Home / Arts and Entertainment / R&B Visionary D'Angelo Dies at 51 After Cancer Battle
R&B Visionary D'Angelo Dies at 51 After Cancer Battle
22 Oct
Summary
- R&B legend D'Angelo passed away in October 2025 at age 51 due to cancer
- He was a pioneering singer, songwriter, and producer who shaped the 1990s neo-soul movement
- D'Angelo charted 8 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, 3 albums on the Billboard 200, and numerous R&B/hip-hop entries
The music world mourns the loss of R&B visionary D'Angelo, who passed away in October 2025 at the age of 51 after a battle with cancer. D'Angelo, born Michael Archer, was a pioneering singer, songwriter, and producer who played a pivotal role in shaping the 1990s neo-soul movement alongside contemporaries like Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill, and Maxwell.
During his illustrious career, D'Angelo charted 8 titles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including his lone top 10 hit "Lady" which peaked at #10 in 1996. He also landed 3 albums on the Billboard 200, with his debut "Brown Sugar" reaching #22 on the chart and #4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums tally. D'Angelo's sophomore effort "Voodoo" debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 in 2000 and won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album.
Known for his innovative sound and lengthy creative hiatuses, D'Angelo's final studio album "Black Messiah" was released in 2014, debuting at #1 on the Top R&B Albums chart and #5 on the Billboard 200. The record earned him two more Grammy wins, cementing his legacy as a visionary artist who left an indelible mark on the music industry.
