R&B singer D’Angelo, wey dem credit with helping to popularise neo soul, don die at the age of 51. Marc Lamont Hill na im first announce am on Tuesday morning when e tell im followers on X say, ‘My sources tell me that D’Angelo has passed. Wow. I have no words. May he rest in perfect peace.’ Later reports, including one from CNN, tok say the singer die from cancer.
Since then, big names for music don dey post tributes. Singer and songwriter John Legend write for Instagram say, ‘I’m heartbroken to hear of the passing of one of our generation’s greatest artists, D’Angelo.’ Legend remember 1995, the year Brown Sugar come out, and how e buy im first stereo with CD player as e dey graduate high school go college for Philadelphia. Im first two CDs na Brown Sugar and Mary J Blige’s My Life. ‘I played both of these albums incessantly,’ na wetin he write.
Tyler, the Creator also share im own memory on Instagram. E talk about im 9th birthday on March 6, 2000, when e carry $20 birthday money go Sam Goody for south bay galleria, with only one thing for im mind: Voodoo by D’Angelo. ‘I couldn’t understand how someone could write something so simple but personal but broad but genius. thats how special he was. a savant. a true alien,’ Tyler write. E also post black-and-white picture of the singer without any caption.
Lauryn Hill, wey be D’Angelo contemporary, post say, ‘I regret not having more time with you.’ She add say, ‘Your undeniable beauty and talent were not of this world.’
DJ Premier and The Alchemist no keep quiet either. DJ Premier write on X say, ‘Such a sad loss to the passing of D’Angelo. We have so many great times. Gonna miss you so much. Sleep Peacefully D’ Love You KING.’ The Alchemist short and direct: ‘Man. Rest in peace D’ Angelo.’
D’Angelo release im debut album Brown Sugar in 1995, and e become immediate hit. E spend 65 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart and collect platinum certification from RIAA within one year of release. The album still give am four Grammy nominations at the following ceremony, and dem credit am with playing key role in popularising neo soul. Im second album, Voodoo, land in 2000 and debut on top of Billboard 200, with the famous single ‘Untitled (How Does It Feel)’ inside.
