D'Angelo Finally Releases 'Black Messiah,' First New Album In 14 Years, On RCA

'Black Messiah' Arrives

It's been 14 year's since the release of D'ANGELO's GRAMMY-award winning "Voodoo" album in 2000, but the wait is finally over:  D'ANGELO AND THE VANGUARD's "Black Messiah" was released this morning on RCA RECORDS at select digital and retail music providers. The studio-recorded version of “Really Love” from the album will be serviced to radio today.

Nearly 15 years in the making, "Black Messiah" contains 12 tracks with D'ANGELO and his band THE VANGUARD alongside PINO PALLADINO, JAMES GADSON and QUESTLOVE featured on various tracks on the album.  All lyrics were written by D'ANGELO in addition to Q-TIP and KENDRA FOSTER, who both wrote lyrics on several songs.  D'ANGELO said, “No digital ‘plug-ins’ of any kind were used in this recording. All of the recording, processing, effects and mixing was done in the analog domain using tape and mostly vintage equipment.”

In the album's foreward, D'ANGELO wrote, "‘Black Messiah’ is a hell of a name for an album. It can be easily misunderstood. Many will think it’s about religion. Some will jump to the conclusion that I'm calling myself a Black Messiah. 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. It’s about people rising up in FERGUSON and in EGYPT and in Occupy WALL STREET and everyplace where a community has had enough and decides to make change happen. It's not about praising one charismatic leader but celebrating thousands of them. Not every song on this album is politically charged (though many are) but calling this album 'Black Messiah' creates a landscape where these songs can live to the fullest. Black Messiah is not one man. It's a feeling that, collectively, we are all that leader."

In 1995, the RICHMOND native released his debut album "Brown Sugar," which featured hits like the title track, “Lady” and “Cruisin.”  He returned in 2000 with his platinum-plus selling album "Voodoo," which won a Grammy for Best R&B Album and the hit single, “Untitled (How Does It Feel)," won the Grammy for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.

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