**Angie Stone’s Final Interview: Unveiling the Truth About D’Angelo**

In a poignant last interview before her tragic death in March 2025, Angie Stone broke decades of silence about her complex relationship with D’Angelo, who passed away in October 2025.

Her revelations, shared just 24 hours after his death, confirmed long-held fears about their partnership, exposing the devastating cost of pride, industry manipulation, and erasure in the music world. Stone, who played a pivotal role in shaping D’Angelo’s career, had been systematically written out of his story, leaving a legacy of pain for their son, Michael.

When Stone met D’Angelo in the early 1990s, he was a struggling, overweight artist, paralyzed by insecurity and unable to finish songs. As an established figure from her work with Sequence and Vertical Hold, Stone became his creative anchor.

Their collaboration birthed *Brown Sugar* (1995), a groundbreaking album in neo-soul, with Stone sacrificing personal time—even spending Christmas 1994 in the studio—to ensure its completion. Her discipline transformed D’Angelo’s raw talent into commercial success, but this praise soon turned toxic. Industry insiders credited her for his progress, wounding D’Angelo’s pride and framing him as dependent, a narrative that fueled his resentment.

Their relationship evolved from professional to personal, marked by genuine affection but marred by a significant age gap—Stone in her early 30s, D’Angelo just 19 when they started dating. The industry weaponized this difference, with media and female journalists attacking Stone out of jealousy, some admitting to pursuing D’Angelo themselves.

As *Brown Sugar* propelled him to stardom, D’Angelo’s transformation into a sex symbol clashed with their bond. Marketing teams repositioned him as a solo, unattached genius, viewing Stone as a liability to his image. She was excluded from sessions, her contributions minimized, and her career suffered retaliation as opportunities vanished.

The birth of their son, Michael, in 1998, should have united them, but D’Angelo’s refusal to share credit extended to co-parenting. His pride barred collaboration, even as their son inherited their musical gifts, creating a toxic dynamic.

Stone lamented how industry politics and ego prevented further magic, costing them family harmony and artistic potential. Her final interview revealed even her songwriting and vocals were erased from records, with tracks like “Paradise” misattributed to others.

Stone’s words carried both love and exhaustion, acknowledging D’Angelo’s talent while mourning the pride that destroyed their partnership. Media coverage of his death reduced her to a mere footnote as his child’s mother, ignoring her crucial role in neo-soul’s rise.

Her revelations, timed close to their deaths, stand as a final gift to Michael and music history, ensuring the truth of their shared creation survives. Despite industry efforts to erase her, Stone reclaimed her narrative, exposing the real cost of genius and manipulation in a world that often values image over authenticity.