By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices

Even though R&B veteran Angie Stone hasn't recorded a new album in a couple of years, the woman -- who actually was the founding member of the very first female rap group (Sequence) back in the 1970s -- sure knows how to get all the way live.

It's something about Stone that always brings a big, old smile to my face.

We've known each other for the better part of fifteen years. During the infancy stages of my entertainment journalism career, a beloved fanzine editor gave me one of my first assignments: interview a "new" group called Vertical Hold.

This was circa 1993 -- right before she would find her calling as one of the most prolific collaborators on the rise -- and the woman behind D'Angelo's breakthrough debut opus, 'Brown Sugar.'

As the lead vocalist of Vertical Hold, Stone was definitely one to watch. Their single 'Seems You're Much Too Busy' was bubbling up at national urban radio, and just served as an entrée to what would be an amazing career as a solo artist.

Oh the memories.

In any case, Anj (as I affectionately call her) brought her neo-soul grooves to the Louisiana Superdome for the 2007 Essence Music Festival. The Columbia, South Carolina native performed two sets at the McDonald's Superlounge, dazzling her die-hard fans with a treasure trove of music old and new.

Check out an exclusive clip of her singing her two biggest hits 'No More Rain (In This Cloud)' and 'I Wish I Didn't Miss You' below ...

After the set, AOL Black Voices' star columnist Jawn Murray and 'Sister 2 Sister' magazine correspondent Calvin Terrell joined me backstage to congratulate Anj.. None of us were prepared for what we were about to get into. In the dimly lit dressing room, Stone held a spiritual revival of sorts with Lady Tambourine: a Baton Rouge-based professional percussionist legally known as Rosalie Ashton-Washington.

You know I had to catch some of it on film to share ....

Earlier in the evening, Angie and I caught up in the media room -- just before she hit the stage. She sang a little bit of one of my favorite songs by her; the poignant ballad 'Bottles & Cans' (which Jawn initially hipped me to a while back) ...

And of course, I had to ask Angie about her feelings about being at Essence Fest this year, and her upcoming album ...

--Check out our Essence Music Festival Gallery below...