Solidified

More soul than rnb, more vinyl than cd.
That’s where Michael Archer better known as D’Angelo left his mark on the world sonically all while exhibiting typical hip hop swagger.
He started playing piano at the age of 4 and later went on to become a multi-instrumentalist.
Upon entering the world of music he’d co-written and produced the hit single ‘U will know’ alongside Brian Mcknight for the Jason’s Lyric soundtrack in 1994.
At 21 years old his 1995 debut ‘Brown Sugar’ , a rich and creamy sort of ode to the 70’s, easily had parents and elders walking into your room wanting to hear more.
I remember having played the album numerous times and no less so than it’s relatively more hip hop inspired follow up ‘Voodoo’ in 2000.
I’d try cranking up the volume as most I could while my mom entertained visits from family and friends in the kitchen of our first home.
My doorless room positioned literally 2 strides away.
The sound system I’d proudly purchased in ’96 my freshman year off my first ever job, rarely enjoyed as much exercise in our household.
I’d already understood my clear love for the purity of live sound, hip hop and jazz with my musical taste many a time going against the grain of whatever mainstream rnb the 90’s and the following decade was to offer and popularise.
Brown Sugar, Voodoo and even 2014’s Black Messiah were like untouched, uncut diamonds left in their dirty, natural state.
D’Angelo artistically set us up with some of the nicest of musical bookmarks all the while reminding us what our folks had naggingly echoed :
‘They just don’t make music like they used to’