Richmond Remembers D’Angelo; The City That Raised Him Pays Tribute
“D’Angelo is like the epitome of Soul.” - Richmond artists pay tribute to D’Angelo, after his death at age 51
by Anaiis Stewart, Eric Jackson
Michael Eugene Archer, better known as D’Angelo, inspired so many artists — not just in Soul and R&B, but across genres. According to a press release from his family, Grammy-award winning artist, and musician, D’Angelo sadly passed away after a courageous battle with cancer, on Tuesday, October 14th, 2025. Supporters around the world, especially in Richmond have been spinning his records — remembering and reminiscing on his importance. He’s a staple artist that’s from the 804 and his legacy will live on past where his angel wings fly. The soul that Virginia holds, was shared with the world through D’Angelo. He has left his footprint in music, and here in Richmond.
On Wednesday, October 15th, 2025, Hip Hop Henry spun a surprise show at coffee, and vinyl shop, Le Cache Dulcet in memoriam of D’Angelo and his music.
“I put that on because of how I was feeling at the time,” Henry said, reflecting on D’Angelo’s deep connection to Richmond. “Knowing where D’Angelo is from, knowing that the whole city was feeling the same way I was when the news broke, and knowing that I needed to hear those songs.”
He reached out to owner Pat about using the space and making it happen. “Shout out to the homie Pat. I hit him up and he opened Le Cache Dulcet on his off day. The vibe was amazing, a lot of love in that room. People just vibing out, singing along, some were dancing but everyone was there to show love to D & each other.”
Photo courtesy of DJ Pari (@djpari_)
Event goers were immersed throughout the night in all the sweet, warming sounds that D’Angelo created.
Everybody has an early memory of their first time hearing D’Angelo’s voice on a track or seeing his videos. I vividly remember being younger, watching BET after school and seeing him in the ‘How Does It Feel’ video. I was definitely too young to be watching that but I didn’t care. He looked amazing and he had a voice that matched it! We actually got to speak with a few artists in the Richmond scene that have been inspired by D’Angelo and the mark his music has made on them.
Hip Hop Henry on his earliest memory of D’Angelo:
“The first time I heard ‘Brown Sugar’ in 95’, BET had a show called Video Vibrations and they would show a lot of up & coming artists; 1st time I heard Jamiroquai was on VV maybe a year or two earlier. I remember the host introducing the D’Angelo video and before it started, he was saying it was his favorite song at the time, that organ hit and then you see Ali Shaheed Muhammed from Tribe in the video. I knew I was in for something.”
In large parts thanks to his mother’s influence and musical taste, local Hip Hop artist Ducttape Jesus fondly remembers growing up surrounded by the soulful sounds of D’Angelo, whose music filled his childhood.
“He was the architect of this thing I love,” he says. “I can almost smell food when I hear his songs still. He had a way of using words to describe a feeling of love. A master craftsman of soul and Black music. I just remember being 9, riding around with my mom and hearing Voodoo through the speakers. The way he sang about women and that feeling of adoring or lusting for a person was really spellbinding to me. I wasn’t old enough to know what love was back then but I hoped it made me feel as good as D’Angelo. My favorite song from him is Africa. There isn’t too much going on in the song, just a soft drum and pretty chords that make me feel like I’m melting a bit. He taught me less is more with music and with everything. It felt like he was from another planet and I’m very proud to say that other planet was Richmond, Virginia. We will always love you.”
Few artists have managed to carve out a lane authentically in soul music the way that D’Angelo has. From when Brown Sugar first dropped in the 90s, to the infamously steamy Untitled (How Does It Feel) — his raw honesty and vulnerability was entirely his own. As one Richmond artist, AIA puts it, “To me, D’Angelo is like the epitome of Soul. He inspires me to be vulnerable in my music, especially in an age where wearing your heart on your sleeve is considered a weakness. Beautiful soul both inside and out and his legacy will live on forever.”
Skinnyy Hendrixx, who’s known for his tagline, “I’m the hottest thing outta Richmond since D’Angelo,” also spoke on D’Angelo’s impact, describing his influence on Richmond musicians.
“D’Angelo’s presence was like the Jimi Hendrix of music in Richmond. With putting a stamp on the Neo Soul sound, he was a WTF moment in music — and especially for Richmond. Anyone that is passionate about musicianship and being unique should be, and continue to be inspired by D’Angelo.”
Artists like ShaelaSoul promises to maintain the soul, even in her own music, understanding its more than just a genre of great music, its a genre that speaks from pain, and love.
“To be honest, D’Angelo is a movement,” she says. “The Soulquarians. This music rings “Black music”. When we speak of “Neo-soul” or the “new souls” that are now in the music, like myself, we have to be genuine. We have to know what SOUL music is. It’s not just a category or trend. It’s rooted in soul. It’s rooted in love. It’s rooted in history.”
And for artist Lil Stixxx, D’Angelo’s voice captures something even deeper.
“I want love to feel like how D’Angelo sings.”
Virginia is so thankful to have had D’Angelo as a native and an inspiration to many artists here. He has taught artists vulnerability, simplicity in sound and how to carry yourself as a talented Black artist in this world. D’Angelo will forever be remembered in music, in the Richmond community and in our hearts.
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