Pioneering neo-soul artist and Grammy-winning musician D'Angelo, 51, has died.
According to an initial report from TMZ on Tuesday, Oct. 14, the celebrated singer’s death at 51 was due to pancreatic cancer. Multiple tribute posts were quickly shared to social media, including from DJ Premier and Marc Lamont Hill.
“Such a sad loss to the passing of D'angelo,” Premier, whose work with D'Angelo included the Voodoo track “Devil’s Pie,” wrote on X. “We have so many great times. Gonna miss you so much. Sleep Peacefully D. Love You KING.”
Royce da 5'9" also paid tribute, calling D’Angelo “one of the greatest ever.”
“The shining star of our family has dimmed his light for us in this life…After a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer, we are heartbroken to announce that Michael D’Angelo Archer, known to his fans around the world as D’Angelo, has been called home, departing this life today, October 14th, 2025,” reads a family statement later shared with Variety on Tuesday.
The statement continued, “We are saddened that he can only leave dear memories with his family, but we are eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind. We ask that you respect our privacy during this difficult time but invite you all join us in mourning his passing while also celebrating the gift of song that he has left for the world.”
D’Angelo released his debut album, Brown Sugar, in 1995. The album was immediately embraced by critics, ultimately earning multiple Grammy nominations, including for Best R&B Album and Best R&B song for its title track and lead single. Ultimately, D’Angelo became a four-time Grammy winner, with 14 total career nominations to his name.
Voodoo, featuring “Untitled (How Does It Feel),” followed five years later, opening at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Nearly 15 years passed before Voodoo’s follow-up Black Messiah, technically a D’Angelo and the Vanguard release, arrived to similarly enthusiastic critical acclaim.
In May, D’Angelo shared a statement with fans in which he announced he would not be able to perform as part of Roots Picnic, citing “an unforeseen medical delay” related to a surgery he had earlier in the year.
“I’m so thankful to my beautiful fans for continuing to rock with me,” he said at the time, adding that he was “currently in the lab” and couldn’t “wait to serve up what’s in the pot.”
In September of last year, Raphael Saddiq told the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast that D’Angelo was “in an amazing space.” At the time, D’Angelo, who earlier that year contributed to the Book of Clarence soundtrack alongside Jay-Z and Jeymes Samuel, was said to be “working on six pieces.”
Rest in power.