D'Angelo, a Grammy Award-winning R&B singer, is known for his raspy yet smooth voice and for capturing the attention of a wide audience with his shirtless music. Untitled (What It Feels Like) The music video is dead. He was 51.
The singer, whose real name was Michael Eugene Archer, died Tuesday, according to a family statement.
The singer's family confirmed Tuesday that he had died after a long battle with cancer. They called him “the shining star of our family and dimmed his light for us in this life,” adding that they are “forever grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind.”
In his music, D'Angelo combined the grit of hip-hop, expressive soul, and gospel-based emotion into a sound that helped propel the movement forward. neo-soul movement 1990s.
Earlier this year The Virginia native celebrated the 30th anniversary of his debut studio album Brown sugarplatinum selling offering that produced signature hits such as Lady and the title track. The 1995 album earned him several Grammy nominations and established him as one of R&B's most original new voices.
D'Angelo's sultry vocal style—a mixture of raspy texture and church-bred smoothness—set him apart from his peers. That voice became inseparable from the striking visuals of his 2000 single. Untitled (What It Feels Like).
The minimalistic, shirtless music video became a cultural touchstone, sparking conversations about black male artistry, sexuality and vulnerability. The song earned him a Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and helped promote his second album. Voodoo, topped the Billboard 200 chart and won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album.
“I remember the first time I heard your music… I said to myself, damn, whoever it is, they're anointed,” Jamie Foxx said on social media.
“Then when I finally got the chance to see you… Like everyone else, when they saw the most incredible music video of our time… I was blown away… I thought to myself I had to see this man in concert… I had the chance to see you at the House of Blues… You came out and got right down to business… Your voice was silky and flawless… I was graciously jealous of your style and your mannerisms.”
Beyond his own catalogue, D'Angelo's artistry has come through in collaborations. He memorably sang a duet with Lauryn Hill in a soulful ballad. Nothing even mattersa highlight of her landmark 1998 album. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. He also appeared on The Roots' 1996 album. Illadelph Half-life and was part of the supergroup Black Men United.
The latest collaboration, which featured artists as diverse as Boyz II Men, Lenny Kravitz, Usher and more, resulted in a single song: You will find out. D'Angelo wrote and co-produced the film's track. Jason's lyrics in 1994.
“Musical soulmate”
Years before he retreated from the public eye, D'Angelo's life and music were closely intertwined with Grammy-nominated R&B singer Angie Stone in the '90s. The couple met when he was finishing Brown sugar and they share similar backgrounds: both are from the South and both grew up in the church. Stone worked on the album with D'Angelo and they co-wrote the song. Every day for her 1999 debut album, Black Diamond.
Stone described D'Angelo as her “musical soulmate” to the Associated Press in 1999, adding that their working relationship was “like milk and cereal… Musically, it was magic. This is something I couldn't do with any other producer or musician.”
They had a son, artist Swavo Twain, born Michael Archer Jr.
Stone died earlier this year in a car accident. She was 63.
D'Angelo also has a daughter, Imani Archer, who is also a musical artist.
In recent years, D'Angelo's life has come to be defined by both absence and recognition. After Voodoohe retreated from the spotlight for more than a decade, fueling speculation about personal problems and creative battles.
His long-awaited return took place in 2014. Black Messiahcredited to D'Angelo and The Vanguard. The urgent and politically charged album came amid nationwide protests and helped usher in a wave of activist music in response to police killings of Black Americans and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.
The album debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and earned him a Grammy for Best R&B Album, confirming his status as the voice of a generation. This is an outstanding single I really love itearned him another Grammy for Best R&B Song and was nominated for Record of the Year.
In May, D'Angelo pulled out of headlining the 2025 Roots Picnic in Philadelphia due to an “unforeseen medical delay regarding surgery.” [he] “It was earlier this year,” the artist shared in a statement. D'Angelo said he was advised that coming forward “could further complicate the situation.”
In addition to his most popular singles, D'Angelo's catalog includes fan favorites such as Me and my dreamy eyes, Cruise And Devil's Pie. His influence extended far beyond the charts, inspiring a wave of artists including Maxwell, Alicia Keys and Frank Ocean.
