D’Angelo disrupted R&B

D’Angelo disrupted R&B when slow, smooth melodies ruled and the sound was starting to feel a little too polished. He brought something raw and grounded, he reminded us of what soul is at its core. Brown Sugar landed like a wake-up call, pulling R&B back to its roots in rhythm, groove, and feeling. It wasn’t about perfect vocals or shiny production; it was about honesty, and that honesty hit differently.

With Angie Stone’s influence, that sound became even more textured and human. There was grit in the tone, swing in the rhythm, and a warmth that felt real. You could tell it came from jam sessions, not boardrooms. It was the kind of music that made you nod, close your eyes, and remember why R&B mattered in the first place.

This disruption was needed because the genre had grown predictable. D’Angelo reminded listeners and peers alike that soul wasn’t about sounding clean, it was about feeling real. His music gave space for imperfection, for mood, for truth. And that shift opened the door for a whole new generation of artists who wanted to bring that same depth and humanity back to R&B.

D’Angelo may be gone but his work lives on. My hope is that through his music and memory, we will forever be reminded to be real and true, even in the era of perfect filters.