Michael Eugene Archer, better known by his stage name D'Angelo, is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He first garnered attention after co-producing the single "U Will Know" for R&B supergroup Black Men United. His debut studio album, Brown Sugar (1995), was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA); and received widespread acclaim from music critics, who have credited the album for ushering in the neo soul movement. Its third single "Lady", reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100.
Erica Abi Wright, known professionally as Erykah Badu, is an American singer. Influenced by R&B, soul, and hip hop, Badu rose to prominence in the late 1990s when her debut album Baduizm (1997), placed her at the forefront of the neo soul movement, earning her the nickname "Queen of Neo Soul" by music critics.
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is the debut solo album by American singer and rapper Lauryn Hill. It was released on August 25, 1998, by Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is a neo soul and R&B album with some songs based in hip hop soul and reggae. Its lyrics touch upon Hill's pregnancy and the turmoil within her former group the Fugees, along with themes of love and God. The album's title was inspired by the film and autobiographical novel The Education of Sonny Carson, and Carter G. Woodson's The Mis-Education of the Negro.
Mary J. Blige is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Often referred to as the "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and "Queen of R&B", Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, four American Music Awards, twelve NAACP Image Awards, and twelve Billboard Music Awards, including the Billboard Icon Award. She has been nominated for three Golden Globe Awards and two Academy Awards, including one for her supporting role in the film Mudbound (2017) and another for its original song "Mighty River", becoming the first person nominated for acting and songwriting in the same year.
Angela Laverne Brown known professionally as Angie Stone, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. She rose to fame in the late 1970s as member of the hip hop trio The Sequence. In the early 1990s, she became a member of the R&B trio Vertical Hold. Stone would later release her solo debut Black Diamond (1999) on Arista Records, which was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America and spawned the single "No More Rain ".
Eulaulah Donyll "Lalah" Hathaway is an American singer. In 1990 Hathaway released her first album titled Lalah Hathaway. After releasing another album, titled A Moment (1994), it debuted at number 34 on the Top R&B albums chart. In 1999 she collaborated with Joe Sample on the album The Song Lives On. After a five-year hiatus, she returned with her fourth album, Outrun the Sky (2004). The single "Forever, For Always, For Love" peaked at number 1 on the Hot Adult R&B Airplay.
"1, 2 Step" is a song by American singer Ciara featuring rapper Missy Elliott for Ciara's debut album, Goodies. Written by Ciara and Missy Elliott and produced by Jazze Pha, it was released as the album's second single on November 1, 2004, in the United States. It peaked within the top 10 of the charts in several countries worldwide, including Germany, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The song is heavily inspired by 1980s electro music production. Throughout the song, Ciara gives a description of how the song's beat feels as she exhorts party-goers to dance to the music. "1, 2 Step" was ranked 59th on Billboard's Top 100 Songs of the 2000s. In the United States, the song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for seven weeks.
Goodies is the debut studio album by American singer Ciara. It was released on September 28, 2004, via Jazze Pha's Sho'nuff Records and LaFace Records. After writing songs for several established acts, Ciara's talents were noticed by Jazze Pha, and she began to work on what became Goodies. The album's conception came through the title track, produced by Lil Jon and created as a female crunk counterpart to other singles produced by Lil Jon such as Usher's "Yeah!" and Petey Pablo's "Freek-a-Leek". Ciara worked with additional writers and producers on the album, including Jazze Pha, Bangladesh, R. Kelly, Johntá Austin, Sean Garrett, and Keri Hilson, among others.
"(If Loving You Is Wrong) I Don't Want to Be Right" is a song written by Stax Records songwriters Homer Banks, Carl Hampton, and Raymond Jackson. Originally written for The Emotions, it has been performed by many singers, most notably by Luther Ingram, whose original recording topped the R&B chart for four weeks and rose to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972. Billboard ranked it as the No. 16 song for 1972.
Stone Love is the third studio album by American singer Angie Stone. It was released by J Records on July 6, 2004, in the United States. Originally conceived as a collaborative but introspective album which Stone planned to call Diary of a Soul Sister and was expected to feature female singers such as Gladys Knight and Chaka Khan, the album features a wide range of collaborators, including Warryn Campbell, Andreao Heard, Jazze Pha, and Missy Elliott. Duo Floetry, singers Betty Wright, Anthony Hamilton, and Snoop Dogg, as well as Stone's daughter Diamond and her former fiancée, rapper T.H.C., appear on Stone Love.
"I Care 4 U" is a song recorded by American singer Aaliyah. Written by Missy Elliott and Timbaland, the song was originally recorded for Aaliyah's second studio album One in a Million (1996), but the recording was shelved. It was re-recorded in 2000 for Aaliyah (2001). A neo soul ballad, "I Care 4 U" features beatboxing, an electric piano and multi-tracked vocals.
The Art of Love & War is the fourth studio album by American singer Angie Stone. It was released on October 15, 2007, by Stax Records. Her debut release with the then re-launched label, following her split with J Records in 2005, it saw Stone working with a group of less well-known musicians, including The Designated Hitters, Elijah "Vato" Harris, Ervin Pope and Jonathan Richmond, the latter of which went on to produce most material on the album. English actor and DJ Idris Elba contributed "My People," a duet with singer James Ingram. Stone co-wrote and produced or co-produced most songs on the album.
"Baby" is a song by American recording artist Angie Stone. It was written by Stone along with Corey "Co-T" Tatum and Kevin "5 Star" Norton for her fourth studio album, The Art of Love & War (2007), while production was helmed by Tatum and Noton 5 Star. The song is built around a sample of "Give Me Your Love " by Curtis Mayfield. Due to the inclusion of the sample, Mayfield is also credited as a songwriter. It served as the album's first single as well as Stone's debut released with Stax Records. "Baby" became her second song to reach the top of Billboard's Adult R&B Songs in the United States.
American singer and songwriter Angie Stone has released ten studio albums, one compilation album, and more than two dozen singles. She has sold near five million records as a solo artist, including over 1.4 million albums in the United States. Stone's career began as a member of the hip hop trio The Sequence in the late 1970s. In 1999, she released her first solo album, Black Diamond (2003) on Arista Records. It debuted at number 46 on the US Billboard 200 and peaked at number nine on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, eventually selling more than 750,000 copies. Black Diamond was awarded gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), and produced the singles "No More Rain ", "Life Story" and "Everyday", the former of which became a number-one hit on the Adult R&B Songs chart.
Kandi Koated is the second studio album by American R&B recording artist Kandi Burruss, released on December 14, 2010 in the United States on her independent label Kandi Koated Entertainment and Asylum Records. The album features production from Kandi amongst others including Jazze Pha, Ne-Yo, Bryan-Michael Cox, and Drumma Boy. Kandi promoted the album with her debut EP, Fly Above EP, released on October 29, 2009. The first single "Leave U" has reached number 89 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart The U.S. iTunes Store had a deluxe edition available for pre-order with 3 bonus tracks.
Pink Elephant is the fourth studio album by American recording artist N'Dambi. A neo soul record that incorporates elements of jazz and funk, it focuses on themes including double lives, love-hate relationships, true love, betrayal, and the music industry. N'Dambi highlighted classic R&B artists such as Betty Davis and Smokey Robinson as her influences when recording the album; for the album's writing and production, she worked with Leon Sylvers III, who was known for his work with artists including Gladys Knight, Shalamar, and Blackstreet.
Rich Girl is the sixth studio album by American singer Angie Stone. It was released on September 25, 2012, by Saguaro Road Rhythm, selling 4,000 units in the US in its first week of release. The lead single, '"Do What U Gotta Do" was released on June 5, 2012, and the music video premiered on July 21, 2012.
Dream is the seventh studio album by the American singer Angie Stone. It was released on November 6, 2015, by Shanachie Records in collaboration with Conjunction Entertainment and TopNotch Music. Following short stints with Stax Records and Saguaro Road Records, Stone signed with Shanachie Records Entertainment through a partnership with frequent collaborator Walter Millsap III. Millsap and Stone co-wrote the majority of the album with a core group that included former The Clutch members Candice Nelson and Balewa Muhammad as well as the producers Teak Underdue and The Heavyweights.
"I Wanna Thank Ya" is a song by American recording artist Angie Stone. It was produced by Jazze Pha for her third studio album Stone Love (2004) and features guest vocals from rapper Snoop Dogg. An uptempo R&B and neo soul track with heavy funk and disco elements, it samples from Deodato's song "Skatin'" (1980), Joyce Sims's "Come into My Life" (1987), DeBarge's "All This Love" (1982) and The S.O.S. Band's "Take Your Time " (1980). Released as the album's lead single, it became a top ten hit on the UK R&B chart, while it reached number-one on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.
"I Ain't Hearin' U" is a song by American recording artist Angie Stone. It was written by Steven "Supe" White, Juanita Wynn, Willie Lester, and Rodney Brown for Stone's fifth studio album Unexpected (2009), while production was helmed by White. Released as the album's lead single, it reached number 14 on Billboard's Adult R&B Songs.
