American R&B legend D’Angelo has died.
The songwriter crafted three impeccable, culture-altering albums across three decades, each a magnificently poised document of soulful artistry. A true one-of-a-kind voice, D’Angelo sadly passed away overnight following a quiet, behind the scenes battle with pancreatic cancer.
Hip-hop producer DJ Premier worked closely with D’Angelo, and the East Coast figure was one of the first to pay his respects:
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
Lauryn Hill knew D’Angelo intimately, and she posted a beautiful piece on his life and legacy:
People need reflection.
I regret not having more time with you. Your undeniable beauty and talent were not of this world, and a presence not of this world needs protection in a world that covets light and the anointing of God. You sir, moved us, stirred us, inspired and even intimidated others to action with your genius. Thank you for being a beacon of light to a generation and beyond who had no remembrance of the legacy that preceded us. Thank you for charting the course and for making space during a time when no similar space really existed. You imaged a unity of strength and sensitivity in Black manhood to a generation that only saw itself as having to be one or the other. It is my earnest prayer that you are in peace, far away from selfishness, fear and/or controlling interests. Far from possessiveness, far from greed, far from manipulation, far from exploitation, far from intentionally designed chaos and that you Brother are in peace, in bliss and in eternal light and fulfillment with our Father in heaven.
I Love you and I miss you. May God grant peace and shelter to your family, true friends and genuine appreciators, Brother, King.
—
—
Tyler, The Creator has long been a D’Angelo stan, and the LA hyphenate used Instagram to express his sorrow:
on my 9th birthday, march 6 2000, i landed at Sam Goody at the south bay galleria. i had $20 in birthday money and my eyes set on leaving with one thing.
VOODOO by D’Angelo.
citas world had ‘left&right’ on loop; brown sugar became a staple at home and nothing even matters by ms.hill was on repeat, so i had no doubt that voodoo would deliver. i had no idea that would help shape my musical dna. the amount of raps ive wrote to BOOTY on the front porch that year, the amount of times ive tried to mimic vocal phrasing from SEND IT ON, the scratches the disc ended up with from repeating THE ROOT……too many. ONE MO’GIN still puts me in the same trance as it did when i first heard it. that dragging sway of tempo that sounds like a porch sitting rocking chair. that grumpy but loose bassline. the subject of it, that feeling hes describing felt like a mirror. I took that and wrote RING RING RING (hence the one mo gin line). i couldnt understand how someone could write something so simple but personal but broad but genius. thats how special he was. a savant. a true alien.
i am so lucky to have gotten my copy of VOODOO when i did. we are so lucky to have been alive to enjoy his art. my musical dna was helped shaped by this man. forever grateful. safe travels
Missy Elliott praised the singer’s artistry, and asked fans to hold his son – who also lost mother Angie Stone earlier this year – in their thoughts:
No parent want to see their children go but it’s painful for children to see their parents go to so send prayers up for his son who also lost his mom this year for strength
Saul Williams wrote a beautiful essay on the impact of D’Angelo’s life and work –
As I reflect on his beautiful spirit and the music he gifted us -which was only when he saw fit. I remember having the voodoo recordings for literal years before they came out. – I’m reminded of how lucky I felt whenever I was in the room with him.
Technically, I was there because I had been asked to write the liner notes for Voodoo- which I eventually did & are shared above- but really I was just basking in any & every opportunity to hear an angel sing up close.
So many of the peeps that D loved are already on the other side so I can only imagine that it’s his turn to hear his favorite angels sing close up.
—
American R&B legend D’Angelo has died.
The songwriter crafted three impeccable, culture-altering albums across three decades, each a magnificently poised document of soulful artistry. A true one-of-a-kind voice, D’Angelo sadly passed away overnight following a quiet, behind the scenes battle with pancreatic cancer.
Hip-hop producer DJ Premier worked closely with D’Angelo, and the East Coast figure was one of the first to pay his respects:
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
Lauryn Hill knew D’Angelo intimately, and she posted a beautiful piece on his life and legacy:
People need reflection.
I regret not having more time with you. Your undeniable beauty and talent were not of this world, and a presence not of this world needs protection in a world that covets light and the anointing of God. You sir, moved us, stirred us, inspired and even intimidated others to action with your genius. Thank you for being a beacon of light to a generation and beyond who had no remembrance of the legacy that preceded us. Thank you for charting the course and for making space during a time when no similar space really existed. You imaged a unity of strength and sensitivity in Black manhood to a generation that only saw itself as having to be one or the other. It is my earnest prayer that you are in peace, far away from selfishness, fear and/or controlling interests. Far from possessiveness, far from greed, far from manipulation, far from exploitation, far from intentionally designed chaos and that you Brother are in peace, in bliss and in eternal light and fulfillment with our Father in heaven.
I Love you and I miss you. May God grant peace and shelter to your family, true friends and genuine appreciators, Brother, King.
—
—
Tyler, The Creator has long been a D’Angelo stan, and the LA hyphenate used Instagram to express his sorrow:
on my 9th birthday, march 6 2000, i landed at Sam Goody at the south bay galleria. i had $20 in birthday money and my eyes set on leaving with one thing.
VOODOO by D’Angelo.
citas world had ‘left&right’ on loop; brown sugar became a staple at home and nothing even matters by ms.hill was on repeat, so i had no doubt that voodoo would deliver. i had no idea that would help shape my musical dna. the amount of raps ive wrote to BOOTY on the front porch that year, the amount of times ive tried to mimic vocal phrasing from SEND IT ON, the scratches the disc ended up with from repeating THE ROOT……too many. ONE MO’GIN still puts me in the same trance as it did when i first heard it. that dragging sway of tempo that sounds like a porch sitting rocking chair. that grumpy but loose bassline. the subject of it, that feeling hes describing felt like a mirror. I took that and wrote RING RING RING (hence the one mo gin line). i couldnt understand how someone could write something so simple but personal but broad but genius. thats how special he was. a savant. a true alien.
i am so lucky to have gotten my copy of VOODOO when i did. we are so lucky to have been alive to enjoy his art. my musical dna was helped shaped by this man. forever grateful. safe travels
Missy Elliott praised the singer’s artistry, and asked fans to hold his son – who also lost mother Angie Stone earlier this year – in their thoughts:
No parent want to see their children go but it’s painful for children to see their parents go to so send prayers up for his son who also lost his mom this year for strength
Saul Williams wrote a beautiful essay on the impact of D’Angelo’s life and work –
As I reflect on his beautiful spirit and the music he gifted us -which was only when he saw fit. I remember having the voodoo recordings for literal years before they came out. – I’m reminded of how lucky I felt whenever I was in the room with him.
Technically, I was there because I had been asked to write the liner notes for Voodoo- which I eventually did & are shared above- but really I was just basking in any & every opportunity to hear an angel sing up close.
So many of the peeps that D loved are already on the other side so I can only imagine that it’s his turn to hear his favorite angels sing close up.
—
American R&B legend D’Angelo has died.
The songwriter crafted three impeccable, culture-altering albums across three decades, each a magnificently poised document of soulful artistry. A true one-of-a-kind voice, D’Angelo sadly passed away overnight following a quiet, behind the scenes battle with pancreatic cancer.
Hip-hop producer DJ Premier worked closely with D’Angelo, and the East Coast figure was one of the first to pay his respects:
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
Lauryn Hill knew D’Angelo intimately, and she posted a beautiful piece on his life and legacy:
People need reflection.
I regret not having more time with you. Your undeniable beauty and talent were not of this world, and a presence not of this world needs protection in a world that covets light and the anointing of God. You sir, moved us, stirred us, inspired and even intimidated others to action with your genius. Thank you for being a beacon of light to a generation and beyond who had no remembrance of the legacy that preceded us. Thank you for charting the course and for making space during a time when no similar space really existed. You imaged a unity of strength and sensitivity in Black manhood to a generation that only saw itself as having to be one or the other. It is my earnest prayer that you are in peace, far away from selfishness, fear and/or controlling interests. Far from possessiveness, far from greed, far from manipulation, far from exploitation, far from intentionally designed chaos and that you Brother are in peace, in bliss and in eternal light and fulfillment with our Father in heaven.
I Love you and I miss you. May God grant peace and shelter to your family, true friends and genuine appreciators, Brother, King.
—
—
Tyler, The Creator has long been a D’Angelo stan, and the LA hyphenate used Instagram to express his sorrow:
on my 9th birthday, march 6 2000, i landed at Sam Goody at the south bay galleria. i had $20 in birthday money and my eyes set on leaving with one thing.
VOODOO by D’Angelo.
citas world had ‘left&right’ on loop; brown sugar became a staple at home and nothing even matters by ms.hill was on repeat, so i had no doubt that voodoo would deliver. i had no idea that would help shape my musical dna. the amount of raps ive wrote to BOOTY on the front porch that year, the amount of times ive tried to mimic vocal phrasing from SEND IT ON, the scratches the disc ended up with from repeating THE ROOT……too many. ONE MO’GIN still puts me in the same trance as it did when i first heard it. that dragging sway of tempo that sounds like a porch sitting rocking chair. that grumpy but loose bassline. the subject of it, that feeling hes describing felt like a mirror. I took that and wrote RING RING RING (hence the one mo gin line). i couldnt understand how someone could write something so simple but personal but broad but genius. thats how special he was. a savant. a true alien.
i am so lucky to have gotten my copy of VOODOO when i did. we are so lucky to have been alive to enjoy his art. my musical dna was helped shaped by this man. forever grateful. safe travels
Missy Elliott praised the singer’s artistry, and asked fans to hold his son – who also lost mother Angie Stone earlier this year – in their thoughts:
No parent want to see their children go but it’s painful for children to see their parents go to so send prayers up for his son who also lost his mom this year for strength
Saul Williams wrote a beautiful essay on the impact of D’Angelo’s life and work –
As I reflect on his beautiful spirit and the music he gifted us -which was only when he saw fit. I remember having the voodoo recordings for literal years before they came out. – I’m reminded of how lucky I felt whenever I was in the room with him.
Technically, I was there because I had been asked to write the liner notes for Voodoo- which I eventually did & are shared above- but really I was just basking in any & every opportunity to hear an angel sing up close.
So many of the peeps that D loved are already on the other side so I can only imagine that it’s his turn to hear his favorite angels sing close up.
—
American R&B legend D’Angelo has died.
The songwriter crafted three impeccable, culture-altering albums across three decades, each a magnificently poised document of soulful artistry. A true one-of-a-kind voice, D’Angelo sadly passed away overnight following a quiet, behind the scenes battle with pancreatic cancer.
Hip-hop producer DJ Premier worked closely with D’Angelo, and the East Coast figure was one of the first to pay his respects:
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
Lauryn Hill knew D’Angelo intimately, and she posted a beautiful piece on his life and legacy:
People need reflection.
I regret not having more time with you. Your undeniable beauty and talent were not of this world, and a presence not of this world needs protection in a world that covets light and the anointing of God. You sir, moved us, stirred us, inspired and even intimidated others to action with your genius. Thank you for being a beacon of light to a generation and beyond who had no remembrance of the legacy that preceded us. Thank you for charting the course and for making space during a time when no similar space really existed. You imaged a unity of strength and sensitivity in Black manhood to a generation that only saw itself as having to be one or the other. It is my earnest prayer that you are in peace, far away from selfishness, fear and/or controlling interests. Far from possessiveness, far from greed, far from manipulation, far from exploitation, far from intentionally designed chaos and that you Brother are in peace, in bliss and in eternal light and fulfillment with our Father in heaven.
I Love you and I miss you. May God grant peace and shelter to your family, true friends and genuine appreciators, Brother, King.
—
—
Tyler, The Creator has long been a D’Angelo stan, and the LA hyphenate used Instagram to express his sorrow:
on my 9th birthday, march 6 2000, i landed at Sam Goody at the south bay galleria. i had $20 in birthday money and my eyes set on leaving with one thing.
VOODOO by D’Angelo.
citas world had ‘left&right’ on loop; brown sugar became a staple at home and nothing even matters by ms.hill was on repeat, so i had no doubt that voodoo would deliver. i had no idea that would help shape my musical dna. the amount of raps ive wrote to BOOTY on the front porch that year, the amount of times ive tried to mimic vocal phrasing from SEND IT ON, the scratches the disc ended up with from repeating THE ROOT……too many. ONE MO’GIN still puts me in the same trance as it did when i first heard it. that dragging sway of tempo that sounds like a porch sitting rocking chair. that grumpy but loose bassline. the subject of it, that feeling hes describing felt like a mirror. I took that and wrote RING RING RING (hence the one mo gin line). i couldnt understand how someone could write something so simple but personal but broad but genius. thats how special he was. a savant. a true alien.
i am so lucky to have gotten my copy of VOODOO when i did. we are so lucky to have been alive to enjoy his art. my musical dna was helped shaped by this man. forever grateful. safe travels
Missy Elliott praised the singer’s artistry, and asked fans to hold his son – who also lost mother Angie Stone earlier this year – in their thoughts:
No parent want to see their children go but it’s painful for children to see their parents go to so send prayers up for his son who also lost his mom this year for strength
Saul Williams wrote a beautiful essay on the impact of D’Angelo’s life and work –
As I reflect on his beautiful spirit and the music he gifted us -which was only when he saw fit. I remember having the voodoo recordings for literal years before they came out. – I’m reminded of how lucky I felt whenever I was in the room with him.
Technically, I was there because I had been asked to write the liner notes for Voodoo- which I eventually did & are shared above- but really I was just basking in any & every opportunity to hear an angel sing up close.
So many of the peeps that D loved are already on the other side so I can only imagine that it’s his turn to hear his favorite angels sing close up.
—
