D'Angelo Wasn't So Much Influential as Inimitable

"Great artists who are the opposite of prolific are always a thorny subject. Many of our most romantic ideas about creativity tend to view "genius" as a kind of vessel state, from which beauty and inspiration simply flow forth, effortlessly and boundlessly: It's deflating to be confronted with the reality that this isn't always how it works. And, of course, when such artists come to be the subjects of intense devotion and scrutiny, it often provokes a demand for more and more, faster and faster,"

"Michael Eugene Archer, better known to the world as D'Angelo, died on Tuesday of pancreatic cancer at age 51. D'Angelo released only three studio albums in a career that spanned 30 years, and yet he will go down as one of the great musicians of his or any era, a man whose art had the power to make and move whole worlds."

Scarcity in artistic output complicates romanticized notions of effortless genius and often invites heightened demands that pressure creative processes. Rare creators serve as reminders that fame does not convert artists into mere objects for consumption and that sharing their work is a privilege requiring respect rather than entitlement. Michael Eugene Archer, known as D'Angelo, died at 51 of pancreatic cancer. He released three studio albums across thirty years but achieved lasting influence through his music. Born and raised around Richmond, Virginia, he performed in his father's church, dominated local talent shows, signed with EMI in 1991, and released his striking debut Brown Sugar in 1995.

Read at Slate Magazine