Black Diamond
Studio album by
Angie Stone
ReleasedSeptember 28, 1999 (1999-09-28)
Length54:46
LabelArista
Producer
Angie Stone chronology
Black Diamond
(1999)		 Mahogany Soul
(2001)
Singles from Black Diamond
  1. "No More Rain (In This Cloud)"
    Released: August 17, 1999
  2. "Life Story"
    Released: 2000
  3. "Everyday"
    Released: 2000

Black Diamond is the debut studio album by American singer Angie Stone. It was released on September 28, 1999, by Arista Records. The album is named after Stone's then-teenaged daughter Diamond Ti'ara.[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[3]
Hot Press9/12[4]
Rolling Stone[5]

In his review for Billboard, Michael Paoletta declared the album "a musically rich and empowering journey through life's many ups and downs" that pairs "smooth, mellow grooves [...] with emotion-packed lyrics." He further wrote: "For those lamenting the lack of honest R&B/soul, stop worrying: With Black Diamond, it's back where it belongs."[6] AllMusic editor Theresa E. LaVeck rated the album four out of five stars. She noted that "purposefully positive, the album chronicles Stone's journeys maintaining personal faith and loving relationships, resplendent with new takes on traditional soul sounds. Stone supports her songwriting and vocal talents with help from A-list musicians/writer/producers such as Lenny Kravitz and D'Angelo. The sophisticated mix is elevated by Stone's incredible voice."[2]

Entertainment Weekly's Laura Morgan found that "on her alluring retro-soul bow, the Southern songstress pairs sensual R&B with tastefully lean production, allowing her raw emotion to roam free."[3] Ayana Byrd, writing for Rolling Stone, compared Stone's vocal performance with Chaka Khan and Gladys Knight and remarked that "Stone's Southern country-road sensibilities prevent her from being derivative of her obvious influences; instead, Black Diamond shines with the intensity of brilliant soul."[5] BBC Music critic Daryl Easlea called the album "a fine debut" that proclaims "after years of struggle, Stone's arrival as an artist in her own right."[7] Kerry Potter from Q described Black Diamond as "a low-key album of quietly poetic soul, epitomised by the muffled funk of "Green Grass Vapors." [It] is meandering and over-polished at times, but, in the main, hints at a sparkling future."[8] Exclaim! editor Del F. Cowie complimented the album for its "classy and subdued mood."[9]

Chart performance

Black Diamond debuted at number 144 on the US Billboard 200 in the week of October 16, 1999,[10] with first week sales of 10,000 copies.[11] It was not until February 19, 2000, that it peaked at number 46.[10] Two weeks prior, on February 2, 2000, the album had been certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[12] By September 2003, Black Diamond had sold 812,000 copies in the United States.[13]

Track listing

Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Freedom (Intro)"Angie StoneStone0:42
2."No More Rain (In This Cloud)"
Stone4:42
3."Green Grass Vapors"
  • Aaron Lyles
  • Stephanie Bolton
  • Aaron "Freedom" Lyles
  • Stone
4:14
4."Everyday"
Russell Elevado3:28
5."Coulda Been You"
  • Stone
  • Sekou Aiken
  • Rex Rideout
  • Phil Temple
  • Rideout
  • Temple
  • Stone
4:25
6."Visions"
DJ U-Neek3:31
7."Life Story"
4:07
8."Just a Pimp"
  • Lyles
  • Bolton
  • Lyles
  • Stone
4:12
9."Trouble Man"Marvin Gaye
  • Stone
  • Lyles
2:33
10."Bone 2 Pic (Wit U)"
Muhammad5:19
11."Man Loves His Money"
  • Lyles
  • Bolton
  • Lyles
  • Stone
4:11
12."Love Junkie"Stone
  • Stone
  • Lyles
4:18
13."Black Diamonds & Blue Pearls (Interlude)"StoneStone1:35
14."Heaven Help" (bonus track)
DeVeaux3:19
15."Don't Wanna Ride Without You" (hidden track)Stone 4:10
Total length:54:46
German edition bonus tracks[14]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
15."Without You"Stone3:35
16."Thank You"
  • Stone
  • Robyn Smith
0:23
UK edition[15]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Freedom (Intro)"StoneStone0:42
2."No More Rain (In This Cloud)"
  • Stone
  • Williams
  • Chambers
  • Weatherly
Stone4:42
3."Everyday"
  • Stone
  • D'Angelo
Elevado3:28
4."Bone 2 Pic (Wit U)"
  • Muhammad
  • Stone
  • Alford
Muhammad5:19
5."Life Story"
  • DeVeaux
  • Ross
  • DeVeaux
  • Cutfather & Joe[a]
4:07
6."Visions"
  • Davis
  • Middleton
  • Lind
  • White
DJ U-Neek3:31
7."Coulda Been You"
  • Stone
  • Aiken
  • Rideout
  • Temple
  • Rideout
  • Temple
  • Stone
4:25
8."Just a Pimp"
  • Lyles
  • Bolton
  • Lyles
  • Stone
4:12
9."Black Diamonds & Blue Pearls (Interlude)"StoneStone1:35
10."Green Grass Vapors"
  • Lyles
  • Bolton
  • Lyles
  • Stone
4:14
11."Baby Slow Down"
DeVeaux4:09
12."Love Junkie"Stone
  • Stone
  • Lyles
4:18
13."Trouble Man"Gaye
  • Stone
  • Lyles
2:33
14."My Lovin' Will Give You Something"
DeVeaux4:33
15."Heaven Help"
  • DeVeaux
  • Britten
DeVeaux3:19
16."Life Story" (Jazz Hop Mix) (includes hidden track "Don't Wanna Ride Without You")
  • DeVeaux
  • Ross
  • DeVeaux
  • Full Crew[a]
8:14
Japanese edition and German reissue[16][17]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Thank You"
  • Stone
  • Smith
 0:23
16."Heaven Help"
  • DeVeaux
  • Britten
DeVeaux3:19
17."Life Story" (Jazz Hop Mix)
  • DeVeaux
  • Ross
  • DeVeaux
  • Full Crew[a]
4:16
18."Without You"Stone 3:35
Digital deluxe edition (disc one)[18]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Freedom (Intro)"StoneStone0:42
2."No More Rain (In This Cloud)"
  • Stone
  • Williams
  • Chambers
  • Weatherly
Stone4:42
3."Green Grass Vapors"
  • Lyles
  • Bolton
  • Lyles
  • Stone
4:14
4."Everyday"
  • Stone
  • D'Angelo
Elevado3:28
5."Coulda Been You"
  • Stone
  • Aiken
  • Rideout
  • Temple
  • Rideout
  • Temple
  • Stone
4:25
6."Visions"
  • Davis
  • Middleton
  • Lind
  • White
DJ U-Neek3:31
7."Life Story"
  • DeVeaux
  • Ross
  • DeVeaux
  • Cutfather & Joe[a]
4:07
8."Just a Pimp"
  • Lyles
  • Bolton
  • Lyles
  • Stone
4:12
9."Trouble Man"Gaye
  • Stone
  • Lyles
2:33
10."Bone 2 Pic (Wit U)"
  • Muhammad
  • Stone
  • Alford
Muhammad5:19
11."Man Loves His Money"
  • Lyles
  • Bolton
  • Lyles
  • Stone
4:11
12."Love Junkie"Stone
  • Stone
  • Lyles
4:18
13."Black Diamonds & Blue Pearls (Interlude)"StoneStone1:35
14."Heaven Help"
  • DeVeaux
  • Britten
DeVeaux3:19
15."Without You"Stone 3:35
16."Thank You"
  • Stone
  • Smith
 0:22
17."Baby Slow Down"
  • DeVeaux
  • Stone
  • Mole
DeVeaux4:09
18."Ear-Responsible"  4:32
19."Work It Out"Stone 3:23
20."My Lovin' Will Give You Something"
  • DeVeaux
  • Gamson
  • Ragin
DeVeaux4:33
21."I Gotta Thing for You"Stone 5:08
Digital deluxe edition (disc two)[18]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."No More Rain (In This Cloud)" (StarGate Radio Mix)
  • Stone
  • Williams
  • Chambers
  • Weatherly
  • Stone
  • StarGate[b]
3:57
2."No More Rain (In This Cloud)" (Erick Sermon Remix) (featuring Loon)
  • Stone
  • Williams
  • Chambers
  • Weatherly
  • Stone
  • Sermon[b]
4:17
3."No More Rain (In This Cloud)" (Wookie Vocal Mix)
  • Stone
  • Williams
  • Chambers
  • Weatherly
  • Stone
  • Wookie[b]
4:48
4."Everyday" (Mike City Remix)
  • Stone
  • D'Angelo
3:58
5."Everyday" (Neptunes Remix) (featuring Pusha T)
  • Stone
  • D'Angelo
4:20
6."Everyday" (Suli & Stef Bass Remix) (featuring Mad Snake)
  • Stone
  • D'Angelo
4:49
7."Everyday" (Full Crew Rap Mix) (featuring Phoebe 1)
  • Stone
  • D'Angelo
3:52
8."Everyday" (Soultown Mix) (featuring Phoebe 1)
  • Stone
  • D'Angelo
4:23
9."Life Story" (Jazz Hop Mix)
  • DeVeaux
  • Ross
4:15
10."Life Story" (Full Crew Hip Hop Mix)
  • DeVeaux
  • Ross
4:21
11."Life Story" (Booker T Vocal Mix)
  • DeVeaux
  • Ross
5:39
12."Life Story" (Club 69 Future Mix)
  • DeVeaux
  • Ross
3:36
13."Life Story" (music video)  4:08
14."Everyday" (music video)  3:26
15."No More Rain (In This Cloud)" (music video)  4:13
16."Behind the Scenes" (video)  8:02
17."Everyday" (Neptunes Remix) (music video)  3:29

Notes

  • ^a signifies an additional producer
  • ^b signifies a remixer

Sample credits

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Black Diamond.[19]

Musicians

Technical

  • Angie Stone – production (tracks 1–3, 5, 8, 9, 11–13); recording engineering, mix engineering, executive production
  • Aaron "Freedom" Lyles – production (tracks 3, 8, 9, 11, 12); recording engineering, mix engineering
  • Ali Shaheed Muhammad – production (track 10); recording engineering
  • Russell Elevado – production (track 4)
  • Rex Rideout – production (track 5); engineering assistance
  • Phil Temple – production (track 5)
  • DJ U-Neek – production (track 6)
  • Gerry DeVeaux – production (tracks 7, 14); executive production
  • Cutfather & Joe – remix, additional production (track 7); mix engineering
  • Aaron Connor – recording engineering
  • Tim Donovan – recording engineering, mix engineering
  • Tim Hunt – recording engineering
  • Eli Lishinsky – recording engineering
  • Kevin "K.D." Davis – mix engineering
  • Tony Maserati – mix engineering
  • Mads Nilsson – mix engineering
  • Soul Spin – mix engineering
  • Denise Barbarita – engineering assistance
  • Erik Fryland – engineering assistance
  • Charles McCrorey – engineering assistance
  • Jeff Gregory – engineering assistance
  • Susanne Savage – production coordination
  • Miriam Gonzales – production coordination
  • Jo Jones – production coordination
  • Lesvia Castro – production coordination
  • Coen Antonisse – production coordination
  • Herb Powers Jr. – mastering
  • Peter Edge – executive production

Artwork

  • Margery Greenspan – art direction
  • Sheri G. Lee – art direction, design
  • Ruven Afanador – photography
  • Phil Knott – back cover photography
  • Angie Stone – collage construction
  • Lori Demsey – collage construction

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for Black Diamond
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Netherlands (NVPI)[28] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[29] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[12] Gold 812,000[13]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for Black Diamond
Region Date Format Edition Label Ref.
United States September 28, 1999 Standard Arista [30][31]
Germany November 8, 1999 CD BMG [32]
Canada February 8, 2000 [33]
Japan February 16, 2000 EMI [17]
United Kingdom February 28, 2000 Arista [15]
Germany March 20, 2000 Reissue BMG [34]
Various September 18, 2012 Digital download Deluxe
  • BRM
  • Peace Bisquit
 [18]

References

  1. ↑ Easlea, Daryl (2012). "Review of Angie Stone – Black Diamond". BBC Music. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
  2. 1 2 LaVeck, Theresa E. "Black Diamond – Angie Stone". AllMusic. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  3. 1 2 Morgan, Laura (November 19, 1999). "Black Diamond". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  4. ↑ Porcelli, Kim (March 2, 2000). "Black Diamond". Hot Press. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Byrd, Ayana (October 14, 1999). "Angie Stone: Black Diamond". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 1, 2009. Retrieved January 3, 2007.
  6. ↑ Paoletta, Michael (October 16, 1999). "Reviews & Previews". Billboard. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  7. ↑ Easlea, Daryl. "Angie Stone, Black Diamond, Review". BBC Music. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  8. ↑ Potter, Kerry (March 1, 2000). "Angie Stone, Black Diamond". Q. Archived from the original on 2000-11-20. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  9. ↑ Cowie, Del F. (February 1, 2000). "Angie Stone: Black Diamond". Exclaim!. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 "Angie Stone Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Banks Secures Another Week At No. 1l". Billboard.com. July 14, 2004. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  12. 1 2 "American album certifications – Angie Stone – Black Diamond". Recording Industry Association of America. February 2, 2000.
  13. 1 2 "Ten Years Of People On Verge". Vibe. September 1, 2003. p. 165. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Stone,Angie – Black Diamond – CD (1999)". musicline.de (in German). Archived from the original on September 30, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  15. 1 2 "Black Diamond: Angie Stone". Amazon. United Kingdom. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Stone,Angie – Black Diamond – CD (2000)". musicline.de (in German). Archived from the original on September 30, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  17. 1 2 "Black Diamond : Angie Stone". HMV Japan. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  18. 1 2 3 "Black Diamond (Deluxe Edition) by Angie Stone". iTunes Store. United States. 28 September 1999. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  19. ↑ Black Diamond (liner notes). Angie Stone. Arista Records. 1999. 07822-19092-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  20. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 268.
  21. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Angie Stone – Black Diamond" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Angie Stone – Black Diamond". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  24. ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Angie Stone Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2000". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
  27. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2000". Billboard. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  28. ↑ "Dutch album certifications – Angie Stone – Black Diamond" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved June 30, 2019. Enter Black Diamond in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2002 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  29. ↑ "British album certifications – Angie Stone – Black Diamond". British Phonographic Industry. October 18, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Black Diamond: Angie Stone (CD)". Amazon. United States. 1999. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Black Diamond: Angie Stone (cassette)". Amazon. United States. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  32. ↑ "Black Diamond: Angie Stone". Amazon (in German). Germany. Archived from the original on September 29, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Black Diamond: Angie Stone". Amazon. Canada. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  34. ↑ "Black Diamond: Angie Stone". Amazon (in German). Germany. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
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