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D’Angelo Dead at 51

by Konstantinos Pappis
D'Angelo
D'Angelo. Credit: Gregory Harris

Neo-soul pioneer D’Angelo has died at the age of 51 following a private battle with pancreatic cancer.

In a statement, D’Angelo’s family wrote: “The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life…After a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer, we are heartbroken to announce that Michael D’Angelo Archer, known to his fans around the world as D’Angelo, has been called home, departing this life today, October 14th, 2025. We are saddened that he can only leave dear memories with his family, but we are eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind. We ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time but invite you all join us in mourning his passing while also celebrating the gift of song that he has left for the world.”

Born Michael Eugene Archer in South Richmond, Virginia, D’Angelo started playing the piano as a child. At age 18, he won the amateur talent competition at Harlem’s Apollo Theater three consecutive weeks. He was briefly part of a rap group called I.D.U. (Intelligent, Deadly but Unique), and signed a publishing deal with EMI in 1991.

D’Angelo released his debut album Brown Sugar in 1995, when he was 21 years old. With assistance from Bob Power, A Tribe Called quest’s Ali Shaheed Muhammad, and Tony! Toni! Toné!’s Raphael Saadiq, the groundbreaking record helped define the neo-soul movement and featured the hits ‘Lady’, the title track, and ‘Cruisin’’, spending 65 weeks on the Billboard 200. The neo-soul term was in fact coined by his manager Kedar Massenburg, paving the way for like-minded artists such as Maxwell and Erykah Badu.

Between albums, D’Angelo split with his management, contributed to movie soundtracks, and performed duets with Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Angie Stone. He properly returned in January 2000 with the jammier and all-around masterful Voodoo, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Inspired by J Dilla’s rhythmic style, it featured contributions from Method Man, Redman, DJ Premier, Raphael Saadiq, Pino Palladino, Charlie Hunter, Roy Hargrove, James Poyser, Q-Tip, and more.

After touring behind the album, D’Angelo struggled with depression and alcohol and drug abuse before going to rehab. He played a few live performances in 2012 and surprise-released his final studio album, Black Messiah, at the very end of 2014, once again garnering mass critical acclaim. As politically charged as it was playful, the LP was made with many of his past collaborators, including Questlove, Pino Palladino, and Roy Hargrove. It took home the award for Best R&B Album at the following year’s Grammys, while lead single ‘Really Love’ won Best R&B Song.

In 2016, D’Angelo made a rare and memorable appearance on The Tonight Show, paying tribute to Prince with a rendition of ‘Sometimes It Snows in April’. He contributed the song ‘Unshaken’ to the Red Dead Redemption 2 soundtrack in 2019 and reemerged in February 2021 for a solo set at the Apollo for the VERZUZ series. Though he was scheduled to headline Roots Picnic this past summer, he canceled the appearance. Last year, Raphael Saadiq said that D’Angelo was working on songs for a new album.

Countless collaborators, friends, and peers have paid tribute to D’Angelo following the shocking news of his passing. On her website, Beyoncé wrote, “We thank you for your beautiful music, your voice, your proficiency on the piano, your artistry. You were the pioneer of neo-soul and that changed and transformed rhythm & blues forever. We will never forget you.”

Nile Rodgers recalled his first meeting with D’Angelo, writing, “My friend Gary Harris brought this musician named D’Angelo over to my NYC apt. He was trying to figure out what to do with the music he’d brought with him. I listened to every cut… not just out of respect but because it was smoking.”

Below, also read tributes from Bootsy Collins, Flavor Flav, Jill Scott, DJ Premier, Doja Cat, Juicy J, Freddie Gibbs, Aminé, Fly Anakin, Russ, keiyaA, Backxwash, Jennifer Hudson, Open Mike Eagle, Missy Elliott, Bartees Strange, Cadence Weapon, Mick Jenkins, The Alchemist, Vernon Reid, Dawn Richard, Flea, and Tyler the Creator.

 

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