D’Angelo Set to Release First Album in Almost a Decade

Legendary singer and songwriter D’Angelo is working on his first album in nearly 10 years, according to his longtime collaborator Raphael Saadiq. D’Angelo’s last album, Black Messiah, was released in 2014. Since then, fans have eagerly awaited new music from the Virginia-born musician.

During a recent interview on the “Rolling Stone Music Now” podcast, Saadiq shared that D’Angelo is in a good space creatively. “He’s excited,” Saadiq revealed, adding that D’Angelo has been working on six new pieces. “He’s like, ‘You gotta play bass. I’ve got this track. I’m telling you, you got to get on it. It’s got your name all over it.’ He seems super excited, and it’s funky as hell too,” Saadiq said, hinting that their collaborative track will likely be featured on D’Angelo’s upcoming album.

The duo has a long history of working together, starting from D’Angelo’s debut single, “Lady.” Saadiq was also instrumental in producing and co-writing D’Angelo’s iconic hit Untitled (How Does It Feel) from the 2000 album Voodoo. This ongoing partnership between the two is deeply rooted in their shared musical influences, particularly gospel music.

“I think more of his soul came from his gospel roots, not Prince,” Saadiq said during the interview. “But Prince had a huge gospel background too, and I think D’Angelo is the same way. It’s just that he camouflages it in his music.”

After the release of Black Messiah, D’Angelo shared with Rolling Stone that he wanted to take his time with new music, saying he didn’t want to “put a lot of music out there” quickly. His approach has clearly paid off, as fans continue to anticipate his next move in the industry.

With Saadiq’s recent comments, it seems like D’Angelo’s fourth studio album will once again showcase the unique blend of soul, funk, and gospel that has made him a beloved figure in modern music. The wait for D’Angelo’s next album may soon be over, and fans can expect nothing short of musical brilliance.