#rip d'angelo

[todayinhiphophistory]

Today in Hip hop History:

D’Angelo was born February 11, 1974

[boogietitia]

[chromexbarbie]

D'Angelo

I didn't realize how sad I was about D'Angelo's passing until I realized how much his music is connected to the memories and experience of self in my life. D'Angelo's music and then the birth of Neo Soul helped me realize that I was a lover, a yearner and that sh&t was alrrrright. I loved that for me.

I remember when the Untitled video debuted and when I got older, I decided to search for older music D'Angelo may have had and came across the Brown Sugar (1995) album. Now, I had heard Brown Sugar before on BET Midnight Love and/or BET Cita's World. The way this album emotionally awakened me in such a beautifully musical and meaningful way. I remember teenage me getting my mother to listen to "Sh*t, Damn, Motherf*cker" because I love how he had written the song! I still remember how I felt with the reveal of the events of the song and how I had not heard something similar at the time. The way my Christian, conservative, Haitian mother earnestly listened to me describe the song, listen to the song and show interest was something I think helped me realize how open my mom really was to me growing as a person. The way I'd sing "Alright" when I felt overwhelmed in a relationship sense or how "When We Get By" or "Cruisin" made me yearn for smooth, peaceful, love. You couldn't convince me that I wasn't an actual background singer for "ME and Those Dreaming Eyes"! 🤭

I have so many memories related to his overall music but I play songs from that brown sugar album everyday. Every day, a little sprinkle of hope towards a future where life is peaceful with my loved ones and self-actualization is happening. I've always been thankful to D'Angelo for stretching my musical taste and introducing me to some sounds that I had not heard and/or considered. Neo-Soul as a genre is so beautiful and allowed me to also articulate my feelings.

RIP to a Michael Eugene Archer aka D'Angelo, who loved music, loved sound, loved expressing himself through his art and loved black people.

[spaceshipsandpurpledrank]

[fahclove]

Midam // Me and Those Dreamin' Eyes of Mine - D'Angelo

[cosmicblueautie]

R.I.P. to one of Prince's true musical heirs. Trials and tribulations, only made you much stronger and more of an enigmatic figure in the music game. A funk n' roller till the very end. Sleep well, sir. You and your music will never be forgotten.

[mtvscreengrabs]

Untitled (How Does It Feel) - D'Angelo (2000)

[hornymotionalcookie]

One of my favs

I think I used to have this and Still Ray just going back to back.