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After a 15-year hiatus, D’Angelo is finally back with a new album, ‘Black Messiah.’ To the delight of fans, the project is available for streaming.
Without warning, D’Angelo dropped the follow-up to 2000’s ‘Voodoo’ on iTunes. Twitter and Instagram users went HAM Sunday (Dec. 14) as they realized the singer was delivering new music for their ears.
The album, which he recorded with his band The Vanguard, features tracks like the first single, ‘Sugah Daddy,’ and 11 other soulful bangers, which makes it a bit easier to forget about the more than decade-long wait for new material.
‘Black Messiah’ is a clear reflection of the current times, taking influence from societal issues. Tracks like ‘1000 Deaths,’ led by guitar strums and heavy drums, combines music and a speech quoting scriptures from the Bible.
D’Angelo addressed the controversial album title at a listening session on Sunday evening. “For me, the title is about all of us. It’s about the world. It’s about an idea we can all aspire to. We should all aspire to be a Black Messiah,” he explained in a pamphlet handed out at the event. “It’s about people rising up in Ferguson and in Egypt and in Occupy Wall Street and in every place where a community had enough and decides to make change happen. It’s not about praising one charismatic leader but celebrating thousands of them.”
It’s clear that D’Angelo had several influences for the album. On ‘Back to the Future’ Part 1 and Part 2, he delivers a futuristic jam session. Jazz and classic R&B saturate the track while D’Angelo offers a sweet serenade.
According to Questlove, who also played on the album, the passion project “is everything.” Fans can now draw their own conclusions thanks to Spotify.
Listen to D’Angelo’s ‘Black Messiah’ Album
