There are artists who make songs — and then there are artists who build worlds.
D’Angelo is the latter.
From the first time his voice slid through the radio in the mid-’90s, he changed what R&B could sound like — and more importantly, what it could feel like. His music wasn’t just sensual or soulful; it was alive. It breathed, it grooved, it hurt, it healed.
Across just three studio albums — Brown Sugar (1995), Voodoo (2000), and Black Messiah (2014) — D’Angelo created a body of work that is small in quantity but monumental in influence. It redefined soul for a new generation and paved the way for artists like Anderson .Paak, Frank Ocean, H.E.R., and Leon Bridges.
Here are 14 essential songs that tell the story of his genius — from the smoky bars of his debut to the thunderous cries of his social awakening.
1. Brown Sugar (1995)
The moment everything started.
“Brown Sugar” wasn’t just a hit — it was a statement. Blending warm Rhodes keys, jazz bass, and hip-hop-style beats, it introduced a young D’Angelo as a man both steeped in history and completely of his time.
The song’s title was often read as a love song to a woman, though fans and critics winked at its double meaning. But what really mattered was the sound — organic, raw, and unmistakably his own. This was neo-soul’s Big Bang moment.
2. Lady (1995)
“Lady” was smoother than silk sheets.
Produced by Raphael Saadiq, the song floated on an irresistible groove. D’Angelo’s falsetto carried an effortless charm that was romantic without being corny. You could hear confidence in every note — the kind that comes from an artist fully aware of his power.
When “Lady” hit radio, it was everywhere: late-night shows, wedding playlists, candlelit dinners. It wasn’t just a song; it was a vibe.
3. Cruisin’ (1995)
Covering Smokey Robinson is a dangerous game — unless you’re D’Angelo.
His take on “Cruisin’” was tender, sultry, and intimate, capturing the warmth of the original but injecting it with a modern pulse. His breathy delivery made you feel like he was singing just for you.
It’s the kind of track that reminds you D’Angelo isn’t trying to outsing anyone — he’s trying to connect.
4. Shit, Damn, Motherf*er (1995)**
The title might make you blink, but the emotion behind it will make you ache.
On “Shit, Damn, Motherf**er*,” D’Angelo tells a dark story — love, betrayal, and rage. His voice trembles between heartbreak and fury. It’s not pretty, but that’s the point.
This was D’Angelo showing early on that soul could be gritty, not just smooth. That real emotion doesn’t always stay in key — sometimes it bleeds.
5. Devil’s Pie (1998)
By the time “Devil’s Pie” dropped (first appearing on the Belly soundtrack), D’Angelo was entering new territory. The song, produced by DJ Premier, felt grimy, spiritual, and prophetic all at once.
It was no longer about romance; it was about survival — in life, in faith, in fame. With its looped samples and haunting tone, “Devil’s Pie” hinted that the D’Angelo we’d met on Brown Sugar was evolving into something deeper.
6. Spanish Joint (2000)
Enter Voodoo.
If Brown Sugar was the sunrise, Voodoo was the storm that followed — darker, funkier, rawer. “Spanish Joint” is one of its brightest bursts of joy.
Driven by Latin percussion and blistering live instrumentation, the song is D’Angelo at his freest — dancing through guitar riffs, twisting rhythms, and radiant energy. It’s a jam session wrapped in joy, the sound of an artist in his element.
7. The Root (2000)
Every great artist has that one song that cuts to the bone. For D’Angelo, it’s “The Root.”
A heartbreak song disguised as a funk odyssey, “The Root” is about pain — pure, unfiltered pain. The guitar solo (by Charlie Hunter) is almost a cry, and D’Angelo’s vocals sound like he’s trying to sing his way through sorrow.
If you ever doubted that D’Angelo could make you feel something deep, listen to “The Root” at 2 a.m. with the lights off.
8. Untitled (How Does It Feel) (2000)
This is the song that turned D’Angelo into a legend — and, for a time, a prisoner of his own image.
“Untitled (How Does It Feel)” is one of the most sensual songs ever recorded. The arrangement is simple: bass, guitar, drums, and that voice. But its impact was seismic.
The video — D’Angelo, shirtless, staring into the camera — became iconic and controversial. It made him a sex symbol overnight, but it also made him retreat from fame. For years, he spoke about how that image overshadowed the music.
Still, strip away the visual, and what remains is a masterpiece — a slow burn of intimacy and soul that few artists have ever matched.
9. Africa (2000)
At the end of Voodoo comes “Africa” — quiet, meditative, and full of warmth.
Dedicated to his son, it’s a song about roots, ancestry, and identity. The production feels almost weightless — soft percussion, floating harmonies, and a sense of peace that closes the album with grace.
It’s D’Angelo at his most vulnerable: a man looking inward, not outward, for meaning.
10. Feel Like Makin’ Love (2000)
Yes, it’s a Roberta Flack cover — but D’Angelo turns it into something ethereal.
His version is drenched in reverb and layers of his own voice, like a choir made of one man. It’s both romantic and otherworldly.
“Feel Like Makin’ Love” captures D’Angelo’s genius for transformation. He doesn’t mimic; he reimagines. He takes something classic and pulls it into his universe.
11. Really Love (2014)
After a 14-year hiatus, many wondered if D’Angelo would ever return. When he did, with Black Messiah, it felt like a resurrection.
“Really Love” is the sound of that return — elegant, mature, and timeless. Strings swell, guitars weep, and his voice carries both wisdom and weariness.
It’s not the young crooner from Brown Sugar anymore. This is a man who’s lived, lost, and still believes in love.
12. Till It’s Done (Tutu) (2014)
“Black Messiah” wasn’t just a love album — it was a statement on the world.
“Till It’s Done (Tutu)” tackles environmental collapse, social unrest, and human responsibility. It’s one of his most political songs, but it never preaches. The groove does the talking.
With its haunting synths and gospel undertones, it’s a cry for awareness — a reminder that D’Angelo’s soul music has always been spiritual, not just sensual.
13. Another Life (2014)
If Really Love was a confession, “Another Life” is a dream.
Closing out Black Messiah, the track feels like a farewell and a promise at the same time. “I’m waiting for another life,” he sings, almost whispering. There’s nostalgia here, but also hope.
The instrumentation — a swirl of piano, guitar, and harmonies — wraps you up like a late-night thought. It’s one of those songs that leaves you quiet when it ends.
14. Unshaken (2018)
“Unshaken” arrived unexpectedly — a standalone release for the video game Red Dead Redemption 2. But it’s pure D’Angelo: mystical, minimal, powerful.
His voice rumbles low, like an old soul talking to himself. The song feels ancient and modern at once — a hymn for endurance.
It’s proof that even decades into his career, D’Angelo can still surprise us, still tap into something primal and pure.
Why These Songs Matter
Together, these 14 tracks form a portrait of an artist who refuses to chase trends — who instead creates his own universe.
Each era of D’Angelo’ music reflects a different part of his journey:
The Dreamer (1995): Romantic, inspired, and bursting with energy.
The Seeker (2000): Exploring identity, faith, and the darker side of fame.
The Prophet (2014+): A man reborn — socially aware, spiritually grounded, and creatively fearless.
D’Angelo never gave us dozens of albums, but what he did give us was pure. Every note feels lived in. Every groove feels human.
The Lasting Legacy
Today, you can hear D’Angelo’s influence everywhere — from the lo-fi funk of Anderson .Paak to the introspective soul of Frank Ocean. His fingerprints are on the sound of modern R&B, even if newer fans don’t always realize it.
He reminded us that music could be messy, spiritual, sexy, and political — all at once.
He reminded us that less can be more.
And he reminded us that when art comes from the soul, it doesn’t age — it just deepens.
So if you ever want to understand what makes D’Angelo one of the most vital voices of the last 30 years, don’t just read about him.
Listen.
Start with these 14 songs — in order, out of order, alone, or with someone you love — and let them move through you the way only D’Angelo can.
Because once you enter his world, you don’t just hear the music.
You feel it.
