Black Messiah (album)
Black Messiah is the third studio album by American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist D'Angelo, credited to D'Angelo and the Vanguard. It was released on December 15, 2014, through RCA Records, more than a decade after his previous solo release Voodoo.[2] The album was produced and mostly written by D'Angelo, who collaborated with musicians including percussionist Questlove, bassist Pino Palladino, guitarist Isaiah Sharkey, and horn player Roy Hargrove. He pursued an entirely analog and murky funk sound for the record, lending it comparisons to the 1971 Sly & the Family Stone album There's a Riot Goin' On.[3]
For the live album by Cannonball Adderley, see The Black Messiah.Black Messiah
December 15, 2014
2002-2014
- MSR, Sear Sound, Avatar, and Quad Recording in New York City
- Henson Recording and The Plant in Los Angeles
- Hydra SF
55:54
D'Angelo
Black Messiah was among 2014's most highly anticipated albums and was released to critical acclaim, later being ranked as one of the year's best albums. The album debuted at number five on the US Billboard charts and number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, selling over 117,000 units in its first week. Black Messiah was promoted with the release of the single "Really Love" and a tour called The Second Coming.
Background[edit]
D'Angelo released his critically acclaimed album Voodoo in 2000. Towards the end of his worldwide tour in support of the album that same year, D'Angelo's personal issues towards performing had worsened.[4] He became more conscious of and uncomfortable with his status as a sex symbol, and after the tour D'Angelo returned to his home in Richmond, Virginia, disappearing from the public eye.[5] Following the suicide of his close friend, MTV-affiliate Fred Jordan, in April 2001, he started to develop an alcohol addiction.[5] As his alcoholism escalated, plans for a live album and a Soulquarians studio effort, both originally set for after the tour, were scrapped, and impatient Virgin executives cut off funding for the expected 2004 solo album.[5]
By 2005, D'Angelo's girlfriend had left him,[6] his attorney had become displeased with him, and most of his family was out of touch with him.[5] He also parted ways with manager Dominique Trenier and tour manager Alan Leeds.[5] After a car accident and an arrest on DUI and marijuana possession charges, D'Angelo left Virgin Records in 2005 and checked into the Crossroads Centre rehabilitation clinic in Antigua.[5] In 2005, his recording contract was acquired by J Records,[7] following rumors of D'Angelo signing to Bad Boy Records.[8] Despite no solo output, D'Angelo collaborated with some R&B and hip hop artists during his period between albums,[5] appearing on other albums such as J Dilla's The Shining (2006), Snoop Dogg's Tha Blue Carpet Treatment (2006), Common's Finding Forever (2007), and Q-Tip's The Renaissance (2008).[9]
Marketing and sales[edit]
In late November 2011, D'Angelo announced a series of 2012 European tour dates.[20] The tour kicked off January 26 in Stockholm, Sweden[21] with its final show on February 10.[22] The tour featured a selection of hits from his two previous albums and songs from his upcoming album, which was close to completion.[23] He premièred four new songs: "Sugah Daddy", "Ain't That Easy", "Another Life" and "The Charade" which were well received. On September 1, 2012, D'Angelo performed at Jay-Z's Made in America Festival where he again performed the new songs, "The Charade" and "Sugah Daddy".
D'Angelo originally wanted to release Black Messiah in 2015, but the controversial decisions in the Ferguson and Eric Garner cases inspired him to release it earlier.[24] On December 12, 2014, Kevin Liles, D'Angelo's manager, shared a 15-second teaser of the album on YouTube.[25] Two days later, the track "Sugah Daddy", which had been part of D'Angelo's set list since 2012,[26] premiered at 3am EST and 1,000 downloads were available on Red Bull's 20 Before 15 website.[27] After an exclusive listening party in New York, Black Messiah was released digitally on December 15 through iTunes, Google Play Music, and Spotify. The album's unexpected release was compared to Beyoncé's self-titled release in 2013.[28] On January 13, 2015, "Really Love" was released to urban adult contemporary radio in the US.[29]
In its first week of release, Black Messiah debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 and sold 117,000 copies in the United States.[30] In its second week, the album dropped to number twenty five on the chart and sold another 40,254 copies.[31] In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number 47 on the UK Albums Chart with first-week sales of 7,423 copies.[32]
D'Angelo supported Black Messiah with a tour called The Second Coming. His band, The Vanguard, comprised drummer Chris Dave, bassist Pino Palladino, guitarists Jesse Johnson and Isaiah Sharkey, vocalist Kendra Foster and keyboardist Cleo "Pookie" Sample. The European leg commenced in Zurich on February 11, 2015, and concluded in Brussels on March 7. "Betray My Heart" was released to urban adult contemporary radio in the US as the album's second single.[33]
Sample credits
Credits adapted from liner notes.[19]