DEAR ANGIE STONE: I AM A "BROTHA" WHO WILL FOREVER LOVE YOU...

MY PERSONAL TRIBUTE

Angie Stone, born Angela Laverne Brown on December 18, 1961, in Columbia, South Carolina, was a trailblazer in the music industry. She began her career with the pioneering hip-hop trio The Sequence, known for their 1979 hit "Funk You Up." Transitioning to R&B, she gained prominence as the lead vocalist of Vertical Hold before launching a successful solo career with albums like "Black Diamond" and "Mahogany Soul," featuring timeless tracks such as "No More Rain" and "Wish I Didn't Miss You." Stone's collaborations spanned icons like Prince, Snoop Dogg, and Anthony Hamilton, solidifying her legacy in the neo-soul genre.

A Tribute to Angie Stone and the Impact of "Brotha"

I came across the news of our sister Angie Stone's passing a bit late, and it took me some time to process my feelings. Learning that she died in a car crash on March 1, 2025, at the age of 63, was deeply affecting. It's not for me to question our creator's plans, but I hope her transition was swift and painless. God granted her life, and He can choose how to transition it as He sees fit.

This reflection isn't solely about her numerous accomplishments, though they are many. Instead, I want to focus on the profound personal impact of her song "Brotha." Watching the video again, I couldn't hold back the tears. That song supported me through many harsh times, offering unconditional love to Black men in a world that often judges us harshly, presuming guilt until proven innocent. For that alone, I will love her forever.

In today's world, there's a narrative pushing Black women to go against Black men, highlighting our shortcomings and amplifying our mistakes. Many of us grew up without father figures, learning the ways of the world the hard way. I was fortunate to have a father who guided me away from paths that could have led to jail or worse. But for those who didn't, and even for those who did but still made wrong choices, having a female energy like Angie Stone's in our lives is invaluable. Her song "Brotha" exemplifies this support, undergirding us through the roughest times.

Some of our sisters may not fully grasp the power of that song, but many do. There are countless sisters who aren't appreciated enough, embodying the same spirit Angie exuded in her work. I wonder where that energy is today, in 2025. It's there, but it's not showcased to the world because entities controlling the entertainment industry don't want us to realize our full power. They see it as a threat to their exploitation and stronghold over us as Black men.

I cried then, and I'll cry again when I watch the "Brotha" video. Not because of her passing—nothing can bring her back—but out of appreciation for the sisters today who have that same unconditional love for us. I want you to know that I love you back. Angie sang "Brotha" to show appreciation on multiple levels: romantic, maternal, neighborly, sisterly. I remember a time when our community had an abundance of this love. If we fell short of a goal, we could always return home to our community to be recharged, to continue forward until we reached it. They didn't just believe in us; they knew the seeds of greatness we carried.

The kind of love Angie Stone has—and I speak in the present tense because energy doesn't cease to exist after transition—is a reminder that we, as Black men, should never speak negatively about our sisters. Even when they're in a reduced state and don't know who they are, we must return the love that Angie and so many others have given us. We need each other. Social media algorithms try to infiltrate our minds, turning us against the very ones we need. We must reject that influence, even when hurt by someone who doesn't recognize their majesty as a Black woman, a Black queen. We must love them freely, as love was given to us.

It's like spreading peanut butter on bread—you don't pile it all on one side; you spread it evenly. Whatever part of the bread lacks peanut butter, you fill it in. If you encounter a sister who feels you're nothing because of her prior experiences, you still have to show her love. Spread that peanut butter of love over the whole slice of bread that is the Black community. It's our duty because forces are working not only on our minds but on the minds of our children, ensuring they hate and despise each other.

This is why we must applaud Angie Stone's work, especially her song "Brotha." Do you think they'd allow a song like that to be created and broadcast mainstream today, showcasing such love? I think not, when all we hear now are derogatory terms. Our creator didn't design us to be that way. A man-made, engineered system is crafting us negatively. We need more creators producing work like Angie's and others who support and reinforce us. We must reject the decadent content abundant today, engineered to lower our vibrations and reinforce to the world that this is all we can be.

I'm not asking anything from you but to watch this video again, even if you know it. The only thing I'd humorously change is removing the picture of P. Diddy, but at the time, she didn't know what a monster he was and is. Let's share the Angie Stone love we have for each other. Even though there's no song titled "Sista," let's, as men, show the same kind of love to our sisters that Angie so unashamedly showed us in "Brotha." I'm about to play it again and include the video in this post so you can play it without searching. I'll shed tears of appreciation for all who've ever shown me love, especially my mother.

For those brothers who never knew a mother's love, a sister's love, a wife's love, or a general around-the-way girl's love, drink from this cup of creative energies poured into the song. You can always return to it when you need to be held close, in tearful seasons, lonely seasons, or when you're exhausted from dealing with a world that attacks you simply because of your mighty potential. Thank you for reading, and let me know how you feel. Peace.