D’Angelo: Neo-Soul’s Radical Genius and Lasting Legacy

Published: 15 October 2025. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

In the mid-1990s, Questlove, the Roots’ drummer, was approached to work on the first album by a promising new soul singer. At the time, he turned the offer down flat: “I was like, ehhh, soul singers in the 90s – whatever,” he later recalled. “I’m not doing this. Nothing about soul singing had moved me, from any 90s offering, the same way it did with Otis Redding, Stevie Wonder, Lou Rawls.”

A year later, with D’Angelo’s debut album Brown Sugar finally on the shelves, Questlove’s opinion underwent a complete reversal. Spotting D’Angelo in the audience at a Roots show, he “thwarted and threw off the entire show” by suddenly playing “an obscure Prince drum roll” in a successful bid to attract the singer’s attention. “The only person that mattered to me that night in the room was D’Angelo,” he admitted.

That moment marked the beginning of a creative partnership that would leave a lasting impact on modern soul music. Questlove, D’Angelo, and producer DJ J Dilla went on to form the Soulquarians, a collective that would drive some of the most innovative music of the era. But more than that, it was a testament to the revolutionary effect of Brown Sugar, which did far more than earn critical acclaim or commercial success—it defined a new sound and, unintentionally, a new genre.

Brown Sugar achieved platinum status in the United States and became the marketing foundation for what was soon called “neo-soul.” The term would later be criticised for representing music that merely recreated the past, but D’Angelo’s work was not about replication. Its influence came from blending the past and present, layering jazz, gospel, and blues influences with the raw energy of hip-hop, while his falsetto bore subtle echoes of Donny Hathaway and Al Green. Yet the album sounded undeniably modern, its production and sensibilities anchored in the 1990s, and D’Angelo’s auteur approach showed clear admiration for Prince—not merely as an inspiration, but as a model for how an artist could control every facet of their work.

The album’s mix of smooth vocals, evocative lyrics, and irresistible grooves was unlike anything else in 1995. Yet Brown Sugar was only the opening act for a career defined by ambition, experimentation, and intense personal struggle. D’Angelo’s progress was punctuated by moments of inspiration and long silences caused by writer’s block, addiction, and frustration with the way his music was marketed. Even so, his subsequent albums revealed a willingness to challenge conventions and expand the boundaries of soul music.

Voodoo, released in 2000 after four painstaking years, represented a bold evolution. It was darker, denser, and more experimental than its predecessor, abandoning standard song structures for a fluid, almost improvisational approach. Tracks like “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” channelled Prince’s sensuality and mastery of funk, while songs such as “The Root” laid bare a vulnerability rarely expressed in mainstream music. “I feel my soul is empty, my blood is cold, and I can’t feel my legs,” he sang. “I need somebody to hold me, bring me back to life before I’m dead.” The album explored pleasure, pain, and identity, demanding that listeners fully surrender to its emotional landscape. Critics drew comparisons to jazz greats such as Miles Davis and John Coltrane, recognising Voodoo as a work of extraordinary artistry.

Following Voodoo, D’Angelo entered a long period of silence. Part of this was his discomfort with the sexualised fame brought by Untitled, where his nude appearance in the video became iconic. Years of personal struggle and perfectionism delayed further releases, creating an aura of mystery around his career. When Black Messiah finally arrived in 2014, expectations were high. The album did not disappoint. Its release coincided with growing societal unrest following the shooting of Michael Brown and widespread debates over racial injustice in the United States. D’Angelo’s lyrics spoke to systemic racism, gun violence, and the complexities of Black life, while the sound itself was a raw, avant-garde fusion that recalled the urgency and depth of Sly and the Family Stone’s There’s a Riot Goin’ On. The music was both reflective and confrontational, echoing the turbulent times in which it was released.

Despite his relatively small discography, D’Angelo’s work remains monumental. Across three albums and a handful of singles over thirty years, he demonstrated a rare ability to innovate while staying deeply connected to the roots of soul music. A single, “Unshaken,” appeared in 2019, and speculation about a new album has persisted, with collaborators hinting at ongoing work, though nothing has been confirmed. Questlove captured the paradox of D’Angelo’s career perfectly: “I consider him a genius beyond words… Then again, the last work he did was so powerful that it’s lasted 10 years.”

D’Angelo’s influence is undeniable. He may have released music sparingly, but the quality of his output is exceptional, and its impact reverberates through contemporary soul, R&B, and hip-hop. His careful attention to detail, fearless experimentation, and unapologetic exploration of identity, sensuality, and societal issues have left a legacy that extends far beyond chart positions or commercial milestones. In many ways, D’Angelo’s career reminds us that true artistry is measured not by quantity but by depth, authenticity, and the ability to transform listeners’ understanding of what music can be. His albums continue to inspire artists and fans alike, proving that even with limited output, a visionary artist can reshape an entire genre.