designer, with 3 decades of experience in visual communication, branding, and multimedia design. She was born in The Bronx, New York, and grew up in a family of artists. Her father was Charles Peaker, leader of the African Nationalist Pioneer Movement; her uncles were Bob Gumbs, one of the first Black graphic designers, and photographer Kwame Brathwaite. Her godparents were Max Roach, Miles Davis, and Abbey Lincoln. Jean Gumbs, her mother, was a working model, and a Grandassa. “I didn’t know anything else; I had to be an artist,” Nzingha told Cut Magazine.
