D’Angelo is the R&B god
Why D’Angelo is the best R&B singer of the last 30 years.
In these days and times when we think of male R&B superstars, often names such as Chris Brown, Usher, and the now-disgraced R. Kelly come to mind. But were it not for men like Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, and more recently, D’Angelo breaking and shaping the mold for R&B musicians, I dare say these shoes wouldn’t fit as snug.
Michael D’Angelo Archer, known professionally as D’Angelo, is R&B incarnate. His vocal range, musical ability, and his image made him the personification of what we deem a superstar.
Twenty years ago this month, he dropped his sophomore album Voodoo and solidified his position as a superstar. His biggest single to date, Untitled (How Does It Feel) skyrocketed his popularity in a time where there was no social media and led to cult-like worship for him.
Time has elapsed though and with it goes our memory. Too often when we speak of the genre, we ignore the impact of the era he helped steer. Neo-soul birthed the R&B I grew up on today honestly. That is why musicians such as D’Angelo, Raphael Saadiq, and Maxwell deserve praise, the praise that only recently has come to them as their fanbase grow larger. Out of all these names and more, D’Angelo sits at the top. He is R&B.
