Inside D’Angelo’s Final Days: ‘He Was Really Conflicted’ Says Source

Soul music icon D’Angelo, known for his soulful voice and timeless R&B sound, has died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 51. The artist, born Michael Eugene Archer, spent his final days surrounded by loved ones.

According to a source, the “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” singer “was in hospice for two weeks but had been in the hospital for months.” His son, Mike Jr., 27 — whom he shared with late R&B star Angie Stone — was by his side throughout his final moments.

“His son was there with him and had been with him in the hospital,” the source said. “People are really worried about Mike right now; his mom died a day after his birthday and now six months later he’s burying his dad.”

Stone passed away unexpectedly in a car accident on March 1 of this year. “He’s been through a lot in such a short amount of time,” the source added.

D’Angelo, whose late 1990s and early 2000s hits made him a defining voice of neo-soul, had largely retreated from the public eye in recent years. “He was very eccentric,” said the source. “He had a manager but he wouldn’t work. He was a recluse; he didn’t like going out of the house.”

The star, who reached heartthrob status after his steamy, one-man music video for “Untitled (How Does It Feel)”, reportedly struggled with his self-image. “He battled with his weight. The chiseled machismo man that people fell in love with wasn’t his natural aesthetic — he was naturally a bigger guy,” the source explained. “He never was comfortable being a sex symbol, but also he didn’t like people seeing him on his heavier side, so he was always really conflicted.”

D’Angelo’s passing leaves behind a deep void for his family — including his three children — and for fans who revered his artistry. “Such an amazing talent is gone,” the source said.

DJ Premier, who collaborated with D’Angelo on the 1998 track “Devil’s Pie,” shared a heartfelt tribute on X on Oct. 14: “Such a sad loss to the passing of D’Angelo. We have so many great times. Gonna miss you so much. Sleep peacefully D’. Love you KING.”

Born in Richmond, Virginia, D’Angelo was the son of a Pentecostal minister. His debut album, Brown Sugar (1995), peaked at No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard Top R&B Albums chart and went platinum within a year of release, earning him four Grammy nominations.

In 2000, he released his sophomore masterpiece Voodoo, which topped both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B Albums charts. The album earned him two Grammy Awards — Best R&B Album and Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” — along with a nomination for Best R&B Song.