The R&B legend was privately battling pancreatic cancer. D'Angelo, neosoul pioneer and 'Brown Sugar' singer, dies at 51 The R&B legend was privately battling pancreatic cancer. By Shania Russell :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/ShaniaRussellauthorphoto5934b684845d480caa4485648c39ef2b.jpg) Shania Russell Shania Russell is a news writer at , with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine. EW's editorial guidelines on October 14, 2025 2:04 p.m. ET :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/DAngelo10142532491b208e23c463e81d45ea03cc382e9.

The R&B legend was privately battling pancreatic cancer.

D'Angelo, neo-soul pioneer and 'Brown Sugar' singer, dies at 51

The R&B legend was privately battling pancreatic cancer.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

EW's editorial guidelines

on October 14, 2025 2:04 p.m. ET

D'Angelo performs at The Apollo Theater on Feb. 27, 2021 in New York City. Credit:

Shahar Azran/Getty

D'Angelo, the soul and R&B legend whose influence helped usher in the neo-soul movement of the 1990s, has died after a private battle with cancer. He was 51.

The singer's family confirmed his death in a statement to **, writing, "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."

The statement continued, "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."

Over the course of his legendary career, D'Angelo was nominated for 14 Grammy Awards and won four. He collaborated with such acclaimed artists as Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Jay-Z. Following news of his death, the singer was mourned by several friends and former collaborators, including DJ Premier, who worked with D'Angelo on the 1998 track "Devil's Pie."

"Such a sad loss to the passing of D'angelo. We have so many great times," the producer wrote on X. "Gonna miss you so much. Sleep Peacefully D' Love You KING."**

D'Angelo performs at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas on Aug. 21, 2015.

Ethan Miller/Getty

The artist was also mourned by RCA Records, who produced his final album, *Black Messiah*.

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of D'Angelo. He was a peerless visionary who effortlessly blended the classic sounds of soul, funk, gospel, R&B, and jazz with a hip hop sensibility," began the statement. "D'Angelo's songwriting, musicianship, and unmistakable vocal styling has endured and will continue to inspire generations of artists to come. Our hearts are with his family and friends during this difficult time."

Born Michael Eugene Archer on Feb. 11, 1974 in Richmond, Va., D'Angelo's embrace of music began at a very young age. He learned to play the piano at the age of three and brought that skill to church on Sundays, where he joined his father, a Pentecostal minister. He later channeled those gospel roots into the music he produced, blending the genre with funk, jazz, and hip-hop influences to change the sound of modern soul music.

D'Angelo's debut album, 1995's* Brown Sugar*, arrived to critical acclaim and is considered one of the major works in redefining soul music of the '90s. The record sold over two million copies, earned a platinum certification, and topped charts with such singles as "Lady," "Cruisin'" and the title track, "Brown Sugar."

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After struggling with writer's block and taking time to produce his follow-up, D'Angelo achieved new heights with his sophomore album, *Voodoo* (2000). The record became a cultural touchstone with its hit lead single, "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" and earned two Grammy Awards at the 2001 ceremony, for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B. By this point, D'Angelo was a staple of Black radio stations, alongside artists like Badu, Common, Mos Def, J Dilla, Q-Tip, and more. They would often collaborate as members of a loose collective known as the Soulquarians, and were at the forefront of a movement that marked a rebirth for soul and hip-hop.

Thrust into the spotlight and regarded as a sex symbol, D'Angelo began struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. He was arrested in 2005 and charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana and driving while intoxicated. Though he stepped back from the public eye, the musician didn't stop working and frequently produces covers and collaborations.

D'angelo at MTV Movie Awards 2000 on June 3, 2000.

Frank Micelotta/Getty

D'Angelo made his triumphant return with 2014's *Black Messiah*, a raw, politically charged masterpiece that embraced a marley funk sound. It peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's U.S. Indie Store Album Sales and U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, winning him two more Grammy's for Best R&B Album and Best R&B song.

Reflecting on his career in 2014, while in conversation with his longtime friend Amir "Questlove" Thompson, D'Angelo chafed at being put into the "neo-soul" box, explaining that he thinks of his artistry more expansively than a single genre.

"You want to be in a position where you can grow as an artist. You never want to be told, 'Hey, well, you don't do, you're not doing what you did on Brown Sugar,' you know? Because like right now, we're going some place else," D'Angelo said. "Like, 'Damn, you a neo-soul artist. Why don't you do neo-soul?' And I never claimed that. I never claimed I do neo-soul,. I used to say, when I first came out, I used to always say, 'I do black music. I make black music.'"

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His most recent collaboration was with Jay-Z on last year's track, "I Want You Forever," which featured on *The Book of Clarence* soundtrack. Producer Raphael Saadiq, who worked with D'Angelo several times over the years, confirmed in 2024 that the artist was working on new music, adding, "D's in a good space."

D'Angelo had three children, including a son he shared with fellow R&B legend Angie Stone.

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Music"

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Source: Music

Published: October 31, 2025 at 07:24PM on Source: SHOWBIZ MAG

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