Brotha – Angie Stone | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#52) & R&B (#13); 2002
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Born in Columbia, SC, Angie hooked up with Gwen Chisolm and Cheryl Cook after high school, and – as Sequence – the trio charted with Funk You Up (#15 R&B) in 1980.
Funk You Up proved to be an important early example of the R&B and rap mix that came to prominence in the 1990’s. Following Sequence’s demise, Angie wrote songs for the likes of Mary J. Blige and played sax in Lenny Kravitz‘ band.
She tasted recording success again with Vertical Hold, whose biggest hit was 1993’s Seems You’re Much Too Busy (#17 R&B). Angie’s romantic and professional involvement with D’Angelo (Brown Sugar and Lady) brought her closer to fame.
At long last, Arista Records signed Angie to her own deal, releasing Black Diamond and then Mahogany Soul. Brotha – produced by Raphael Saadiq (formerly of Tony! Toni! Tone!) – gave Angie her biggest hit to date.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- Raphael Saadiq
- Jake and the Phatman
Lyrics Written by:
- Angie Stone
- Raphael Saadiq
- Harold Lilly
- Glenn Standridge
- Robert C. Ozuna
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).