D’Angelo’s ‘Brown Sugar’ Hits No. 1 Following His Death — ‘Untitled’ and ‘Voodoo’ Also Surge Following Global Tributes

Following the passing of D’Angelo on Monday October 13, and nearly 30 years after its release, his debut album Brown Sugar has climbed into the top 10 on the iTunes charts — reaching No. 7 overall on the U.S. albums chart and No. 1 and leads the U.S. iTunes R&B/Soul Albums chart, sitting alongside Voodoo and Black Messiah in the Top 10.

The singles “Lady,” “Brown Sugar,” and “Cruisin’” also dominate the R&B/Soul Songs chart, taking the top three positions as fans rediscover D’Angelo’s timeless fusion of gospel, funk, and sensual groove.

Brown Sugar originally peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard 200 and No. 4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in early 1996. It never reached No. 1 during its initial run, making this posthumous surge its first-ever No. 1 placement on any major chart platform.

“Untitled (How Does It Feel)” has shot to No. 3, behind Taylor Swift’s “The Fate of Ophelia” on the iTunes Video Chart. The video, famous for its minimalist intimacy and spiritual vulnerability, remains one of the most talked-about pieces in R&B history — a visual that redefined masculinity, sensuality, and Black artistry at the turn of the millennium.

‘VOODOO’: THE CLASSIC THAT ONCE RULED

Unlike Brown Sugar, Voodoo was a No. 1 success upon release. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in February 2000, selling over 320,000 copies in its first week spending a total of two weeks at No. 1 an 33 weeks overall on the chart. It also topped the Billboard Top R&B Albums chart.

In 2024, Apple Music placed Voodoo at No. 57 on its “100 Best Albums of All Time” list — calling it “the sound of freedom: an artist creating from spirit, not industry.”

D’Angelo’s 2014 comeback album Black Messiah, recorded with The Vanguard, debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and went on to win the Grammy for Best R&B Album in 2016. His Live at the Jazz Café, London album — recorded in 1996 and reissued in 2014 — peaked modestly on niche jazz and R&B charts but has now reappeared on Apple Music’s Top 10, reflecting renewed interest in his raw live performances.

His death comes less than a year after his former partner Angie Stone with whom he shares a child.