Remembering D'Angelo

D'Angelo, the pioneer of neo-soul whose 1990s and 2000s hits included "Brown Sugar," "Lady," and "Untitled (How Does It Feel)," died October 14, 2025, of pancreatic cancer at the age of 51.

He became a reluctant sex symbol of the late 1990s and early 2000s, especially with the release of the sensual video for his 2000 hit "Untitled (How Does It Feel)." But even as he stepped away from the spotlight, he remained an icon of R&B music, beloved for his modern takes on retro sounds.

Many of his fellow musicians paid tribute to D'Angelo on social media in the hours following his death, including rapper Doja Cat, who called him "[a] true voice of soul and inspiration to many brilliant artists of our generation and generations to come."

Born Michael Eugene Archer on February 11, 1974, D'Angelo grew up in the Richmond, Virginia area. He was playing piano by the age of three, inspired by his father, a minister who also played. He also sang, and as a teen, he formed a vocal trio with his cousins. They called themselves Three of a Kind, and they became popular in Richmond. D'Angelo next teamed up with his brother Luther to form the duo Michael Archer and Precise, which brought him his first taste of fame when they were invited by a talent scout to perform in an amateur night at New York City's Apollo Theater.

Though D'Angelo and his brother didn't win their first amateur night, they tried again and came out on top, whetting the young musician's appetite for fame. He bought a keyboard and four-track recorder and began experimenting with recording his own music. He began rapping with the group I.D.U., which brought him to the attention of music executives. He was still a teen when he signed his first record contract with EMI.

D'Angelo's first nationwide success was as a songwriter and producer. "U Will Know," for which he composed the music to his brother's lyrics, was recorded by the supergroup Black Men United for the soundtrack to the 1994 film "Jason's Lyric." D'Angelo appeared in the music video as a choir director, also directing the group at the Soul Train Music Awards. But even before he found his way onto national stages with Black Men United, he was working to perfect his own solo debut.

"Brown Sugar" was a labor of love for D'Angelo, written before he ever signed with EMI and recorded in 1994 and '95. Though he's best known as a singer, he did much more than sing on this album. He wrote and arranged the songs and produced the record, too. A multi-instrumentalist by now, D'Angelo also performed much of the album's musical accompaniment, assisted by other musicians in some cases.

"Brown Sugar" put D'Angelo on R&B's map, gaining critical praise and a wide audience of fans. The title track was a hit, as were "Lady" and "Cruisin'." R&B insiders were impressed with his innovative sound, which blended a '70s soul sound with contemporary touches. They called D'Angelo one of the innovators of the neo soul sound, though he disliked the label. In a 2014 interview with Questlove for Red Bull Music Academy, he said, " I never claimed I do neo-soul, you know. I used to say, when I first came out, I used to always say, 'I do black music. I make black music.'"

It took D'Angelo five years to follow "Brown Sugar" as he experienced frustrating writer's block. In the interim, he recorded covers of songs by artists like the Ohio Players and one of his musical idols, Prince (1957–2016). Then, in 2000, he released "Voodoo."

"Voodoo" debuted at No. 1 and earned rave reviews from critics, who called it a masterpiece. He took his sound beyond neo soul with "Voodoo," referencing not just '70s soul but also going even farther back in the past to tinker with sounds from vaudeville, ragtime, mid-century jazz, and much more.

"Left & Right," featuring Method Man & Redman, led the album's singles, and it did well on R&B radio. But far eclipsing it was "Untitled (How Does It Feel)", a hit both for its silky groove and for its sultry video. The video's sole focus was D'Angelo's face and bare torso, with the camera sometimes slipping almost a little too far south. It was nominated for Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards, and it made him an instant sex symbol.

The attention didn't always sit well with the young star. It made him self-conscious, frustrated with the idea that he could never be sure if a fan liked his music or just his looks. He stepped back from the music industry, struggling with addiction. In 2005, he was in the news with an arrest for drug possession and, later in the year, a car accident. He lost his record contract and checked into rehab.

In 2014, D'Angelo returned to the public eye, releasing his long-awaited follow-up album, "Black Messiah." It proved to be worth the weight, inspiring more fervent critical acclaim and yielding the singles "Really Love" and "Betray My Heart." He intended to release a companion album in its wake, but that project never materialized. He did release the 2019 single "Unshaken," included on the soundtrack to the video game "Red Read Redemption 2," and in 2024, he recorded "I Want You Forever" with Jay-Z.

D'Angelo's work was much honored at the Grammy Awards. All three of his albums were nominated for Best R&B Album, and both "Voodoo" and "Black Messiah" won. "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" and "Really Love" both won Grammys as well.

Though he tried to live much of his life out of the spotlight, he had one high profile relationship, with fellow R&B singer Angie Stone (1961–2025). The couple had one child together, their son Michael Jr., born in 1998. D'Angelo is also survived by two other children.

As news of D'Angelo's death spread, the tributes to his life and work grew. Rapper Tyler, the Creator said, " I couldn't understand how someone could write something so simple but personal but broad but genius. That's how special he was. A savant. A true alien. … My musical dna was helped shaped by this man. Forever grateful." Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea noted, "What a rare and beautiful voice and an inimitable approach to songwriting. What a musician!!! He changed the course of popular music." And bassist Bootsy Collins called him "A friend, a creator & legend."

By Linnea Crowther

(Image: Earl Gibson III/WireImage)