R&B Legend D’Angelo Dead Following a ‘Prolonged’ & ‘Courageous Battle With Cancer’

R&B fable D’Angelo has died astatine 51 years aged pursuing a conflict with cancer, the singer’s household confirmed successful a connection connected Tuesday (Oct. 14).

“The shining prima of our household has dimmed his airy for america successful this life,” the statement, which was shared with Billboard, began. “After a prolonged and courageous conflict with cancer, we are heartbroken to denote that Michael D’Angelo Archer, known to his fans astir the satellite arsenic D’Angelo, has been called home, departing this life today, Oct. 14, 2025.”

“We are saddened that helium tin lone permission beloved memories with his family, but we are eternally grateful for the bequest of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind,” the connection continued. “We inquire that you respect our privateness during this hard clip but invitation you each articulation america successful mourning his passing portion besides celebrating the acquisition of opus that helium has near for the world.” 

Born Michael Archer successful Richmond, Va., D’Angelo became a pioneer of the neo-soul question successful the mid-’90s portion pulling connected elements of hip-hop, jazz, R&B and funk.

He broke done co-producing the apical 40 Billboard Hot 100 deed “U Will Know” for Black Men United successful 1994. D’Angelo released his Brown Sugar debut medium successful 1995 connected EMI to captious acclaim. The LP was powered by pb azygous “Brown Sugar” (No. 27), “Cruisin'” (No. 53) and “Lady,” which reached the Hot 100’s apical 10.

After peaking astatine No. 22 connected the Billboard 200 successful March 1996, the influential Brown Sugar spent 65 weeks connected the illustration and collected 4 Grammy nominations.

D’Angelo made an quality connected Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill in 1998 and the iconic singer’s much-delayed Brown Sugar follow-up, Voodoo, arrived successful January 2000 via Virgin Records.

Voodoo was preceded by a triumvirate of singles with “Devil’s Pie,” “Left & Right” (No. 70) and “Untitled (How Does It Feel),” which reached No. 25 connected the Hot 100. The groovy Raphael Saadiq co-produced deed peaked astatine No. 2 connected the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

D’Angelo’s sophomore medium was a commercialized success, debuting atop the Billboard 200 successful February 2000 with 320,000 full medium units earned successful its opening set. His 3rd and last medium yet arrived successful December 2014, arsenic Black Messiah topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

DJ Premier was 1 of the archetypal to interruption the quality of D’Angelo’s decease publically connected Tuesday morning. “Such a bittersweet nonaccomplishment to the passing of D’angelo,” Preemo wrote to X astir his “Devil’s Pie” collaborator. “We person truthful galore large times. Gonna miss you truthful much. Sleep Peacefully D’ Love You KING.”

Tributes person continued to determination successful connected societal media from peers astir music, including comments from E-40, Royce Da 5’9 and Timbaland.

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