The news of Michael Eugene Archer’s, better known as D’Angelo, death left the music world aghast, with the singer’s peers and fans paying their respects while mourning the loss of a vanguard and visionary.
Equally known for his musical talents and reclusiveness, the Virginia native, who passed away on Oct. 14, 2025, was one of the most captivating artists of his time, balancing the tight-rope of satisfying the listener while leaving them yearning for more.
Despite only releasing three studio albums over the course of thirty years and being more than a decade removed from his last full-length offering at the time of his death, D’Angelo has garnered the reverence fit for an icon, as his sheer brilliance and genius are simply undeniable.
Arguably the closest replica to Prince Rogers Nelson in terms of the triumvirate of vocal ability, instrumentation, and mystique, while there are certainly parallels between D’Angelo and The Purple One, the former has carved out his own lane and place in history.
Famous for ushering in the neo-soul movement of the latter half of the ’90s and early ’00s, and creating some of the quintessential ballads of our time, D’Angelo’s midas touch wasn’t relegated to the realms of R&B and soul, as he played a key role in the making of multiple Hip-Hop classics.
Whether by appearing on some of your favorite rapper’s hooks, contributing to the production, or bringing them into his world, D’Angelo’s bonafides among Hip-Hop fans is often understated, as he’s been both an ally and asset to the culture.
In light of D’Angelo’s passing, VIBE highlights D’Angelo’s greatest Hip-Hop moments and collaborations that continue to stand the test of time.
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“Lady (Remix)” With AZ
Image Credit: Frans Schellekens/Redferns) D’Angelo’s “Lady” was an instant hit among R&B and fans upon its release and is often mentioned among the quintessential love songs of its era. If that contribution wasn’t enough, D’Angelo threw a bone to the Hip-Hop lovers on the remix, bringing in Brooklyn lyricist AZ to assist on the vocals.
Esteemed beatsmith DJ Premier to built upon the foundation laid by Raphael Saddiq on the original, crafting a boom-bap driven track that served as departure from more demure stylings on D’Angelo’s debut, Brown Sugar.
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“Cold World (Remix)” With GZA, Inspectah Deck
Image Credit: Paul Bergen/Redferns D’Angelo replaces LifeLines on the “RZA Mix” and “Power Mix” versions of “Cold World,” a standout salvo from Wu-Tang Clan member GZA‘s 1995 sophomore album Liquid Swords. Featuring Wu member Inspectah Deck, both remixes include the verses from the original, albeit with reworked instrumentals and D’Angelo’s riffs added to the fold.
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“The Hypnotic” With The Roots
Image Credit: Paul Natkin/WireImage In 1996, D’Angelo joined arms with The Roots on “The Hypnotic,” a selection from the group’s third studio album Illadelph Halflife.
Partaking in the track’s production and contributing subtle vocals on the hook and adlibs, D’Angelo croons blends into the hazy groove, only taking center stage during the leadup to its closing.
Yet, those imprints are typical to the musician himself: understated, yet essential and impactful.
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“Devil’s Pie” With DJ Premier
Image Credit: Earl Gibson III/WireImage A few years after their initial musical connection on “Lady (Remix),” D’Angelo and DJ Premier spun the block with another collaborative effort in their 1998 track ‘Devil’s Pie.”
Originally released as part of the Belly official soundtrack, “Devil’s Pie” served as one of the rare drops from D’Angelo between his debut album and wildly anticipated sophomore effort Voodoo, which the song would also live on upon its release in 2000.
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“Breakups 2 Makeups” With Method Man
Image Credit: Gary Miller/WireImage On “Breakups 2 Makeups,” D’Angelo joins Wu-Tang Clan member Method Man on a track lamenting the struggle and strife that comes with romantic entanglements.
Released in 1998 as a single from Meth’s sophomore album Tical 2000: Judgement Day, the song paired D’Angelo’s melodic drawl with the Staten Island rep’s sharp wordplay, making for a slow-burning rap ballad.
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“Left & Right” Featuring Method Man & Redman
Image Credit: Skip Bolen/WireImage For the lone feature on his seminal 2000 album Voodoo, D’Angelo enlisted rap duo Method Man and Redman to collaborate on the “Left & Right,” one of the more free-wheeling records on the project.
While D’Angelo’s chemistry with Meth, whom he worked with the year prior, was evident, having Redman thrown into the mix upped the ante even higher, accounting for a lively jam that resonated with Hip-Hop and R&B heads alike.
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“Tell Me” With Slum Village
Image Credit: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images D’Angelo lent his velvet vocals to Detroit triumvirate Slum Village‘s 2000 cut “Tell Me” from the group’s sophomore effort, Fantastic, Vol. 2.
Crooning on the song’s hook and outro as well as manning the keys on the Dilla-produced instrumental, the Virginia native’s collaboration with his Midwestern counterparts stands among his more underrated forays into the genre.
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“So Far To Go” With Common
Image Credit: Paras Griffin/Getty Images Common, J. Dilla, and D’Angelo recaptured their magic on this immersive selection that first appeared on Dilla’s third studio album The Shining and would later be included on Common’s Finding Forever album the year after.
“So Far To Go” marked a continuation of a creative bond between D’Angelo, J. Dilla, and Common that blossomed on the latter’s 2000 album Like Water For Chocolate, which D’Angelo contributing to the songs “Time Travelin’ (A Tribute to Fela),” “Time Travelin’ (Reprise),” and “Geto Heaven Part Two”
Layering his distinct vocals over Jay Dee’s production and in between Common’s stanzas, D’Angelo’s presence is the perfect ingredient to what has proved to be a timeless jam.
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“Imagine” With Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre
Image Credit: Robin Little/Redferns via Getty Images On “Imagine,” Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre ponder on the possibilities of what could be, with D’Angelo’s signature rasp and falsetto providing an added dimension to the proceedings. Appearing primarily on the hook, the vocalist balances out the gritty backdrop with his polished performance.
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“Believe” With Q-Tip
Image Credit: Gary Miller/WireImage Members of The Native Tongues and Soulquarians, respectively, Q-Tip and D’Angelo brought the two musical tribes together for “Believe,” a standout offering from Q-Tip’s sophomore solo studio album The Renaissance.
The moment doubled as full-circle, as D’Angelo played keys on The Abstract and A Tribe Called Quest‘s Beats, Rhymes, Life song “Crew,” a decade prior.
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“Ibtihaj” With Rapsody, GZA
Image Credit: Paul Bergen/Redferns D’Angelo put his midas touch on Rapsody‘s Eve album with his guest spot on “Ibtihaj,” a highlight that married the past with the present, and will surely live on into the future.
Rapsody not only reworks the title-track from GZA‘s iconic Liquid Swords album, but goes one step further, teaming up with its original creator, GZA himself.
And hearing D’Angelo’s personal twist on The Genius’ opening verse makes this particular sonic, Wu-inspired, chamber an enjoyable one.
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“I Want You Forever” With JAY-Z, Jeymes Samuel
Image Credit: Paul Bergen/Redferns D’Angelo, JAY-Z, and Jeymes Samuel created a grand piece of sonic tapestry with “I Want You Forever” from The Book of Clarence soundtrack, a lively number driven by Samuel’s live instrumentation, Hov’s bars, and D’Angelo’s impassioned croons.
Being that JAY-Z used to “dribble down in V.A.,” D’Angelo’s home state, the collaboration with one of the state’s most cherished treasures was only right.