The music world was shaken as friends, family, and celebrities gathered to pay their final respects on March 14 to neo-soul icon Angie Stone. The legendary singer, known for her soulful voice and trailblazing career with The Sequence, tragically passed away on March 1 at 63 after a car crash following a performance in Mobile, Alabama, The Daily Mail reported.
Held in Austell, Georgia, Stone’s homegoing service was reportedly breathtaking. The ceremony featured moving musical performances and emotional tributes. The casket itself was adorned with an elaborate display of roses, symbolizing the love and respect the industry and her fans had for the late star, Hot 97 reported.
Among those in attendance were industry heavyweights Tyler Perry and Chris Tucker. Perry delivered a powerful and impassioned eulogy that left the audience both grieving and reflecting. Known for his advocacy and outspokenness, Perry did not hold back as he addressed the music industry’s long-standing exploitation of artists like Stone.
“To think that this woman was in the business for all of these years and there’s a difference between performing because you want to and performing because you have to,” Perry said. “All of those years, all of those songs, all of that money that was owed to her — where is it? It’s wrong, this is wrong, and I’m tired of seeing us struggle and go through things and work hard and not reap the benefits of what we were supposed to reap.”
His words struck a chord as he called out the industry for failing to fairly compensate Black artists, leaving many of them struggling despite their cultural impact and success. Perry specifically referenced Stone’s song “$20 Dollars,” which candidly addressed financial hardship despite a lifetime of musical accomplishments.
Before her death, Stone has also complained about not getting her due financially. She posted about not receiving her due royalties from record labels for her work. She complained of the as recent as Dec. 26, 2024. In a video of a social media live, Stone noted her royalties didn’t match what she thought she should have received and accused Universal Music Group and well as some on her team of mishandling her earnings.
“People working on my behalf never even registered the songs all the songs that I’ve done. I’m only coming to find out they were not properly registered,” she said. “If you only knew how much money they have taken from me, how much they have stolen from me. Monies that I’m supposed to be should have been able to retire 20 years ago.”
As her funeral service concluded, it was clear that Stone’s legacy would live on—not just through her timeless music but also through Perry’s rallying cry for justice for her.
