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Renowned soul musician D’Angelo has died aged 51 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, according to US media reports on Tuesday.
The R&B icon and neo-soul trailblazer was celebrated for fusing musical genres and redefining Black pop traditions with sensual hits such as “Brown Sugar” and “Untitled (How Does It Feel).”
The provocative, shirtless music video for the latter propelled him to global fame, though he later struggled to cope with the pressures of stardom.
“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,” his family said in a statement to Variety.
D’Angelo earned widespread acclaim for his 1995 debut album Brown Sugar and his 2000 release Voodoo. The lead single “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” won the Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, while Voodoo was named Best R&B Album.
Known for his genre-blending artistry and improvisational style, D’Angelo preferred analogue production and lengthy jam sessions, often collaborating with fellow musicians.
DJ Premier, who worked with him on the 1998 track “Devil’s Pie,” paid tribute on X, writing: “Such a sad loss to the passing of D’Angelo. We had so many great times. Gonna miss you so much. Sleep peacefully D’. Love you, KING.”
His death was reported by People magazine, TMZ, and other outlets. Music publication Pitchfork credited D’Angelo with helping to define the neo-soul movement.
Born in Virginia, D’Angelo was known for his reclusive nature, rarely appearing in public and releasing music only occasionally—though his work was consistently praised by both fans and critics.
In 2016, his music was featured on a playlist curated by former US President Barack Obama, alongside songs by Janet Jackson, Janelle Monáe, and Gary Clark Jr.
Rapper Tyler, the Creator, also honoured D’Angelo by posting a black-and-white photograph of the late musician.
