The Pop Corporation

Too frequently, the title of legend is bestowed on a person when they shrug off their mortal coil, but with D’Angelo, ‘legend’ doesn’t quite cut it alone.

Through his music, music fans were witness to one of the most gifted songwriters and performers of a generation, who also influenced so many and altered the axis of what was feasible in modern R&B.

D’Angelo, after a private illness, has died aged 51.

The singer’s family confirmed his death in a statement to Variety. “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.”

And what a gift it was.

Melding classic soul with modern hip hop and R&B, along with psychedelic rock, the blues, jazz, fusion, Latin music and more, there are few artists who have managed to channel their inspirations and still make it resolutely their own.

He managed to remain influential despite being a somewhat elusive figure in music, releasing just three albums in his career.

His debut, ‘Brown Sugar’, shook things up, and he cemented his seat at the table of greats with his follow up, ‘Voodoo’, and the superb ‘Black Messiah’.

He delivered considerably more than the ‘Neo Soul’ tag that followed him throughout his life, but influenced the loose collective of musicians that were given a similar title, notably Erykah Badu, Maxwell, Lauren Hill and many others.

What defined his work was a free spirit of sound which was contemporary and ground breaking, as well as bearing the weight of artists that came before him with a responsibility that was undeniable. Each of his albums were big cultural moments, and throughout the music, each listen lets you know you’re in the presence of someone very special indeed.

There were troubles in his life between the albums, which would be churlish to get into now, but the melancholy and pain of his work was just as present as the swagger and playfulness, making for a fully multi-dimensional character that fans and writers would wax lyrical about with each move he made.

Seemingly the happiest on stage and in the studio away from the churn of promotion and the business of music, D’Angelo wasn’t simply a hit-maker – he was the musician’s R&B artist; the critical darling as well as someone who could make the front row of a show scream.

It’s fitting that his last release was under the umbrella of ‘vanguard’, because that was D’Angelo in a nutshell.