When news broke on October 14, 2025 that D’Angelo, the “neo-soul trailblazer and modern visionary” behind classics like Brown Sugar and Voodoo, had passed away at 51, fans worldwide responded with an outpouring of love and grief.
Flipping through social media feeds you see tributes shared about what his music meant to them.
Reddit threads on r/hiphopheads and r/rnb are loaded with personal stories, and the comment sections on Youtube under songs like “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” and “Lady” are filled with thousands of heartfelt messages.
In these digital vigils, the collective mourning feels like a celebration with fans reminiscing about late-night drives spent singing along to D’Angelo’s falsetto, about first dances and Sunday mornings made brighter by his voice.
The best way to honor an artist of this magnitude is to return to the source of his genius: the music itself. Here is a guide to the essential songs that define D’Angelo’s immortal legacy.
Each track is a piece of his soul that he shared. And as long as these songs are sung and loved, the man born Michael Eugene Archer will forever be in our hearts.
Foundational Debut: Brown Sugar (1995)
“Brown Sugar” – 1995 (title track)
This seductive opener introduced D’Angelo’s smoky vocals over a laid‑back groove. Causal listeners often assumed it was a love song, yet the singer was actually romancing marijuana, crafting lyrics that invite the listener to “use their imagination.”
The song intoxicated listeners and became one of the most influential R&B songs of the era.
“Lady” – 1995
Co‑written with Raphael Saadiq, this relaxed celebration of devotion became D’Angelo’s highest‑charting hit. Saadiq told Essence that he played a chorus he had written and D’Angelo immediately began developing lyrics; the song moved at a leisurely pace and became a Top 10 hit.
It peaked at No. 10 on the Hot 100 Billboard charts and its no surprise it became a wedding staple.
“Cruisin’” – 1995
A cover of Smokey Robinson’s 1979 single, this ballad with a luxurious arrangement paired with D’Angelo’s falsetto showcased his reverence for classic soul. He owned the cover, reaching No. 10 on Hot R&B/Hip‑Hop Songs.
“S—t, Damn, Motherf—er” – 1995
Beneath its explicit title lies a gripping narrative. This song a testament to his pen game in R&B storytelling, with a guitar‑driven arrangement that builds as D’Angelo narrates catching a lover in bed with another man.
After the Debut: Singles and Collaborations
“She’s Always in My Hair” – 1997
This featured on Scream 2 soundtrack, D’Angelo daringly covered Prince’s B‑side, adding rock‑inflected grit.
He moved through each verse with confidence and even told Prince he planned to record the cover after they jammed together.
“I Found My Smile Again” – 1996
Featured on the Space Jam soundtrack, this feel‑good love song finds D’Angelo crooning with rasp and gratitude. What this lacked in sensuality compared to his hits, it made up for in the soulful sound.
“Nothing Even Matters” (Lauryn Hill feat. D’Angelo) – 1998
A tender duet from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. Rolling Stone recounts how D’Angelo recorded his vocal part in about an hour and described the collaboration as “very cool.”
The song helped firmly place both artists as leaders of the 1990s soul revival.
Voodoo Era: Experimental Groove and Social Commentary (2000)
“Untitled (How Does It Feel)” 2000
This is one of D’Angelo’s most popular songs. A slow‑burning ballad co‑written with Raphael Saadiq. This, indeed could be called one of the greatest bedroom jams, with Questlove’s rhythm section pushing the beat into a hypnotic time warp.
This songs influence cannot be clearer and its nearly nude video have influenced artists. He blends Hendrix‑style guitars, Prince‑like sensuality and gospel‑stacked vocals.
“Devil’s Pie” – 2000
A gritty single produced by DJ Premier, this track critiques materialism. In this track D’Angelo uses metaphors such as cream, cheese and dough to depict greed while crooning, “Who am I to justify all the evil in our eye?.”
The song featured on the film Belly the chemistry between D’Angelo and Premier is plain to see.
“Send It On” – 2000
One of the tenderest songs on Voodoo, “Send It On” was written with Angie Stone and dedicated to their son. D’Angelo layers airy vocals over an interpolation of Kool & the Gang’s “Sea of Tranquility,” creating words of wisdom from a father to his child.
“Chicken Grease” – 2000
A deep‑funk jam where D’Angelo acts as MC, creating a sing-along vibe for listeners to join the groove. The live instrumentation hit hard and its worth mentioning this track was unlike anything else released at the time, testament to D’Angelo’s genius for actual instruments and jam‑session energy.
Later Evolution: Black Messiah and Beyond (2014)
“Ain’t That Easy” – 2014
The opening track of Black Messiah sets the tone with a gritty funk groove. This track is indeed a revelation that didn’t sound like anything else on its release; D’Angelo aimed to uplift listeners during a time of social unrest.
“1,000 Deaths” – 2014
Introduced by samples of activist speeches, this militant pseudo‑title track pays tribute to soldiers for racial justice.
Pounding drums and guitars anchor a funk‑rock arrangement as D’Angelo declares, “A coward dies a thousand times/But a soldier only dies just once.” This song signaled his return from exile with a powerful statement about resilience.
“The Charade” – 2014
A subtle plea for justice, inspired by James Baldwin. D’Angelo told Rolling Stone that the song was written before the Trayvon Martin case and reflected how long civil rights struggles have persisted.
Its lyrics, “All we wanted was a chance to talk/’Stead we only got outlined in chalk,” resonated as a Black Lives Matter anthem.
“Really Love” – 2014
A lush, romantic ballad with a Spanish‑language intro. D’Angelo wrote it as early as 2007; its string arrangements and falsetto declarations of love led the single to receive a Grammy for Best R&B Song.
Other Notable Appearances
“Imagine” (Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre feat. D’Angelo) – 2006
In one of his few rap features, D’Angelo delivers a silky chorus that complements Snoop and Dre’s introspective verses.
Rolling Stone remarks that the gangsta‑rap icons slowed down their usual style to match D’Angelo’s contemplative tone.
Legacy
With only just three studio albums over two decades, each one is revered as a contemporary classic. Whether crooning about love or confronting injustice, he balanced vulnerability with virtuosity.
His work continues to influence artists across R&B, hip‑hop and more, ensuring that his legacy endures through the music he created.
He was undoubtedly one of these rare artists at the forefront of a movement that charted new paths in soul, R&B, and hip-hop while maintaining a deep admiration for the past.