Credit: Billboard
D’Angelo, a Virginia native, was widely recognized as a pioneer of the neo-soul movement in the mid-1990s, blending elements of hip-hop, jazz, gospel, and funk. His debut album, Brown Sugar (1995), was critically acclaimed, and his sophomore release, Voodoo (2000), debuted atop the Billboard 200. His final album, the highly anticipated Black Messiah, arrived in 2014. Throughout his career, D’Angelo earned four GRAMMY Awards, celebrating his influential songwriting and vocal talent.
In a statement shared with Billboard, his family expressed their grief and gratitude: “After a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer, we are heartbroken to announce that Michael D’Angelo Archer… has been called home… we are eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind.”
Tributes have begun to surface from across the music community, including messages from collaborators and peers such to DJ Premier, Jill Scott, and Timbaland, mourning the loss of the revered, yet often reclusive, visionary.
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