D’Angelo Said His Love of Music Made Him Feel ‘Cursed’
D’Angelo, the acclaimed R&B singer, spent years informally studying music with his collaborators. He loved the act of creating a new song and immersing himself in music history. This brought him widespread praise and attention, which he did not enjoy. While D’Angelo said his first taste of fame made him lose the joy he took in music, it eventually came back. He knew he couldn’t avoid fame altogether because he felt too drawn to his art.
D’Angelo said nothing could push him away from his music
In 1995, D’Angelo released his debut album, Brown Sugar. It went platinum and received widespread acclaim, bringing him more attention and praise than he’d ever received in his life. D’Angelo said the attention nearly pushed him away from his music.
“After Brown Sugar, I lost my enthusiasm to do all this,” he told Rolling Stone in 2000. “I coulda done without goin’ to 7-Eleven at three o’clock to get a pack of cigarettes and find yourself swarmed, signin’ autographs.”
He said he had to remind himself that he loved music. He believes he would have continued to create music, even if he never achieved success. His constant pull to it made him feel cursed.
“I had to reiterate why I was doin’ that in the first place, and the reason was the love for the music. I was gettin’ jaded, lookin’ at what go on in the business. But, I had to say, even if I didn’t do this, I’d still be f***in’ with the music. So I’m cursed, and I’m gon’ be cursed till the day I die. So this is what I’m gon’ do.”
The last music D’Angelo released was a collaboration with Jay-Z
D’Angelo, who died of pancreatic cancer on Oct. 14, released three studio albums in his lifetime. His fourth album will come out posthumously.
While he didn’t release music often, he did put out a song in 2024. The final song he released during his lifetime was the nearly 10-minute “I Want You Forever.” He worked with filmmaker and singer Jeymes Samuel and Jay-Z on the song. The song appeared on the soundtrack to Samuel’s film, The Book of Clarence.
“Someone like D’Angelo, he moves in his own speed and his own time, so there’s no planning there. You can’t [just] say, ‘I’ve got this song, come over Tuesday,’” Jay-Z said, per GQ. “The circumstances, the vibes, the music, everything has to be in a perfect space for something like this to happen. Obviously, we haven’t collaborated for our entire careers, so it was meant for this moment right here.”
His peers have mourned him
After news of D’Angelo’s death broke, his peers have responded with an outpouring of tributes.
“I couldn’t understand how someone could write something so simple but personal but broad but genius,” Tyler, the Creator wrote in a lengthy statement on Instagram. “That’s how special he was. A savant. A true alien. I am so lucky to have gotten my copy of VOODOO when I did. We are so lucky to have been alive to enjoy his art. My musical DNA was helped shaped by this man. Forever grateful. Safe travels.”
Other artists, like Missy Elliot, Jamie Foxx, Flea, Flavor Flav, and Doja Cat have posted about their respect and admiration for D’Angelo.
