Tyler, the Creator Tributes to D’Angelo as the Artist Who ‘Shaped’ His ‘Musical DNA’

Tyler, the Creator is simply a savant erstwhile it comes to studying the past of music, and he’s among the galore artists and fans who were shaken pursuing the loss of D’Angelo on Tuesday (Oct. 14).

The Grammy-winning rapper took to Instagram to bespeak connected his emotion for the precocious R&B legend, which took him backmost to excitedly taking his day wealth to bargain a CD of D’Angelo’s classical sophomore album, Voodoo.

“On my 9th birthday, march 6 2000, one landed astatine Sam Goody astatine the southbound bay galleria,” helium wrote. “I had $20 successful day wealth and my eyes acceptable connected leaving with 1 thing. VOODOO by D’Angelo.”

Tyler continued: “Citas satellite had ‘left&right’ connected loop; brownish sweetener became a staple astatine location and thing adjacent matters by ms.hill was connected repeat, truthful one had nary uncertainty that voodoo would deliver. one had nary thought that would assistance signifier my philharmonic dna. the magnitude of raps ive wrote to BOOTY connected the beforehand structure that year, the magnitude 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.”

D’Angelo’s artistry became embedded successful the civilization of R&B and the neo-soul architect’s brilliance influenced Tyler increasing up. Elsewhere successful his statement, Tyler revealed that D’Angelo’s soothing “One Mo’Gin” directly influenced Don’t Tap the Glass‘ “RING RING RING.”

“ONE MO’GIN inactive puts maine successful the aforesaid trance arsenic it did erstwhile one archetypal heard it,” helium wrote. “That dragging sway of tempo that sounds similar a structure sitting rocking chair. that grumpy but escaped bassline. the taxable of it, that feeling hes describing felt similar a mirror. I took that and wrote RING RING RING (hence the 1 mo gin line). one couldnt recognize however idiosyncratic could constitute thing truthful elemental but idiosyncratic but wide but genius. thats however peculiar helium was. a savant. a existent alien.”

Tyler added: “I americium truthful fortunate to person gotten my transcript of VOODOO erstwhile one did. we are truthful fortunate to person been live to bask his art. my philharmonic polymer was helped shaped by this man. everlastingly grateful. harmless travels.”

D’Angelo’s household confirmed successful a connection to Billboard that the euphony visionary died astatine 51 years aged connected Tuesday (Oct. 14) pursuing a conflict with cancer.

“The shining prima of our household has dimmed his airy for america successful this life,” the connection read. “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.”