D'Angelo Dead at 51

Plus: Eras Tour Docuseries, Olivia Rodrigo's exclusive concert and Rosalia's new music

👋 Remember when we thought D'Angelo would eventually come back? After years of waiting for that fourth album, the reclusive genius left us with just three perfect records and infinite what-ifs.

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💔 D'Angelo Dead at 51

Music lost one of its most elusive geniuses this week. D'Angelo, the architect of neo-soul who gave us "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" and then basically vanished, died Tuesday of cancer at 51.

The heartbreaking details:

  • Three albums across 30 years - that's all we got from a generational talent

  • Confirmed by family after what they called "a prolonged and courageous battle"

  • Leaves behind three children, including a son who lost both parents this year

Why this hits different: D'Angelo wasn't just another R&B singer. He literally invented a genre. "Brown Sugar" in '95 didn't just launch his career - it sparked the entire neo-soul movement that gave us Maxwell, Erykah Badu, and Lauryn Hill.

The tragic irony: After "Voodoo" turned him into an unwanted sex symbol, D'Angelo spent most of his career hiding from fame. That video for "Untitled" - the shirtless one that made him a superstar - also made him disappear for over a decade.

The genius move nobody talks about: He chose artistic integrity over easy money. Fifteen years between albums because he refused to compromise. While everyone else was churning out content, D'Angelo was in Virginia, obsessing over every note.

Bottom line: We got three perfect albums from someone who redefined what R&B could be. In an industry that demands constant output, D'Angelo proved that sometimes the best artists are the ones who know when to step back. 🎵

SONG OF THE WEEK

📀 “EYES CLOSED” by JISOO X ZAYN | ⭐ 3.6/5

When BLACKPINK meets One Direction alumni, cosmic magic happens in this unexpected October collaboration.

  • The collaboration started after Zayn brought 4-year-old daughter Khai to BLACKPINK's NYC show - he posted about loving it on IG Stories

  • This marks JISOO's first official English-language single, following her Korean EP "Amortage" from February

  • The spaceship music video was directed by sibling duo Frank and Ivanna Borin, featuring zero-gravity choreography

  • Zayn sent JISOO flowers on release day with a handwritten note saying "Big love" - she posted the BTS on Instagram

Two introverted superstars found their perfect orbit, floating together through dreamy pop perfection.

MEME