Well, here is a name you haven’t heard from for ages, quite literally (14 years to be exact).

At 40 year-old, Michael Eugene Archer (better known as D’Angelo) has come to deliver the best Christmas present yet, his 3rd studio album, as the 2014 calendar approaches its last page. For anyone who enjoys smooth R&B, neo soul, jazz fusion and some organic funk, you have been waiting for this for too long.

D’Angelo’s last album, the platinum certified Voodoo, was released during the cold winter just before his 25th birthday. It explored subjects of spirituality, love, sexuality, growth, fatherhood…etc. and brought forth the Grammy-winning track “Untitled (How Does It Feel)”, which also warranted his Best R&B Male Performance title.

On December 15th, 14 years later, a listening party for Black Messiah was held in New York. It was announced right then and there that, at the stroke of midnight, the album would be made available for purchase on iTunes. The magic happened right then and there, with the help from equally genius musicians Kendra Foster (Parliament-Funkadelic), Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest), Questlove (The Roots), Pino Palladino and James Gadson. And rest assured, D’Angelo has not let us down. He exhibits the full spectrum of his personal growth in the last 14 years with this complex album, portraying depth musically, conceptually, lyrically, historically, and politically.

Already being compared to Marvin Gaye and Sly from the Family Stone, D’Angelo’s performance here will require some time and reflection to properly understand. So why not join me on ICRT FM 100 @ 1:30pm to fully appreciate this milestone on air?

 

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