D’Angelo, the groundbreaking R&B artist who helped define the neo-soul movement across decades despite his reclusive nature, has died, reports The New York Times. D’Angelo’s family cited the cause as cancer. He was 51. This story is being updated.
D’Angelo’s family shared a statement with Variety mourning the late star: “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, departing this life today, October 14th, 2025. We are saddened that he can only leave dear memories with his family, but we are eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind. We ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time but invite you all join us in mourning his passing while also celebrating the gift of song that he has left for the world.”
The Virginia-born singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer only sporadically released music, but all three of his studio albums shaped the landscape of R&B. His 1995 solo debut, Brown Sugar, pushed neo-soul into the broader consciousness when he was just 21 years old. He returned in 2000 with Voodoo, incorporating funk into his repertoire to further enliven the genre with both an old-school timeless feel and the energy of a new class. The Virginia-born singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer made his grand return 14 years later with the Vanguard on Black Messiah, shaking the music industry with his return.
After a period of personal strain, including struggles with alcoholism, D’Angelo returned in 2014 with the surprise release of Black Messiah. It had originally been due out the following year, but D’Angelo brought forward the release in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, which was surging amid nationwide protests over police killings of Black men. After a grand jury failed to indict a police officer for fatally shooting Michael Brown, D’Angelo told his manager, Alan Leeds, “I want to speak out,” Leeds told The New York Times.