RIP D'Angelo 🕊️🤍

[Mel Hopkins]

 

I love this performance. Maxwell was supposed to battle D'Angelo in Verzus, but he didn't show up. D'Angelo went on and did that damn thing anyway. Then H.E.R. showed up to do this duet - and it was heaven.

Thank you, D'Angelo, for sharing your beautiful talent! May beautiful music follow you as you continue your journey. 

D’Angelo, Grammy-winning R&B singer, dies at 51 | AP News

[ProfD]

Michael Archer aka D'Angelo was the pioneer of Neo-Soul music. His Brown Sugar record turned R&B upside-down back in 1995. His live performances were straight fire. 

 

D'Angelo was extremely gifted and talented. He leaves behind a body of musical work that will stand the tests of time.

 

Thanks for the musicianship and music. RIP Mr. Michael Archer aka D'Angelo.

[Pioneer1]

Man, what's the world coming to.......

He allegedly died from Pancreatic Cancer, which is said to be very painful.
I hope our brother is resting in peace and is free from his suffering.

 

I remember Brown Sugar.
And when I hear, for some reason I also think of Domino's "Sweet Potato Pie"....lol.

Most of the ladies remember D'Angelo's "How Does It Feel" video when he came on nearly naked grinning and licking his lips and shit, lol.
 

[Delano]

I have been listening to Charade the live versions 

 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IRCLjK5OWjU

So him on the Vodou tour.

[ProfD]

21 hours ago, Pioneer1 said:

Most of the ladies remember D'Angelo's "How Does It Feel" video when he came on nearly naked grinning and licking his lips and shit, lol.

That video was one of those music industry executive decisions. 

 

The folks writing checks aka suits are always looking for the best way to *sell* the product.

 

D'Angelo was a shy dude.  Obviously, he did the video but didn't really think he had to be s8x symbol.  He just wanted to put out great music and live performances.  Thankfully, he was able to define his musical legacy on those terms. 

 

[Delano]

1 hour ago, ProfD said:

D'Angelo was a shy dude.

Apparently he didn't want to do the video. He wanted the music to speak for itself. He didn't want to be a sex symbol. when the music video blew up, it became exactly what he wanted to avoid. He became a bit of a recluse, gor really big.  Jesse Johnson is on Guitar on Black Messiah. In the video you can see the Prince influence. I am going to listen to the album. I think he also did some work with Rafael Saadiq and a musician that made his own instrument by combining bass and guitar.

[Mel Hopkins]

2 hours ago, ProfD said:

Obviously, he did the video but didn't really think he had to be s8x symbol.

Powerful observation, Brotha ProfD!

Many women in the industry feel the same way - but again, look who runs the industry.  I wonder how the music industry would look if people from the African diaspora were at the top? 

[aka Contrarian]

Not surprising, the only thing I remember about DeAngelo is his name, and a poster - or album cover of him that showed off his beautifully muscular body.  

It's also now being reported that he didn't like his work being labeled as "neo-soul" but just wanted it to be music that appealed to black folks.

His life and death are getting a lot of coverage on all the TV entertainment "magazine" shows, even mention on the nation network news as well. 

Tributes are pouring in from all the successful black musicians who were inspired by him including Lauren Hill, his contemporary.

Nile Rogers claimed DeAngelo consulted him for advice early in his career and asked him to critique his work. After checking out the cuts, Nile told him they were all album worthy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Pioneer1]

ProfD

D'Angelo was a shy dude.  Obviously, he did the video but didn't really think he had to be s8x symbol.

 

I'm glad he did it.
We needed that.

 

We actually need another "D'Angelo" type brother today to offset some of the White male sex symbols being promoted so heavily in the media.
The Black youth today don't know what they're missing because they're growing up in a SO-CALLED "multi-cultural" environment but most of those cultures are anti-Black and anti-dark skin.

 

Those of us over 40 take certain things for granted.
If you grew up in the 70s, 80s, or 90s...you grew up seeing Black love and Black men and women....dark skinned as well as light and brown skinned...being promoted as handsome, beautiful, sex symbols.

Today, many people equate muscular Black men like D'Angelo's picture.....not as a "sex symbol" but as someone who is locked up in prison or a gang member.
This is a result of decades of conditioning.

[ProfD]

11 minutes ago, Pioneer1 said:

I'm glad he did it.

We needed that.

 

We actually need another "D'Angelo"

type brother today to offset some of the White male sex symbols being promoted so heavily in the media.

What do Black people gain from our people being viewed as s8x symbols?

 

11 minutes ago, Pioneer1 said:

The Black youth today don't know what they're missing because they're growing up in a SO-CALLED "multi-cultural" environment but most of those cultures are anti-Black and anti-dark skin.

Young Black people have their own s8x symbols.

 

More importantly, they need pathways to prosperity and wealth. 

 

11 minutes ago, Pioneer1 said:

Those of us over 40 take certain things for granted.
If you grew up in the 70s, 80s, or 90s...you grew up seeing Black love and Black men and women....dark skinned as well as light and brown skinned...being promoted as handsome, beautiful, sex symbols.

It's cool from an entertainment perspective but didn't benefit Black folks in terms of wealth building. 

 

11 minutes ago, Pioneer1 said:

Today, many people equate muscular Black men like D'Angelo's picture.....not as a "sex symbol" but as someone who is locked up in prison or a gang member.
This is a result of decades of conditioning.

The media does a bang up job of spinning narratives. 

 

Black folks need to own and control more of the media for those narratives to change.

[Pioneer1]

ProfD

 

 

What do Black people gain from our people being viewed as s8x symbols?

 

For men:  It generally means more sex for us
For women: It generally boosts their self esteem for them to know they are indeed desirable in a world that calls them ugly

 

 

More importantly, they need pathways to prosperity and wealth. 

 

Ultimately, a lot of the desire to generate wealth comes from the desire to have sex or be more sexually appealing.
Especially for men.

Many men work hard, buy expensive cars, even buy houses....to impress women and be seen as a "good catch" and successful.
Why?
More opportunities for sex.

This isn't the ONLY reason obviously, but it's a major reason for most men.

Outside of the instinct for survival, the instinct to have sex and reproduce is among the strongest.

 

 

 

It's cool from an entertainment perspective but didn't benefit Black folks in terms of wealth building. 

 

I'm sure the pole dancers and strippers at any Black themed titty-bar will beg to differ with you.

Regardless as to how one feels about it (I personally don't have a problem with it) most sistas who go that route will bear witness that pole dancing and other forms of sex work DOES generate a lot of money.
Now if they're using that money to buy property and other forms of wealth...that's their business.

Sex sells.
Always has....always will.

 

 

Black folks need to own and control more of the media for those narratives to change.

 

More importantly, they need to be more perceptive and realize when White folks are trying to humiliate them and make fools out of them.

Even if we don't control the media we can atleast refuse to participate in these humiliation rituals that demean our people and cast them in a negative light.
 

I remember years ago SNL did a skit where a White man was in prison and 2 Black men walked up on him and all 3 joked about him being raped.

Why would Black men even PARTICIPATE in a skit where THEY are seen as rapists of White men?
The entire world is watching this shit.

Why would any man with good sense and average intelligence ALLOW the world to see him in this light, unchallenged???

It makes no sense, unless you're dealing with somebody who is simply intellectually deficient.
 

[aka Contrarian]

JESUS H. CHRIST! Enough of the vapid subterfuge! 

A good body is a good body! Stop bitchin and go sign up for a health club  membership if you can stop oogling and salivating  and objectifying women long enough!

 

 

[ProfD]

1 hour ago, Pioneer1 said:

Ultimately, a lot of the desire to generate wealth comes from the desire to have sex or be more sexually appealing.
Especially for men.

More access to s8x is not the end goal for wealthy men. 

1 hour ago, Pioneer1 said:

Many men work hard, buy expensive cars, even buy houses....to impress women and be seen as a "good catch" and successful.
Why?
More opportunities for sex.

This isn't the ONLY reason obviously, but it's a major reason for most men.

Outside of the instinct for survival, the instinct to have sex and reproduce is among the strongest.

That's a broke man's mentality.

 

Rich and wealthy men instinctively know they will have more s8xual access. 

 

Most s8x is recreational and doesn't result in reproduction. 

 

1 hour ago, Pioneer1 said:

I'm sure the pole dancers and strippers at any Black themed titty-bar will beg to differ with you.

Regardless as to how one feels about it (I personally don't have a problem with it) most sistas who go that route will bear witness that pole dancing and other forms of sex work DOES generate a lot of money.
Now if they're using that money to buy property and other forms of wealth...that's their business.

They may be earning a living but definitely not building wealth. 

1 hour ago, Pioneer1 said:

Sex sells.
Always has....always will.

There is not an individual multimillionaire or billionaire who made their fortune selling themselves s8xually.

 

1 hour ago, Pioneer1 said:

More importantly, they need to be more perceptive and realize when White folks are trying to humiliate them and make fools out of them.

Even if we don't control the media we can atleast refuse to participate in these humiliation rituals that demean our people and cast them in a negative light.

Dangle enough money in front of some people and they will do.something strange for change i.e. money. 

 

1 hour ago, Pioneer1 said:

I remember years ago SNL did a skit where a White man was in prison and 2 Black men walked up on him and all 3 joked about him being raped.

Why would Black men even PARTICIPATE in a skit where THEY are seen as rapists of White men?
The entire world is watching this shit.

Those Black men didn't have to be on the show but that's how they got paid.

 

1 hour ago, Pioneer1 said:

Why would any man with good sense and average intelligence ALLOW the world to see him in this light, unchallenged???

It makes no sense, unless you're dealing with somebody who is simply intellectually deficient.

Again, people will do all types of sh8t for money. It has little or nothing to do with intelligence or lack thereof.

[Troy]

7 hours ago, Mel Hopkins said:

I wonder how the music industry would look if people from the African diaspora were at the top? 

that is hard to imagine the ones in high places seem to propagate the same imagery.

 

Sounds like the stuff of speculative fiction and the world of Wakanda.

 

3 hours ago, Pioneer1 said:

I personally don't have a problem with it

Would you feel differently if it was your mother or daughter, twirling around naked on a pole and turning tricks in the champagne room?

 

3 hours ago, Pioneer1 said:

Why would any man with good sense and average intelligence ALLOW the world to see him in this light, unchallenged???

Money, obviously.

 

1 hour ago, ProfD said:

There is not an individual multimillionaire or billionaire who made their fortune selling themselves s8xually.

 

Melaniia?

 

 

 

[ProfD]

13 minutes ago, Troy said:

Melaniia?

Sure. That can be said for any woman married to a wealthy man.

 

Otherwise, a woman doesn't become a multimillionaire or billionaire on a stripper pole or turning tricks on the street or working for an escort service.