Neo-Soul Legend D’Angelo Passes Away at 51 After Cancer Battle

D’Angelo, neo-soul legend of the late 90s and early 2000s, has passed away after a battle with cancer. He was 51.

D’Angelo, best known for his smooth tunes and hot music video in 2000, became a legend of the neo-soul genre. He died on Tuesday “after a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer,” his family said. He was 51 years old.

“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,” the family’s statement added. “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 artist’s label, RCA, also released a statement saying they were “deeply saddened” by the news of his passing. “He was a peerless visionary who effortlessly blended the classic sounds of soul, funk, gospel, R&B, and jazz with a hip-hop sensibility,” RCA’s statement read. “D’Angelo’s songwriting, musicianship, and unmistakable vocal styling has endured and will continue to inspire generations of artists to come.”

D’Angelo’s 1995 solo debut, Brown Sugar, pushed neo-soul into the broader public consciousness when the artist was only 21 years old. But it was 2000s Voodoo that made people really take notice. The album’s lead single, “Untitled (How Does It Feel),” featured a music video that made headlines, with a one-shot of the artist in the nude lip-synching to the track. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 2001.

After a period of personal struggle, including a battle with alcoholism, D’Angelo returned to music in 2014 with the release of Black Messiah. Originally due out the following year, D’Angelo pushed its release in advance in response to the Black Lives Matter movement, which was surging amid nationwide protests.

“This is a very powerful medium that we are involved in,” said D’Angelo in an interview with GQ in 2014. “I learned at an early age that what we were doing in the choir was just as important as the preacher. It was a ministry in itself. We could stir the pot, you know? The stage is our pulpit, and you can use all of that energy and that music and the lights and the colors and the sound.”

D’Angelo continued recording, although Black Messiah was his final album in his lifetime. He made numerous television appearances over the years, including a song for the video game Red Dead Redemption 2, and collaborations with artists like Jay-Z. He also led a Verzuz music battle from the Apollo Theater against a lineup of friends.

Many artists, collaborators, and friends have shared tributes after learning of D’Angelo’s passing. These include Bootsy Collins, Tyler the Creator, Jill Scott, and Nile Rodgers.