R&B icon, Angie Stone’s passing occurred on March 1, 2025. Angie Stone’s passing was allegedly from a car crash. The official story put out in the media was that she and her band members were traveling in a Mercedes Benz Sprinter to Atlanta following a Mardi Gras concert in Mobile, Alabama. Apparently and allegedly, their Mercedes Benz overturned on Interstate 65. After the vehicle flipped over, it was hit by a Freightliner Cascadia semi-trailer truck. Out of 9 people, Angie Stone was the only fatality in the crash.
When I first heard the news of Angie Stone’s passing, I thought reports would say she died from complications from diabetes. She was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1999. In fact, she and comedian Anthony Anderson were part of F.A.C.E diabetes(Fearless African-Americans Connected and Empowered) program sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company. But then news reports said Stone’s death was a result of a car accident- which made her passing even more sad.
Passing from a disease like diabetes or any ailment at an early age is sad in and of it self. But dying from any type of blunt force trauma or penetrating wound makes the matter that much more sad.
But then when they said Angie Stone was the only fatality out of 9 people, my suspicious, conspiracy realist instincts started to kick in. I had flashbacks of the Lisa Left Eye Lopez “car crash” in 2002 where Lopez was the only casualty out of 4 people. It’s highly improbable that Angie Stone and Left Eye would be the only fatalities out of 4 and 9 people respectively.
And of course there are several conspiracy theorist videos about Lopez before and there are videos on Angie Stone now. Lopez passed in 2002. Back then, the internet was relatively new and social media didn’t exist. We were all at the whim of what “the news” said on TV. The barbershop, the work water cooler, the private living room conversations, and outside congregating and socializing was the social media then. And I’m pretty sure some people were saying Lopez’ death was fishy back then.
Years later, in the 2010s, when social media became huge, many videos did in-depth observations about celebrity deaths under fishy circumstances. They were looking retrospectively at old stories. But celebrity deaths and controversies that happen now under fishy circumstances, gets talked about in real time. And as you well know, there are already conspiracy theory videos about Angie Stone’s death.
Angie Stone had recent videos and interviews talking about the music industry underpaying her for her music. So the plausible conspiracy theory by many is that she was killed because she was fighting for her music money. Of course nothing is proven yet. We may never know for sure. Or it may be years. Maybe some scum record exec will make a death bed confession 30-50 years from now; hoping they make it to heaven by the skin of their hair. We all know how they do.
But anyways. I won’t dwell too much on that. Let’s talk more about the memory of an icon. Angie Stone’s music career spanned from 1979 until her tragic passing. She had many hit songs– including “No More Rain” in 1999, “Wish I Didn’t Miss You” and “More Than A Woman” in 2001.
But she had one song I liked the most. And I don’t think people, specifically Black people, and more specifically, Black men in the music industry, the general public and the average joe world gives Angie Stone enough credit and flowers for this song. This song is called “Brotha” off her Mahogany Soul album of 2001. The chorus goes “cause you’re my Black brotha, strong brotha.”
The song is a tribute to Black men. She defends Black men against media stereotypes of being wayward criminals. One lyric states: “Some(White media) say that he’s up to no good around the neighborhood. But for your information, a lot of my brothers got education.”
The song was soulful and powerful at the same time, while letting the world know that all Black men aren’t criminals and that many of us are educated and sophisticated.
She also painted a picture of Black men as having diverse and nuanced personas. “You got ya wallstreet brotha, ya blue collar brotha. Your down for whatever chillin’ on the corner brother. A talented brother, and to everyone of yall behind bars, you know that Angie loved ya.”
There has always been an assault on Black people’s character, specifically Black men- the assigned providers and protectors of our families. As a result, it was refreshing to hear a positive portrayal and perception of us that contradicts the mainstream image of us as just ghetto, criminals, and street niggas who should be constantly racially profiled.
Angie Stone said in her song about Black men, “you know that Angie loved ya.” And as a Black man, I have to say, I think I speak for all Black men when I say ‘thank you, Angie Stone. We love you too.’ Rest well, queen.
