D'Angelo

Template:Short description {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox musical artist Michael Eugene Archer (February 11, 1974 – October 14, 2025), better known by his stage name D'Angelo (Template:IPAc-en), was an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. Widely regarded as a pioneer of the neo-soul movement,Template:Efn<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Billboard named him one of the greatest R&B artists, while Rolling Stone magazine ranked him as one of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. In 2025, he was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.

He first gained attention after co-writing and co-producing the 1994 single "U Will Know" by the R&B supergroup Black Men United. His debut 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 with ushering in the neo-soul movement. It featured the title track, the Smokey Robinson cover "Cruisin", and "Lady", which peaked within the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100.

D'Angelo then collaborated with artists such as Angie Stone, Erykah Badu, and Lauryn Hill, with whom he performed on the 1998 song "Nothing Even Matters" from her album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. His next album, Voodoo (2000), debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 and received widespread critical acclaim. It was also certified platinum by RIAA. Its third single "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" was released alongside an impactful music video.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The song earned him the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, while the album itself won Best R&B Album. Voodoo was listed as 28th on [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|Rolling StoneTemplate:'s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]].<ref name="28th"/>

Afterwards, D'Angelo became increasingly uncomfortable with his growing status as a sex symbol. He then had numerous personal struggles, including depression, drug addiction and alcoholism, which resulted in limited musical output for several years. After over a decade spent mostly out of the public eye, he released his third and final album, Black Messiah (2014). The album debuted in the top five of the U.S. Billboard 200 and topped the year-end Pazz & Jop critics' poll by The Village Voice. It won Best R&B Album at the 58th Grammy Awards, while the single "Really Love" won Best R&B Song and was nominated for Record of the Year. He also contributed the song "Unshaken" to the 2018 video game Red Dead Redemption 2. During the production of a fourth album, he died in 2025 of pancreatic cancer.

Early life

Michael Eugene Archer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> was born in the Southside of Richmond, Virginia, on February 11, 1974.<ref name="NYTObit"/> His father was a Pentecostal preacher and he grew up in an entirely Pentecostal family.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Michael's musical talents were discovered very early as a child. He was 3 when he was spotted by his 10-year-old brother playing the house piano.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite magazine</ref> After the formation of his native-Richmond, Virginia musical group Precise, they found success performing in the Amateur Night competition at Harlem, New York's Apollo Theater in 1991. The 18-year-old dropped out of school and moved to New York City<ref name="cbb"/> as an attempt to develop his music career.<ref name="NME">Template:Cite web</ref> The group previously enjoyed some notice in Richmond, evenly dividing their repertoire between soul covers and originals while Archer accumulated compositions of his own and developed his songwriting skills.<ref name="cbb"/> The group's turnout on Amateur Night resulted in three consecutive wins and cash prizes,<ref name="Samuels">Template:Cite web</ref> and upon returning home to Richmond, Archer was inspired to produce an album and began composing music.<ref name=":0" /> That was after a brief tenure as a member of the hip hop group I.D.U. (Intelligent, Deadly but Unique).<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Career

1991–1995: Brown Sugar

At the age of 17, D'Angelo met Afropunk Festival partner Jocelyn Cooper,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> who signed him to Midnight Songs LLC,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> her joint venture publishing company administered by Universal Music Publishing Group after hearing a demo of the hip hop group I.D.U. (Intelligent, Deadly but Unique), which D'Angelo produced and rapped in.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After signing, Cooper introduced D'Angelo to musicians Raphael Saadiq, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Angie Stone to collaborate as songwriters. Cooper then introduced D'Angelo to Fred Davis,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Head of A&R and Gary Harris at EMI Music. After an impressive audition, D'Angelo was signed to a recording contract in 1993.<ref name="cbb">Template:Cite book</ref> Cooper also introduced D'Angelo to attorney Kedar Massenburg who helped negotiate his contract.<ref name="kedar">Gale Staff (1998), pp. 138–139.</ref> Massenburg later became D'Angelo's manager.Template:Citation needed

In 1994, his first significant success came in the form of the hit single "U Will Know".<ref name="Huey">Huey, Steve. [[[:Template:AllMusic]] D'Angelo: Biography]. AllMusic. Retrieved January 28, 2009.</ref> D'Angelo co-wrote and co-produced the song for the all-male R&B supergroup Black Men United, which featured R&B singers such as Brian McKnight, Usher, R. Kelly, Boyz II Men, Raphael Saadiq, and Gerald Levert.<ref name="PRWeb">D'Angelo Signed to RCA Music Group (J Records) Template:Webarchive. PRWeb. Retrieved December 8, 2008.</ref> D'Angelo composed the music for "U Will Know", while his brother, Luther Archer, Midnight Songs LLC writer, wrote the lyrics.<ref name="cm">Onnell (1997), pp. 103–105.</ref> Originally featured on the soundtrack to the film Jason's Lyric (1994), the single peaked at number 5 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100.<ref name="jason">[[[:Template:AllMusic]] Jason's Lyric: Charts & Awards]. AllMusic. Retrieved January 28, 2009.</ref> The music video for "U Will Know" featured D'Angelo as the group's choir director; he reprised the role for the live performance of the song at the Soul Train Music Awards.<ref name="PRWeb"/> That same year, he wrote and produced the song "Overjoyed" for the Boys Choir of Harlem,<ref name="Farley">Farley, Christopher John. D'Angelo: Salvation Sex and Voodoo. Time. Retrieved September 15, 2008.</ref> which appeared on their album The Sound of Hope (1994).<ref name="hope">Amazon.com: The Sound of Hope Template:Webarchive. Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved February 1, 2009.</ref>Template:Primary source inline The success of "U Will Know" helped build the buzz surrounding D'Angelo, which was followed by a number of highly promoted showcases, and added to the buzz among music industry insiders.<ref name="PRWeb"/>

Brown Sugar was released in July 1995. Although sales were sluggish at first, the album was eventually a hit. The album debuted at number 6 on the US Billboard Top R&B Albums chart in the week of July 22, 1995.<ref>R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Week of July 22, 1995. Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2010.</ref> It ultimately peaked at number 4 in the week of February 24, 1996,<ref>R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Week of February 24, 1996. Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2010.</ref> and spent more than a year on the chart.<ref name="R&B">[[[:Template:BillboardURLbyName]] Chart History: D'Angelo – R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]. Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2010.</ref> Brown Sugar spent sixty-five weeks on the Billboard 200 and peaked at number 22 on the chart.<ref name="bb200">[[[:Template:BillboardURLbyName]] Chart History: D'Angelo – Billboard 200]. Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2010.</ref> It sold 300,000 copies within two months.<ref>Coker, Cheo H. "Is D'Angelo the Heir to Throne of Soul Music? 21-Year-Old Newcomer Has Fans Swooning Over Voice as Sweet as `Brown Sugar'". Chicago Tribune: 1. August 18, 1995.</ref> The album had been selling 35,000 to 40,000 copies a week through to November 1995,<ref name="Ayers"/> and by January 1996, it had sold 400,000 copies.<ref>Phillips, Chuck. "The New Payola // Record Companies Use Perks To Gain Ear of Radio Stations The New Payola // Record Companies Use Perks To Gain Ear of Radio Stations". Chicago Sun-Times: 1. January 3, 1996.</ref> With the help of its four singles, including the gold-selling Billboard Hot 100 hit "Lady" and R&B top-ten singles "Brown Sugar" and "Cruisin",<ref>Gold & Platinum – Searchable Database: Lady Template:Dead link. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 9, 2010.</ref> the album reached sales of 500,000 copies in the United States by October 1995.<ref name="Ayers">Ayers, Anne. "D'Angelo Cruisin' Through His First Tour Template:Webarchive. USA Today: 14.D. November 1, 1995.</ref><ref name="RIAA">Gold & Platinum – Searchable Database: Brown Sugar Template:Webarchive. Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 9, 2010.</ref> On February 7, 1996, it was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, following shipments in excess of one million in the U.S.<ref name="RIAA"/> The album was certified gold in Canada on May 9, 2000.<ref name="CRIA">Search Certification Database: Brown Sugar Template:Webarchive. Canadian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved May 9, 2010.</ref> Its total sales have been estimated within the range of 1.5 million to over 2 million units.<ref name="Huey"/><ref name="Wells">Wells, Chris. "Pop: Just Got to Keep It Real" Template:Webarchive, The Independent. Retrieved May 9, 2010.</ref><ref>Staff. "D'Angelo Reportedly Moving To J Records" Template:Webarchive. SoundSlam. Retrieved May 9, 2010.</ref><ref>Columnist. "Soul Survivor Template:Webarchive". The Miami Herald: 1M. May 27, 2001.</ref><ref>Burch, Audra D. S. "Neo-Soul: Past Future Perfect". Richmond Times: H.2. June 3, 2001.</ref><ref>Webster, Nicholas. "A Little Sugar: Follow-Up Albums Is a Good Listen If Not a Market Hit Template:Dead link Template:Cbignore". Winston-Salem Journal: 2. February 7, 2000.</ref>

1996–2000: Reduced activity and Voodoo

After the success of his debut album Brown Sugar in 1995, D'Angelo became less active in the music scene and released limited solo work.<ref name="signed">PR. D'Angelo Signed to RCA Music Group (J Records) Template:Webarchive. PRWeb. Retrieved December 8, 2008.</ref> After touring for two years to promote the album Brown Sugar, D'Angelo suffered from writer's block.<ref name=EW>Seymour, Craig. Why D'Angelo's No. 1 Album Almost Didn't Happen . Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 9, 2008.</ref> Of the setback, D'Angelo later stated "The thing about writer's block is that you want to write so fucking bad, [but] the songs don't come out that way. They come from life. So you've got to live to write."<ref name=EW/> During this period, he generally released cover versions and remakes, such as a cover of the Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell duet song "Your Precious Love" with Erykah Badu for the soundtrack to High School High (1996).<ref name="signed"/> D'Angelo contributed the original song "I Found My Smile Again" to the Space Jam soundtrack (1996). He covered Prince's "She's Always in My Hair" for the Scream 2 soundtrack (1997), as well as the Ohio Players' "Heaven Must Be Like This" for the Down in the Delta soundtrack (1998). D'Angelo also appeared on a duet, "Nothing Even Matters", with Lauryn Hill for her debut solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The much-delayed follow-up to Brown Sugar, Voodoo, was released in 2000 on Virgin Records after EMI Records Group was absorbed by the label. Voodoo received rave reviews from music critics,<ref name="Evanoff">Evanoff, Rob. Review: Voodoo Template:Webarchive. All About Jazz. Retrieved December 21, 2008.</ref> who dubbed it a "masterpiece" and D'Angelo's greatest work.<ref name=jet>Columnist. "Hot Singer D'Angelo". Jet: 58–62. July 3, 2000.</ref><ref name="McPherson">McPherson, Steve. Warp + Weft: Voodoo. Reveille Magazine. Retrieved December 21, 2008.</ref><ref>Farley, Christopher John. January 24, 2000 Vol. 155 No. 3: The Arts / Music Template:Webarchive. Time. Received December 21, 2008.</ref><ref name=citypages>Scholtes, Peter S. Review: Voodoo Template:Webarchive. City Pages. Retrieved December 21, 2008.</ref> The album debuted at number 1 on the US Billboard 200 chart,<ref name=albumchart>0 Billboard Music Charts: VoodooTemplate:Dead link Template:Cbignore. Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2008.</ref> selling 320,000 copies in its first week.<ref name="Century">Century, Douglas. Singing in the Buff: The Pure Beefcake Video. The New York Times. Retrieved January 23, 2009.</ref> It entered the Billboard 200 on February 12, 2000, and remained on the chart for thirty-three consecutive weeks.<ref>Top Music Charts: Voodoo (02/12/00). Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2008.</ref> As of 2005, the album has sold over 1.7 million copies in the US, according to Nielsen SoundScan.<ref name="Nielsen">Hall, Rashaun. D'Angelo Heading To J?. Billboard: July 26, 2005. Archived from the original August 9, 2008.</ref> In 2001, Voodoo won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 43rd Grammy Awards which was awarded to D'Angelo and recording engineer Russell Elevado.<ref>GRAMMY Awards: Voodoo Template:Webarchive. AllMusic. Retrieved March 21, 2009.</ref> The album was executive-produced by then-manager and creative collaborator, Dominique Trenier.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Its first two singles, "Devil's Pie" and "Left & Right", peaked at number 69 and number 70 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.<ref name=dchart>Billboard Music Charts: Devil's Pie Template:Dead link Template:Cbignore. Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2008.</ref><ref name=lchart>0 Billboard Music Charts: Left & Right Template:Dead link Template:Cbignore. Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2008.</ref> The latter was commercially aimed at R&B and hip hop-oriented radio stations due to the prominence of rappers Redman and Method Man on the track.<ref>Columnist. "Singles Reviews: 'Left & Right'". Billboard. 19. October 30, 1999. Archived from the original August 9, 2008.</ref> According to Rich Ford Jr., producer of the "Left & Right" music video, both the single and the video went commercially unnoticed due to MTV's refusal to place the song's video in rotation, serving as punishment for missing the deadline for its initial premiere. The fifth single "Feel Like Makin' Love" was less successful, reaching number 109 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks.<ref name=fchart>0 Billboard Music Charts: Feel Like Makin' Love Template:Dead link Template:Cbignore. Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2008.</ref> "Send It On", the album's fourth single, achieved moderate chart success, peaking at number 33 on BillboardTemplate:'s Pop Singles chart.<ref name=schart>0 Billboard Music Charts: Send It On Template:Dead link Template:Cbignore. Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2008.</ref> The album's third single, "Untitled (How Does It Feel)", became its greatest chart success, peaking at number 25 on the Hot 100 Singles and at number 2 on the R&B Singles chart.<ref name=uchart>0 Billboard Music Charts: Untitled (How Does It Feel)Template:Dead link Template:Cbignore. Billboard. Retrieved August 9, 2008.</ref> Its infamous music video helped in boosting the song's appeal, as well as D'Angelo's. Billboard wrote of the video, "It's pure sexuality. D'Angelo, muscularly cut and glistening, is shot from the hips up, naked, with just enough shown to prompt a slow burning desire in most any woman who sees it. The video alone could make the song one of the biggest of the coming year".<ref name=billboardvideo>Columnist. "Singles Reviews: 'Untitled (How Does It Feel)'". Billboard: 23–24. January 15, 2000. Archived from the original Template:Dead link Template:Cbignore on December 20, 2008.</ref> It earned three nominations for the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards, including Video of the Year, Best R&B Video, and Best Male Video.<ref>Columnist. MTV Video Music Awards: The Winners . BBC News. Retrieved August 16, 2008.</ref>

2001–2013: Personal struggles and delayed album

Near the end of his worldwide tour in support of the album that same year, D'Angelo's personal issues had worsened, affecting performances.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He became more conscious of and uncomfortable with his status as a sex symbol, and after the tour D'Angelo returned to his home in Richmond, Virginia, disappearing from the public eye.<ref name="Peisner">Peisner, David (2008). Body & Soul Spin, pp. 64–72.</ref> Several of D'Angelo's peers and affiliates have noted the commercial impact of the "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" music video and The Voodoo Tour as contributing factors to D'Angelo's period of absence from the music scene.<ref>Staff. D'Angelo News Template:Webarchive. Yahoo! Music. Retrieved November 1, 2008.</ref> His former music manager, Dominique Trenier, explained his disappointment in the music video's impact in a 2008 interview for Spin magazine. Trenier was quoted as saying that "to this day, in the general populace's memory, he's the naked dude."<ref name="Peisner"/>

According to tour manager Alan Leeds, the experience "took away his confidence, because he's not convinced why any given fan is supporting him."<ref name="Peisner"/> Following the suicide of his close friend, MTV-affiliate Fred Jordan, in April 2001, he started to develop a drinking problem.<ref name="Peisner"/> As his alcoholism escalated, plans for a live album and a Soultronics studio effort, both originally set for after the tour, were scrapped, and impatient Virgin executives cut off funding for the expected 2004 solo album.<ref name="Peisner"/> During this period he collaborated with Raphael Saadiq on the song "Be Here", which was included on Saadiq's album Instant Vintage and nominated for best Best R&B Song and Best Urban/Alternative Performance at the 45th Grammy Awards.

By 2005, D'Angelo's girlfriend had left him, his attorney had become displeased with him, and most of his family was not in touch with him.<ref name="Peisner"/> He also parted ways with Trenier and tour manager Alan Leeds.<ref name="Peisner"/> After a car accident and an arrest on DUI and marijuana possession charges, D'Angelo left Virgin Records in 2005 and checked into the Crossroads Centre rehabilitation clinic in Antigua.<ref name="Peisner"/> In 2005, his recording contract was acquired by J Records,<ref>Columnist. D'Angelo Working On J Records Debut Template:Webarchive. HHNLive.com. Retrieved December 28, 2008.</ref> following rumors of D'Angelo signing to Bad Boy Records.<ref name="signed"/> Despite no solo output, D'Angelo collaborated with some R&B and hip hop artists during this period between albums,<ref name="Peisner"/> appearing on albums such as J Dilla's The Shining (2006), Snoop Dogg's Tha Blue Carpet Treatment (2006), Common's Finding Forever (2007), and Q-Tip's The Renaissance (2008).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

D'Angelo's subsequent solo work was extensively delayed.<ref name="Peisner"/> Production for a full-length follow-up to Voodoo was stagnant, as he was working on and off mostly by himself during 2002.<ref name="qt">Elevado, Russell. Questlove. D'Angelo's 'James River' Template:Webarchive. Quality Time. Retrieved January 18, 2009.</ref> D'Angelo attempted to play every instrument for the project, striving for complete creative control similar to that of Prince.<ref name="NYTObit"/> Russell Elevado described the resulting material as "Parliament/Funkadelic meets the Beatles meets Prince, and the whole time there's this Jimi Hendrix energy".<ref name="Peisner"/> However, those who previewed its songs found it to be unfinished.<ref name="Peisner"/> In the years that followed, D'Angelo's personal problems worsened, descending to drug and alcohol addiction. In January 2005 he was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and cocaine. Various mugshots began circulating around the time, showing the singer looking overweight and unhealthy, in stark contrast to the muscular D'Angelo seen in promotion for Voodoo.<ref name="tinypic1">Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Primary source inline In September 2005, a week after being sentenced on the drug charges, he was involved in a car accident, and was rumored to be critically injured. However, a week after the crash a statement was issued by D'Angelo's attorney stating that he was fine, continuing to say, "He is anxious to finish the recording of his soul masterpiece that the world has patiently awaited."<ref name="harris2005">Template:Cite web</ref>

File:D'Angelo@Brixton2.jpg

D'Angelo performing at Brixton Academy in London, 2012

No more was revealed on the new album until 2007, when Questlove leaked an unfinished track on Triple J Radio in Australia. Entitled "Really Love", the track was an acoustic flavored jam with a laid back swing feel. The leak apparently soured relations between the two.<ref name="Peisner"/> D'Angelo released a CD/DVD compilation album entitled The Best So Far…, first released on June 24, 2008, on Virgin Records. The compilation features songs from his two previous albums, Brown Sugar and Voodoo, as well as rarities and a second disc, a DVD of previously unreleased videos. Around the same time, the compilation was released digitally without the Erykah Badu and Raphael Saadiq featured songs, under the title Ultimate D'Angelo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Primary source inline

In late November 2011, D'Angelo announced a series of 2012 European tour dates.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The tour kicked off January 26 in Stockholm, Sweden<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with its final show on February 10.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The tour featured a selection of hits from his two previous albums and songs from his upcoming album, which was close to completion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He premiered 4 new songs: "Sugah Daddy", "Ain't That Easy", "Another Life" and "The Charade" which were well received. On June 9, 2012, he joined Questlove for the annual Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival's Superjam. He did not play any of his original material and this marked the first time in nearly 12 years that he performed on stage in the US.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> On September 1, 2012, D'Angelo performed at Jay-Z's Made in America festival where he again performed the new songs, "The Charade" and "Sugah Daddy". On October 7, RCA Music Group announced that it was closing J Records, Arista Records, and Jive Records. With the shutdown, D'Angelo (and all other artists previously signed to those labels) would release his future material on RCA Records.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

2014–2020: Black Messiah and "Unshaken"

D'Angelo released his third album, Black Messiah, in December 2014. D'Angelo originally wanted to release Black Messiah in 2015, but the controversial decisions in the Ferguson and Eric Garner cases inspired him to release it earlier.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On December 12, 2014, Kevin Liles, D'Angelo's manager, shared a 15-second teaser of the album on YouTube.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Two days later, the track "Sugah Daddy", which had been part of D'Angelo's set list since 2012,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> premiered at 3Template:Nbspam EST and a thousand downloads were available on Red Bull's 20 Before 15 website.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After an exclusive listening party in New York produced by Afropunk festival founder Matthew Morgan and Jocelyn Cooper, Black Messiah was released digitally on December 15 through iTunes, Google Play Music, and Spotify.<ref name="NYTObit"/> The album's unexpected release was compared to Beyoncé's self-titled release in 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On January 13, 2015, "Really Love" was released to urban adult contemporary radio in the US.<ref name="NYTObit"/>

The album was met with universal acclaim from critics; as of 2015, it had a 95/100 mean score on review aggregator Metacritic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In its first week of release, Black Messiah debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200 and sold 117,000 copies in the United States.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In its second week, the album dropped to number 25 on the chart and sold another 40,254 copies.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number 47 on the UK Albums Chart with first-week sales of 7,423 copies.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

D'Angelo supported Black Messiah with a tour called The Second Coming.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His band, once called "The Testimony" and later renamed "The Vanguard", included drummer Chris Dave, bassist Pino Palladino, guitarists Jesse Johnson (the Time) and Isaiah Sharkey, vocalists Kendra Foster (sometimes replaced by Joi Gilliam), Jermaine Holmes and Charles "Redd" Middleton, keyboardist Cleo "Pookie" Sample, jazz trumpeter Keyon Harrold, saxophonist Kenneth Whalum manning the horn section, and D'Angelo as the lead vocalist, playing the electric grand piano, electric guitar, and even the band's conductor at certain moments.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> D'Angelo and the Vanguard's Second Coming Tour commenced in New York on February 7, 2015, and concluded in Austin on November 6, 2015, with a total of 57 shows in Europe, Asia and North America.<ref name=tours/>

At the 58th Annual Grammy Awards, Black Messiah won Best R&B Album while "Really Love" won Best R&B Song and was nominated for Record of the Year.<ref name=grammynoms/><ref name="LAT"/>

In June 2015, D'Angelo confirmed to Rolling Stone that he was working on more material for a new album, calling it "a companion piece" to Black Messiah.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> D'Angelo performed Prince's "Sometimes It Snows in April" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in April 2016 accompanied by Maya Rudolph and Gretchen Lieberum as a tribute to the musician, appearing 'overcome with emotion' at the passing of a major influence.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> D'Angelo contributed to the soundtrack for the 2018 video game Red Dead Redemption 2. He sang on the song "Unshaken" which was produced by Daniel Lanois. He had previously served as a playtester for the game itself due to his love for the series. The game's music team eventually invited him to perform on a song, which was finished in a week.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> "Unshaken" was later released as a digital single on January 4, 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2021–2025: Verzuz, upcoming fourth album

On February 14, 2021, D'Angelo appeared on Instagram Live to announce that he would be performing at the Apollo Theater on February 27, 2021, in cooperation with the American webcast Verzuz. The event was billed as D'Angelo VS Friends and featured no opponents; instead, D'Angelo performed a solo set with shared performances with his peers and collaborators, Keyon Harrold, Method Man & Redman, and H.E.R.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On June 10, 2021, D'Angelo performed at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival in New York City for "The Songs of Red Dead Redemption 2". He performed his 2019 single "Unshaken", which was his contribution to the game's soundtrack. D'Angelo performed as a guitarist and the lead vocalist, with soundtrack producer Daniel Lanois, singer Rhiannon Giddens, and members of his band "D'Angelo and the Vanguard", including guitarist Jesse Johnson and vocalists Jermaine Holmes and Charles Middleton by his side.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2024, he featured alongside Jay-Z on the song "I Want You Forever" from the soundtrack to the film The Book of Clarence. In September 2024, Raphael Saadiq said "D's in a good space," and that D'Angelo was working on a new album.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Artistry, influences, legacy and impact

In a 1995 interview, he discussed the influence that musician Prince had on his approach to recording his debut album, stating "I was one of those guys who read the album credits and I realized that Prince was a true artist. He wrote, produced, and performed, and that's the way I wanted to do it."<ref name="cm"/> According to D'Angelo, the hip hop influence present on the album "came from the Native Tongues movement – Tribe Called Quest, Gang Starr and Main Source."<ref name="Farber">Template:Cite news</ref> In a February 1999 interview with music journalist Touré, D'Angelo discussed on his visit to South Carolina, that he "went through this tunnel, through gospel, blues, and a lot of old soul, old James Brown, early, early Sly and the Family Stone, and a lot of Jimi Hendrix".<ref name="allears" /> In the same interview, he cited the deaths of rappers Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. as having a great effect on him during the period.<ref name="allears">Touré. "D'Angelo: All Ears Template:Webarchive". Interview: February 1999.</ref> Collectively referred to by D'Angelo as "yoda",<ref name="Believer">Touré. Interview with Ahmir Thompson Template:Webarchive. The Believer. Retrieved November 1, 2008.</ref> these influencers included soul artist Al Green, funk artist George Clinton, and Afrobeat artist Fela Kuti.<ref name=":0" />

Brown Sugar is widely credited as the album that launched neo-soul,Template:Efn with the term coined soon after by D'Angelo's manager Kedar Massenburg.<ref name="LAT">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Kot, Greg. "Dusting of Old King Soul Template:Webarchive". Chicago Tribune: 1. July 21, 1996. Retrieved October 14, 2025.</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The style blends R&B with elements from hip-hop, jazz and other styles of music.<ref name="McIntosh, 2025"/> Pitchfork defined D'Angelo as "the groundbreaking R&B artist who helped define the neo-soul movement across decades".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Washington Post described D'Angelo as the "godfather of neo-soul".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> D'Angelo distanced himself from the term, saying in 2014, "I never claimed I do neo-soul... When I first came out, I used to always say, 'I do black music. I make black music."<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref>

His second album Voodoo (2000) is considered one of the best examples of neo soul music by music critics, while it was listed as 28th on [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time|Rolling StoneTemplate:'s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time]].<ref name="28th">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The album single" Untitled (How Does It Feel)" was listed as second on Rolling StoneTemplate:'s 100 Greatest R&B Songs of the 21th Century.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> George Clinton compared Voodoo to Marvin Gaye's landmark 1971 album What's Going On.<ref name="Sisario">Sisario, Ben. [1]. The New York Times. (October 14, 2025). Retrieved October 18, 2025.</ref> Music critics have called Voodoo a "towering achievement",<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> "masterpiece"<ref name="Shteamer">Shteamer, Hank. [2]. The New York Times. (October 15, 2025). Retrieved October 18, 2025.</ref> and "classic".<ref name="Blistein">Blistein, Jon. [3]. Rolling Stone. (October 14, 2025). Retrieved October 18, 2025.</ref> Voodoo was influential on many jazz musicians in the 21st century.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Black Messiah featured more of a rock and psychedelic sound, and more political lyrics, than previous releases.<ref name=":1" /> In 2016, Black Messiah, Beyoncé's Beyoncé (2013), Run the Jewels' Run the Jewels 2 (2014), and Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly (2015) were noted by The Yale Herald as laying the groundwork down for the politically charged releases that happened in 2016, which included Rihanna's Anti, Kanye West's The Life of Pablo, and Beyonce's "Formation".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked D'Angelo at number 75 on its list of the "200 Greatest Singers of All Time".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2025 Billboard listed the singer as the 45th on the list of "The 75th Best R&B Arist of all Time" in 2025.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Several publications and music magazines listed D'Angelo in their list of the greatest R&B and soul artists, including Forbes (2nd<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>), Medium (22nd<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>) and Essence (27th<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>).

Tyler, the Creator said his "musical DNA" was shaped by D'Angelo's work.<ref name=":2" /> Chaka Khan called D'Angelo a "genius".<ref name="Murphy">Template:Cite web</ref> George Clinton praised him as a worthy successor to soul legend Marvin Gaye.<ref name="Murphy"/> Prince said of D'Angelo, “I crave great musicianship, and I don’t care who provides it...I’ve got no problems saying I dig D’Angelo.”<ref name="Murphy"/> Rolling Stone said all three of D'Angelo's albums are revered as "contemporary classics".<ref name="Blistein"/>

Personal life and death

D'Angelo never married. In the 1990s, he dated the late soul singer Angie Stone. She was his muse for his Brown Sugar album and he helped her produce her debut album Black Diamond, released in 1999. Angie Stone and D'Angelo had a son together, Michael Archer Jr, born in 1997 (known professionally as Swayvo Twain).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> D'Angelo also had two other children: a daughter, Imani Archer, born in 1999, and a son, born in 2010.<ref name="NYTObit"/>

In the early 2000s, D'Angelo struggled with depression,<ref name=":1" /> and drug and alcohol addiction.<ref name="d'angelorip">Template:Cite news</ref> One notable incident occurred in 2005 when he was arrested on a DUI charge and also for possession of cocaine and marijuana.<ref name="d'angelorip" /> A week after being sentenced on these charges in September 2005, he was involved in a car crash that was rumored to have left him critically injured.<ref name="d'angelorip" />

D'Angelo died from pancreatic cancer in New York City, on the morning of October 14, 2025, at the age of 51. He had been working on his fourth album with Raphael Saadiq.<ref name="d'angelorip" /><ref name="NYTObit">Template:Cite web</ref> A family member told People that D'Angelo had been in a hospice for two weeks, and had been hospitalized for months.<ref name="d'angelorip" /> Stone died in March 2025, only seven months before D'Angelo.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Archer Jr. spoke publicly about the grief of losing both his parents within the same year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Numerous public figures offered tributes to D'Angelo. His collaborator and hit single duet partner Lauryn Hill said, "I regret not having more time with you."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The song they sang together, "Nothing Even Matters", was included on President Barack Obama's first summer playlist in 2015; Obama expressed sadness at D'Angelo's death, saying, "Michelle and I are thinking of his family, and all those who loved and admired him."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Actor Jamie Foxx wrote, "Your music and your impression will be felt for generations to come."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Musicians who paid tribute include Beyoncé; Tyler, the Creator; Nile Rodgers; Missy Elliott; George Clinton; and Doja Cat.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>

Discography

Template:Main

Studio albums

Brown Sugar (1995)
Voodoo (2000)
Black Messiah (with the Vanguard) (2014)

Tours

Brown Sugar Tour (1996)<ref name=tours/>
The Voodoo World Tour (2000)<ref name=tours/>
Occupy Music Tour (2012)<ref name=tours/>
The Liberation Tour (2012)<ref name=tours/>
The Second Coming Tour (2015)<ref name=tours>Template:Cite web</ref>

Awards and nominations

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards

Grammy Awards

Template:Awards table !Ref. |- |rowspan="3"| 1996 || Brown Sugar | Best R&B Album | Template:Nom |rowspan="5"|<ref name=grammynoms>Template:Cite web</ref> |- |rowspan="2"| "Brown Sugar" | Best R&B Song | Template:Nom |- | rowspan="2"|Best Male R&B Vocal Performance | Template:Nom |- || 1997 |"Lady" | Template:Nom |- || 1999 |"Nothing Even Matters" (with Lauryn Hill) |Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal | Template:Nom |- |rowspan="3"| 2001 || Voodoo | Best R&B Album | Template:Won |rowspan="2"|<ref name="LAT"/> |- |rowspan="2"| "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" |Best Male R&B Vocal Performance | Template:Won |- |rowspan="2"| Best R&B Song | Template:Nom |rowspan="4"|<ref name=grammynoms/> |- |rowspan="2"|2003 |rowspan="2"| "Be Here" (with Raphael Saadiq) | Template:Nom |- |Best Urban/Alternative Performance | Template:Nom |- |2004 | "I'll Stay" (with Roy Hargrove) | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals | Template:Nom |- |rowspan="3"| 2016 || Black Messiah | Best R&B Album | Template:Won |<ref name="LAT"/> |- |rowspan="2"| "Really Love" | Record of the Year | Template:Nom |<ref name=grammynoms/> |- | Best R&B Song | Template:Won |<ref name="LAT"/> |}

MTV Europe Music Awards

Pollstar Concert Industry Awards

Rober Awards Music Prize

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

Template:Reflist

External links

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