D’Angelo, an iconic figure in the late-’90s neo-soul movement, drew inspiration from legends like Marvin Gaye, Prince, Curtis Mayfield, and Al Green. His unique vocal style, combined with self-written and produced material, established him as a prominent R&B auteur. With hit albums like Brown Sugar and Voodoo, he became a two-time Grammy winner for Best R&B Album. His diverse musical journey includes creating the soundtrack for Red Dead Redemption 2 with the track ‘Unshaken’ in 2018.
Born as Michael D’Angelo Archer in 1974, in Richmond, Virginia, he showed prodigious talent at an early age, winning competitions at Harlem’s Apollo Theater. D’Angelo’s debut album, Brown Sugar, marked the beginning of his success in the R&B scene. His immersive collaboration with artists like Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill, as well as the Soulquarians collective, shaped the neo-soul genre. His third album, Black Messiah, released after a long hiatus, was a critical and commercial success, earning him multiple Grammy awards.