The world of R&B and soul is in mourning. D’Angelo the Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who reshaped neo-soul has died at the age of 51. According to his family, the legendary artist passed away in New York City on October 14, 2025 after a prolonged battle with cancer.
The Final Days
D’Angelo had reportedly been hospitalized for several months before spending two weeks in hospice care. Earlier this year, he canceled his headlining performance at the 2025 Roots Picnic in Philadelphia to recover from surgery. Sources close to his family say he was surrounded by loved ones at the time of his passing.
Tributes from Across the Music World
Within hours of the news, tributes poured in. Tyler, the Creator called him “a quiet storm that changed everything.” Jill Scott posted, “We owe him for opening doors to vulnerability in R&B.” Nile Rodgers and Questlove both honored him as “the godfather of modern soul.” Fans flooded social media with clips from his iconic “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” video and live performances that defined an era.
20 Things to Know About D’Angelo’s Life and Legacy
1. Born Michael Eugene Archer on February 11, 1974, in Richmond, Virginia.
2. Raised in a deeply religious home his father was a Pentecostal preacher.
3. Learned piano as a child and began performing in church by age 6.
4. Gained early attention after co-writing “U Will Know” for Black Men United in 1994.
5. His debut album, Brown Sugar (1995), became a neo-soul classic, selling over 2 million copies.
6. His second album, Voodoo (2000), debuted at No. 1 on Billboard and won two Grammy Awards.
7. The music video for “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” turned him into an unexpected sex symbol.
8. D’Angelo struggled with fame, body image, and substance abuse in the early 2000s.
9. After a decade-long hiatus, he made a historic comeback with Black Messiah (2014).
10. Black Messiah addressed racial injustice and earned him critical acclaim for its bold messages.
11. He was part of the Soulquarians alongside Erykah Badu, Questlove, and J Dilla.
12. Collaborated with Lauryn Hill on “Nothing Even Matters” still hailed as one of R&B’s most intimate duets.
13. Dated fellow artist Angie Stone, with whom he shared a son, Michael D’Angelo Archer II.
14. Angie Stone herself passed away in March 2025 just seven months before him.
15. D’Angelo kept his private life guarded, rarely giving interviews in his later years.
16. He influenced a new generation of artists including Frank Ocean, H.E.R., and The Weeknd.
17. Known for his perfectionism he once delayed an album for five years until it “felt right.”
18. Won four Grammy Awards throughout his career, including Best R&B Album for Voodoo.
19. At the time of his death, he was reportedly finishing a new album with Raphael Saadiq.
20. Despite only three studio albums, his impact on soul, hip-hop, and R&B remains immeasurable.
The Legacy Lives On
D’Angelo’s music was more than sound it was spirituality, intimacy, and rebellion in harmony. His rare ability to merge gospel emotion with funk grooves shaped an entire generation of artists. As tributes continue to flood in, fans know one thing for certain: there will never be another D’Angelo.
