Alternatives : D'Angelo: Searching For Michael Archer

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D'Angelo: Searching For Michael Archer

Thursday, March 27, 2008 9:00 AM | 40 comments

By Chris Richburg

Eight years. While some say that’s a long time, for music lovers, eight years is an eternity. Especially if it involves your favorite artist.

While Michael Archer has made legal news in a courtroom near you, his musical alias D’Angelo is approaching Dr. Dre Detox levels as fans hold out for a new album.

Eight years since the last D’Angelo project dropped and the music still lingers. His presence and influence are felt among those who embrace that movement he started. Something called Neo Soul. Still, even the Neo disciples have to wonder what is going on with the man behind it all and whether or not he will be able to sit atop of the R&B throne.

And while no one has christened himself or herself ruler, we only need to listen to the talent around us to know that the soul is still alive. Question is, who stole the soulster?

All the missing persons talk seems a far cry from when D’Angelo stood out among R. Kelly, Raphael Saadiq and a who’s who of ‘80s and ‘90s R&B heavyweights as the writer and producer of the Black Men United single "U Will Know." The talent was there, but with the veterans on hand for the song and accompanying video, we couldn’t fully embrace the potential of D'Angelo, let alone the movement he was about to usher in.

Sure enough, the prophecy was fulfilled on July 3, 1995. Although Brown Sugar arrived with little fanfare, the album spawned a slew of classic material. Whether it was the slick ode to marijuana on the title cut, shades of Smokey Robinson found on the remake of "Cruisin'," or the feeling of knowing you’ve found your soulmate after listening to "Lady," D’Angelo proved that he had something to offer listeners.

And let’s not even get into the realness of later tracks like "S**t, Damn, M****rf****r" or "Me and Those Dreamin’ Eyes of Mine." It’s not often you hear music that can stand alone without the required remix, but these tracks did just that as we started getting acquainted with D’Angelo and his Neo Soul relatives Maxwell and Erykah Badu.

There was no doubt that we had found a new soundtrack to live life to. And with that came a craving for the next D’Angelo album. But like any artist with a healthy legion of fans, Mr. Archer played the waiting game. And he played it well as the rules were slightly bent with soundbites to hold us over.

Movie soundtracks proved to be the perfect vehicle as D’Angelo gave us original material ("Devils Pie" from Belly) and covers of past hits (Eddie Kendricks’ "Girl You Need a Change of Mind" from Get on the Bus, Prince’s "She Always in My Hair from Scream 2 and the Ohio Players’ "Heaven Must Be Like This" from Down in the Delta). And through all of this, we discover a classic duet with Lauryn Hill ("Nothing Really Matters") off the rap diva’s own stellar solo debut The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

A single here and there is good, but could lightning strike twice for D’Angelo? The doubts were put to rest five years later as Voodoo debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 charts after its January 11, 2000 release.

Add to that the two Grammys the vocalist got in 2001 for Best R&B Album of the Year and Best R&B Vocal Male Performance, and it would be safe to say that the sophomore jinx was nowhere to be found. But the nail in the jinx coffin came with Voodoo’s third single "Untitled (How Does it Feel?)."

Although the song, which D’Angelo co-wrote with Saadiq, illustrated Prince’s influence on the singer, it was the track’s video that became the topic of many conversations among women. Featuring nothing more than a half-naked and muscular D’Angelo, the clip elevated D'Angelo to sex symbol status while making it hard for the average joe to not think about hitting the gym in an effort to keep his woman from thinking about somebody other than him when spending quality time.

Needless to say, D’Angelo attained platinum status two months after Voodoo's release. No doubt. Life for the soul stirrer was good. Damn good.

Then something strange happened on the way to the Voodoo follow-up. Michael Archer returned, along with a string of legal problems.

The year 2005 proved to be time of lows as the singer was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and driving while intoxicated in January. A guilty plea on the DUI and marijuana charge resulted in a fine, suspended sentence and a revoked driver’s license in April. Five months later, Archer answered to the cocaine possession charge by receiving a three-year suspended sentence. Mugshots surfaced of a D'Angelo with very noticeable weight gain, slightly resembling a singer we once knew.

And if things couldn’t get worse, the crooner’s luck went from bad to worse as he suffered bruised ribs and contusions after being ejected from an SUV he was riding in a week after he was sentenced. Close to a year later, a light seemed to be at the end of the tunnel as reports began surfacing about Archer completing a stint in rehab on the island of Antigua.

D’Angelo sightings were even spoken of as rumblings of work being done on a follow up to Voodoo came to light in addition to a string of appearance on albums from J. Dilla, Red, Hot and Riot, the RH Factor, Snoop Dogg and Common, who brought D’Angelo out of hiding to appear on "So Far to Go," a song off his latest album Finding Forever.

Despite things looking up, Archer reemerged on Aug. 10, 2007 to appear in court on charges related to the September 2005 car accident. The singer pleaded guilty to reckless driving and driving with a suspended license. As a result, he was fined $1,000, with $500 suspended, and sentenced the crooner to nine days in jail -all suspended- and revoked his license for 90 days on the suspended license charge.

To add to the misery, Archer was fined $1,500, with $750 suspended, sentenced him to six months in jail -also suspended- and suspended his license for twelve months on the DUI charge. Also dropped was a reckless driving charge.

Despite the negative encounters with the law, D’Angelo offered a glimmer of hope for fans as he confirmed that new music is "in the works."

Still, with no solid title or release date for the album, the future looks questionable for any new D'Angelo music to arrive in stores. Maybe one day the soul will return. Until then we'll keep searching and listening to the past song stylings of the man who should be here to take us and R&B higher.

Comments

	Boss Up said: well i like that song he has on Commons album D'Angelo is still that nigga n/h March 27, 2008 9:08 AM
	urfavoritedj14 said: One of a kind...Get us some music bruh March 27, 2008 9:20 AM
	SOUTH DEKALB404 said: Legendary artist right here. He'll be back.. March 27, 2008 9:24 AM
	MusicWorth! said: DAM, WHERE HE BEEN! HAVE YALL HEARD ABOUT THE NEW RAPPER DR. DRE IS ABOUT 2 SIGN. CHECK HIM OUT. HE IS DOPE ASS HELL! LISTEN NOW @ http://myspace.com/krazedouteross March 27, 2008 9:57 AM
	illseed said: the R&B world needs d'angelo March 27, 2008 10:24 AM
	blackrome said: Can you at least release a live version of the Voodoo tour. I saw that show in Philly. He killed it. March 27, 2008 10:30 AM
	CharlesDotSmith said: Well People, "How does it feel" to know that a GREAT ARTIST , is about to stick his head out again. I just pray he got some beats from 2000, cause these R&B beats are trash these days,, This here is SOUL. give it go em D March 27, 2008 10:32 AM
	chocolaterain said: D'Angelo ;eft a vacuum no doubt. But theres still Musiq, Anthony Hamilton, Jaheim(kinda fell off)...Maxwell is workin on a new record March 27, 2008 11:04 AM
	Die2Live said: When I used to have my 69 Cutty I used to bump that shit and the ladies loved it. R&B right now is Real Bad When I think about it D, I would fuck Angie Stone also to get put on too. March 27, 2008 11:10 AM
	BLUNTBLAZER said: DEANGELO WAS THAT DUDE IF HE DROPPED A NEW SINGLE IT WOULD SELL DUDE GOT THAT SOUND THAS CLASSIC WWW.MYSPACE.COM/THAGRINDAHOLIC PEE THA NEW GHETTO KNOCK "GRIMEY" March 27, 2008 1:10 PM
	poe said: possible comeback? http://www.myspace.com/musiqjunkyproductions March 27, 2008 1:23 PM
	da1inonly said: "Me And Those Dreamin' Eyes Of Mine" = Classic material. March 27, 2008 1:31 PM
	city414 said: chocolaterain said: D'Angelo ;eft a vacuum no doubt. But theres still Musiq, Anthony Hamilton, Jaheim(kinda fell off)...Maxwell is workin on a new record jaheim?he dont even fit inthe sub genre of rnb called neo soul replacethat name with dwele or raheem devaughn March 27, 2008 1:52 PM
	D'Angelo: Searching For Michael Archer - The BN Village said: PingBack from http://www.bnvillage.co.uk/entertainment-village/98458-d-angelo-searching-michael-archer.html#post1467160 March 27, 2008 2:43 PM
	GeeQue said: one of my favs March 27, 2008 3:07 PM
	fresh_isthe_name said: the man got classics... i been ready for a new joint from him March 27, 2008 3:56 PM
	GabIsHipHop said: I hope this is a sign that Mr. D'Angelo is on his way back to ipod with new tunes very very very soooooooooon. :) --------------- We are now offering artist in rap hip hop r&b and reggae an opportunity to use free beats http://rap.jairdynast.com to remix our rapper for a chance to win a grand prize plus get featured, promoted and distributed internationally at absolutely no cost to them. We want to reach “truly talented and skilled artists” and give them an opportunity to gain valuable exposure free. March 27, 2008 4:14 PM
	bigikeva said: southside of richtown stand up March 27, 2008 5:13 PM
	TonyMalibu said: That "Devil's Pie" is still the joint! To me, a true R&B artist should be able to sing about a variety of things. Not just love, relationships, and the contemporary club songs. March 27, 2008 5:35 PM
	Good morning Charlie. . . « aGEnT SMith FiLEs said: PingBack from http://agentsmithfiles.wordpress.com/2008/03/28/good-morning-charlie/ March 28, 2008 11:03 AM
	Royal Flyness said: He's definitely left a HUGE void in R&B. Brown Sugar was the first R&B album I purchased(a cassette tape..lol) I was a Wu-Tang addict and I remeber hearing him on GZA's "Cold World" when he sampled Stevie Wonder "Never Thought You'd Leave..." That album opened up my eyes musically. Hopefully he'll drop again soon, I read an article in Rolling Stone that says he's ben inspired by Jimmy Hendrix and his next album will have lots of string(Guitars) as opposed the the piana & organ. It should be dope, I can't imagine it being anything less. March 28, 2008 12:49 PM
	Just_In said: Patiently waiting....... March 28, 2008 3:23 PM
	Esq. of LastLeveL said: 'Shit, Damn, Motherfucker' is still one of the ILLEST joints I've heard on the R&B tip. Keep ya head up my nigga. The people are still waiting. March 28, 2008 3:47 PM
	Mornin Man said: Damn...with him being a true artist & lookin at all the shit he's been thru these past couple, I know this next CD is gonna be FIYAH!!!! Plays "When We Get By" - from Brown Sugar March 28, 2008 3:54 PM
	kayfizzle said: BROWN SUGAR..one of the best RNB/Soul albums ever!..come back bruh wit new stuff... March 28, 2008 10:56 PM
	69_delta88 said: Yea Dude needs to drop an Album everyone is gettign tired of the BS that is out now, We need some good music oin the R&B side again. Maxwell were you at D'Angelo We waiting L-Boogie We wating (get your mind right) Raphel Saddiq Were you at ( I know I spelled his name wrong) Peace and Blessing AHH March 29, 2008 5:57 AM
	AreRaY said: word let me hear some r&b with substance most of these mofucking r&b cats is acting like rappers Outside of a few cats like John Legend... March 30, 2008 10:34 AM
	EST said: Come on back D! He was a blast from the past and ahead of his time all at the same time. March 30, 2008 12:40 PM
	AkdmkJeanius said: It's always a GREAT look for music when you hear cats who just CAN'T be duplicated are about to drop heat on us again. Maxwell's new project is supposed to be a triple album installment that last a I heard of Black Summer. Can't wait to hear D'Angelo drop more classic material either. March 31, 2008 1:36 AM
	The_cousin_of_sleep said: no one will replace d'angelo March 31, 2008 5:20 AM
	Marlo Stanfield said: First things first the nigga need to drop some pounds cus he been looking like ODB lately..but i wish the best to him cus dude makes hits March 31, 2008 10:49 AM
	roha said: Where are you D? March 31, 2008 4:16 PM
	WhoRyde said: D will be back just working on something I'm sure. Come by and check out the latest WhoRyde. com hip hop show 50 cent unreleased song, Sheek and Dipset new joint, And Lil Wayne address "Strap photo" all on WhoRyde hip hop podcast show http://www.whoryde.podomatic.com hosted by Tye Banks http://www.TyeBanks.com March 31, 2008 10:39 PM
	TheBossHimself973 said: I still keep the Brown Sugar album in heavy rotation!! Been bumpin that shit since 95'. April 1, 2008 5:00 AM
	ya future father said: they need to bring that nigga back April 1, 2008 4:03 PM
	KST2G said: Brown suga babe...I gets high off your lovin, don't know how to behave!! April 1, 2008 4:05 PM
	DatNigga916 said: I'm a gangsta and I fuck with D'Angelo, he is that nigga 4 real... April 1, 2008 7:49 PM
	Zanzabar said: The makes great music. He needs to come back on the seen. We need good music these days April 3, 2008 10:53 PM
	Backspin202 said: Vodoo = Classic D hurry up and get your shit together and make another classic. http://www.crucial202.podOmatic.com http://crucial202.podOmatic.com/rss2.xml April 5, 2008 11:30 PM
	Hush said: He's got a lot to prove...I mean, he may have a lot a ppl anticipating an album...but it's been a long time...so I can't say that I have complete faith in anything that he's working on...I'll just wait and see, before I just go and vouch for'em. http://www.myspace.com/sha317 April 6, 2008 1:35 PM