The music world is mourning D’Angelo, the maverick R&B singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, who has died of cancer at 51. Nile Rodgers, Beyoncé, Jill Scott, Missy Elliott, Bootsy Collins, Flea, Tyler, the Creator, Bartees Strange, DJ Premier, and Aminé were among those to pen tributes on social media, and Yasiin Bey memorialized his friend in a tearful Instagram livestream. Flavor Flav and DJ Quik also posted a photo in tribute to the musician.
Nile Rogers wrote about his first meeting D’Angelo: “My friend Gary Harris brought this musician named D’Angelo over to my NYC apt. He was trying to figure out what to do with the music he’d brought with him. I listened to every cut...not just out of respect but because it was smoking. At the end of the encounter he asked me, ‘What should I do with it?’ I remember this as if it were yesterday. I said, ‘Put it out. It’s perfect!’ Being the #artist he is, I guess he had to explore some ways to make it better. About a year later I heard one of those songs on the radio. It was #genius and it was exactly what he had played for me. I know...I still have the original cassette.”
Beyoncé wrote on her website, “Rest in peace, Michael Eugene Archer, known to the world of music as the inimitable D’Angelo. We thank you for your beautiful music, your voice, your proficiency on the piano, your artistry. You were the pioneer of neo-soul, and that changed and transformed rhythm & blues forever. We will never forget you.”
Bootsy Collins posted on X, “Danggit!🤟Say it ain't so, but we just lost a friend, a creator & legend, D’Angelo!😭 Prayer’s going out to his family & friends!🙏🙏🙏 We all lolve u lil-brother. R.I.P...”
Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea wrote, “One of my all time favorites whose records I went to again and again. Noone did anything funkier over the last 30 years. I never knew him but humbled myself before his music. What a rare and beautiful voice and an inimitable approach to songwriting. What a musician!!! He changed the course of popular music. Fly free with the angels D’angelo, we will listen to you forever and always be moved. I drop to my knees and pray.”
Missy Elliott wrote, “Rest Peacefully D’Angelo🙏🏾🕊️ No parent want to see their children go but it’s painful for children to see their parents go to so send prayers up for his son who also lost his mom this year for strength 🙏🏾.”
Tyler, the Creator penned a lengthy tribute, writing:
on my 9th birthday, march 6 2000, i landed at Sam Goody at the south bay galleria. i had $20 in birthday money and my eyes set on leaving with one thing.
VOODOO by D’Angelo.
citas world had ‘left&right’ on loop; brown sugar became a staple at home and nothing even matters by ms.hill was on repeat, so i had no doubt that voodoo would deliver. i had no idea that would help shape my musical dna. the amount of raps ive wrote to BOOTY on the front porch that year, the amount of times ive tried to mimic vocal phrasing from SEND IT ON, the scratches the disc ended up with from repeating THE ROOT......too many. ONE MO’GIN still puts me in the same trance as it did when i first heard it. that dragging sway of tempo that sounds like a porch sitting rocking chair. that grumpy but loose bassline. the subject of it, that feeling hes describing felt like a mirror. I took that and wrote RING RING RING (hence the one mo gin line). i couldnt understand how someone could write something so simple but personal but broad but genius. thats how special he was. a savant. a true alien.
i am so lucky to have gotten my copy of VOODOO when i did. we are so lucky to have been alive to enjoy his art. my musical dna was helped shaped by this man. forever grateful. safe travels
Bartees Strange posted, “I don’t post here much but the loss of D’Angelo is going to be felt by music so deeply for such a long time. This is a tough one. I love that guy and I love his music. Rest up D’Angelo.”
Doja Cat wrote, “Rest in peace D’angelo. My thoughts, love and prayers go out to his family and friends. A true voice of soul and inspiration to many brilliant artists of our generation and generations to come.”
Cadence Weapon shared, “I'm absolutely stunned. RIP to the legend D'Angelo. Bar none, one of the greatest musicians of this generation He took the torch from Prince and ran with it. His reclusiveness has limited the wider public's appreciation of his talent but dude was an absolute beast. A genius. Highly recommend anyone who is unfamiliar with his work to check out 2019’s Devil’s Pie: D’Angelo documentary.”
Aminé wrote, “i was 15 when my older cousin took me on a roadtrip to the bay and played me all of brown sugar and voodoo for the very first time. my life changed that day and i was obsessed. Rest in paradise D’angelo. U really meant so much to me and my family.”
Jill Scott’s post reads, “I told you a long time ago-You ain’t gon understand everything & everything ain’t meant 4 U ,nor I, to understand. I never met D’Angelo but I love him, respect him, admire his gift. This loss HURTS!! Love to my family that are family to him. I’m so sorry. R.I.P. GENIUS. 💔 💔.”
Erick Sermon wrote, “R I P king. it was a pleasure knowing you and working with you. Making DREAMY EYES over was a pleasure .. This is so hard to believe that you are gone. The world just loss a true iconic figure . I play ur music soo much still .. rest on 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾.”
DJ Premier posted, “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 🫡🤍🕊️🙏🏾.”
Elsewhere, Royce da 5'9" said, “R.I.P. one of the GREATEST EVER”; KeiyaA said she was “beyond heartbroken” and “there’d be no me without D’Angelo,” sharing a link to Black Messiah track “Another Life”; Mick Jenkins shared, “Damn. rest in piece legend”; and the Alchemist posted, “Man. Rest in peace D’ Angelo. 🕊️.”