A Look into D'Angelo
D'Angelo has been at the forefront of the Neo-soul genre since its inception. Though his musical output is remarkably small, with only three full projects under his best, each album stands a cultural touchstone. His first album Brown Sugar put not only his unique artistry on the map, but the surrounding performances also brought light to contemporary artist Erykah Badu.
Though the album took a while to gain steam, it would soon go gold in sales across the globe. This album flexes his background in choral performance, rooted in his childhood in the Pentecostal church. The majority of the album sticks to the same soundscape, a demure drum set, low-key synth, and rich harmonies backing up D'Angelo's ballads. His next album Voodoo would not only take the world by storm, as many declare the album his magnum opus. Where his previous album was a connection of well made songs, Voodoo (would would take advantage of D'Angelo's new status for bigger ensembles, better production, and arguably some of his most sensual songs to date. Stand out tracks like "Spanish Joint" "The Line" and "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" find their way into party playlists to this day. Unfortunately, D'Angelo is also notorious for his large sabbaticals. While the four year break between his first two projects, D'Angelo's transformation into a sex symbol after Voodoo would further delay D'Angelo's inspiration. His most recent project, Black Messiah released over a decade after Voodoo. This project is the most politically charged, wetter and heavier but still undeniably addictive and soulful. As D'Angelo's discography is so small, we can confidently say there's not a single album worth skipping from this once in a generation voice.
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