music industry remembers neo-soul artist d’angelo

By: Vashti Smith

The world of soul music became a little quieter when famous neo-soul singer D’Angelo died on October 14th, 2025, from pancreatic cancer. 

D’Angelo is normally associated with the popular neo-soul genre of music from the 1990s. He is known for his hit songs Lady, Cruisin', and Brown Sugar. He is also known for his highly successful albums Voodoo and Brown Sugar. 

D’Angelo, whose real name was Michael Eugene Archer, was born February 11th, 1974, in Richmond, Virginia. His musical gifts became evident at an early age. According to an article by People Magazine, at the tender age of three years old, he could play the piano and strengthen his talents by singing and playing instruments in church due to his father being a church minister. 

In the early 90s, he moved to New York to pursue a music career. He started off as a rapper and a producer for the band I.D.U. Later, he wrote the song “U Will Know” for the hit movie Jason’s Lyric. 

D’Angelo released his breakout, multiple Grammy-nominated, and platinum album Brown Sugar in 1995. He collaborated with other famous neo-soul artists on the album, like his ex-partner, Angie Stone, and Raphael Saadiq. 

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, D’Angelo admitted to having writer's block after the success of Brown Sugar and did not release music during that time. In 2000, D’Angelo came back stronger than ever with the release of the song “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” from his album Voodoo. The video for the song was also a big hit with fans because it includes D’Angelo singing without a shirt on. Voodoo won two Grammys. 

Struggles with alcohol and drugs, and being in the spotlight, led to D’Angelo getting out of the public eye for some time. He did a tour in 2012 and released his third and final album, Black Messiah, in 2014. He won two Grammys for his last album. 

D’Angelo did not let his fans know he was battling cancer. He died in New York at 51 years old. He leaves behind two sons and one daughter. One of his children, Michael Archer Jr., now mourns his father, only 7 months after losing his mother, Angie Stone, to a traffic accident.

Celebrities and fans have come out to show support for his family and mourn the loss of a creative icon. 

“You were the pioneer of neo-soul that changed and transformed rhythm and blues forever,” Beyoncé wrote on her website.

Hampton students also mourned the loss of D’Angelo. 

“It was a shock because it was so sudden. I didn’t know he had cancer. It was also really sad because he was one of the pioneers of neo-soul, which is one of my favorite genres,” said Hampton University student Ameerah Collins, “It is kind of beautiful in a way, because he created such a legacy, and we get to remember him when he was in his purest form, making music.”