D'angelo has kept listeners captivated for 14 years since Voodoo. Through tribulations and false starts, the grit, honesty, and soul of his sophomore album and the prospect of a return kept hope alive in an audience for longer than it takes a child to go through the entire basic education system in this country.
In recent years, D'angelo has begun to re-surface. Shows at Afropunk, small venues with ?uestlove, and a decent European run have hinted at new music, but it was not till this past week that we the people got a glimpse of his upcoming album, Black Messiah. Over the weekend, "Sugah Daddy," the first track from the album, was released courtesy of Red Bull Music.
For those of us under 25, it may be difficult to grasp the excitement and weight of the moment. There are layers. D'angelo represents more than himself. He is music with artistry first, everything else -- self-image, commercial viability, pop culture relevancy -- second. D'angelo is, as the LP title not-so-subtly tells us, black. In this moment, in this world, being black in the full sense of the word, on a public platform, means resistance. In the context of Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, and countless others, this has the potential to be music that helps fuel a movement.
Oh, and by the way, I'm posting the track without listening to it first. I have waited since about 2004, the year I truly discovered Voodoo and Brown Sugar, so I can wait a few more days for the rumored December 16 release date to experience the album in full.
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