For the past 5 years (at least) it seems there’s been talk every 6 months or so of a “nearly completed” new D’Angelo LP. Voodoo, his LP from 2000, is, in my opinion, the greatest R&B album released in at least the past 30 years. Since that release  fans and critics have been eagerly awaiting new material. Of course there was enormous pressure for D’Angelo to deliver something great — and, while I won’t go into the details, that pressure at times hit D’Angelo hard.

Who knows what has been happening in the studio (there must be a ton of material somewhere), but on Sunday — SURPRISE — the first taste of the new LP, Black Messiah (credited fully to D’Angelo and the Vanguard) appeared and, at 12:00 am Monday morning — DOUBLE SURPRISE — the album was released. I am actually listening to it as I type this (it’s pretty glorious so far) but stream the tune “Sugah Daddy” below.