D’Angelo, Neo-Soul Pioneer and ‘Untitled (How Does It Feel)’ Singer, Dies at 51

The music world is mourning the passing of neo-soul pioneer D’Angelo. According to a statement from his family provided to Variety, the artist, whose real name was Michael D’Angelo Archer, passed away on October 14, 2025, at the age of 51 after a prolonged struggle with cancer.

His family described him as their "shining star" and requested privacy, asking the public to celebrate his profound musical legacy instead. D’Angelo first rose to prominence with his 1995 debut, "Brown Sugar," a landmark album that spent an impressive 65 consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200. This record helped define the burgeoning neo-soul scene, a 1990s-born genre that masterfully blends classic R&B with the intricate sounds of jazz, funk, and hip-hop.

Tributes from fellow artists and admirers poured in immediately. Legendary producer DJ Premier, who worked with D’Angelo on the track "Devil's Pie," posted online, "Such a sad loss to the passing of D’Angelo. We have so many great times. Gonna miss you so much. Sleep Peacefully D’ Love You KING." Music historian Dr. Lena Carter added, "His approach to production was almost architectural; he built each track with a patience and attention to detail that few artists possess, creating a blueprint for an entire generation of musicians." This painstaking methodology meant he was never a prolific artist, but his influence was undeniable.

Despite releasing only three studio albums, his catalog is considered nearly flawless. Following the success of "Brown Sugar," his 2000 masterpiece "Voodoo" was praised for its raw, live instrumentation and became a foundational text for contemporary R&B. His final album, 2014's "Black Messiah," was a potent and politically charged work released amid a period of social turmoil. These two later projects earned him a total of four Grammy Awards, cementing his status as an artist of rare vision and integrity.

D’Angelo's musical foundation was laid in his youth in South Richmond, Virginia. Immersed in the vibrant atmosphere of his father's Pentecostal church from the age of three, he first learned piano and absorbed the emotional power of gospel music. Before his solo career took off, he honed his craft in local groups, including the hip-hop ensemble I.D.U. (Intelligent, Deadly but Unique). His big break arrived in 1993 after he signed with EMI and penned the hit "U Will Know" for the R&B supergroup Black Men United, a project that immediately signaled the arrival of a formidable and unique new voice in music.