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Black Messiah (album)

Updated: 12/10/2025, 10:44:38 AM Wikipedia source

Black Messiah is the third and final studio album by the American musician D'Angelo, credited to D'Angelo and the Vanguard. Released on December 15, 2014, through RCA Records, more than fourteen years after his previous solo release Voodoo, it is D'Angelo's last album to be released during his lifetime. The album was produced and mostly written by D'Angelo, who collaborated with musicians including drummer Questlove, bassist Pino Palladino, guitarist Isaiah Sharkey, horn player Roy Hargrove, and singer and lyricist Kendra Foster. He pursued an entirely analog and murky funk sound for the record, lending comparisons to the 1971 Sly & the Family Stone album There's a Riot Goin' On. 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 5 on the US Billboard charts and number 1 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.

Infobox

Released
December 15, 2014
Studio
MSR, Sear Sound, Avatar, and Quad Recording in New York City Henson Recording and The Plant in Los Angeles Electric Lady Studios Hydra SF
Genre
Progressive soul funk R&B neo soul jazz-funk rock
Length
55:54
Label
RCA
Producer
D'Angelo

Tables

Professional ratings · Critical reception
Source
Source
Aggregate scores
Source
Aggregate scores
Rating
AnyDecentMusic?
AnyDecentMusic?
Aggregate scores
AnyDecentMusic?
Aggregate scores
9.1/10
Metacritic
Metacritic
Aggregate scores
Metacritic
Aggregate scores
95/100
Review scores
Review scores
Aggregate scores
Review scores
Source
Source
Aggregate scores
Source
Aggregate scores
Rating
AllMusic
AllMusic
Aggregate scores
AllMusic
Aggregate scores
Cuepoint (Expert Witness)
Cuepoint (Expert Witness)
Aggregate scores
Cuepoint (Expert Witness)
Aggregate scores
A−
The Independent
The Independent
Aggregate scores
The Independent
Aggregate scores
The Irish Times
The Irish Times
Aggregate scores
The Irish Times
Aggregate scores
Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
Aggregate scores
Los Angeles Times
Aggregate scores
NME
NME
Aggregate scores
NME
Aggregate scores
9/10
Pitchfork
Pitchfork
Aggregate scores
Pitchfork
Aggregate scores
9.4/10
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Aggregate scores
Rolling Stone
Aggregate scores
Spin
Spin
Aggregate scores
Spin
Aggregate scores
9/10
USA Today
USA Today
Aggregate scores
USA Today
Aggregate scores
Aggregate scores
Source
Rating
AnyDecentMusic?
9.1/10
Metacritic
95/100
Review scores
Source
Rating
AllMusic
Cuepoint (Expert Witness)
A−
The Independent
The Irish Times
Los Angeles Times
NME
9/10
Pitchfork
9.4/10
Rolling Stone
Spin
9/10
USA Today
· Charts › Weekly charts
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Chart (2015)
Australian Albums (ARIA)
Peakposition
50
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Chart (2015)
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
Peakposition
71
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Chart (2015)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Peakposition
33
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Chart (2015)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
Peakposition
109
Canadian Albums (Billboard)
Canadian Albums (Billboard)
Chart (2015)
Canadian Albums (Billboard)
Peakposition
17
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)
Chart (2015)
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)
Peakposition
36
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Chart (2015)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Peakposition
10
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Chart (2015)
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
Peakposition
8
French Albums (SNEP)
French Albums (SNEP)
Chart (2015)
French Albums (SNEP)
Peakposition
149
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (2015)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Peakposition
85
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Chart (2015)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Peakposition
30
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Chart (2015)
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
Peakposition
10
Portuguese Albums (AFP)
Portuguese Albums (AFP)
Chart (2015)
Portuguese Albums (AFP)
Peakposition
17
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Chart (2015)
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
96
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Chart (2015)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Peakposition
35
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Chart (2015)
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
Peakposition
25
UK Albums (OCC)
UK Albums (OCC)
Chart (2015)
UK Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
47
UK R&B Albums (OCC)
UK R&B Albums (OCC)
Chart (2015)
UK R&B Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
4
US Billboard 200
US Billboard 200
Chart (2015)
US Billboard 200
Peakposition
5
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)
Chart (2015)
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)
Peakposition
1
US Indie Store Album Sales (Billboard)
US Indie Store Album Sales (Billboard)
Chart (2015)
US Indie Store Album Sales (Billboard)
Peakposition
1
Chart (2015)
Peakposition
Australian Albums (ARIA)
50
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)
71
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
33
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)
109
Canadian Albums (Billboard)
17
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)
36
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
10
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)
8
French Albums (SNEP)
149
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
85
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
30
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)
10
Portuguese Albums (AFP)
17
Scottish Albums (OCC)
96
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
35
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)
25
UK Albums (OCC)
47
UK R&B Albums (OCC)
4
US Billboard 200
5
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)
1
US Indie Store Album Sales (Billboard)
1
· Charts › Weekly charts
Japanese Download Albums (Billboard Japan)
Japanese Download Albums (Billboard Japan)
Chart (2025)
Japanese Download Albums (Billboard Japan)
Peakposition
87
Chart (2025)
Peakposition
Japanese Download Albums (Billboard Japan)
87
· Charts › Year-end charts
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Chart (2015)
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
Position
148
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)
Chart (2015)
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)
Position
87
US Billboard 200
US Billboard 200
Chart (2015)
US Billboard 200
Position
118
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)
Chart (2015)
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)
Position
12
Chart (2015)
Position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)
148
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)
87
US Billboard 200
118
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)
12

References

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    http://www.contactmusic.com/d-angelo/video/d-angelo-really-love-live-on-snl
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  31. Pitchfork
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  38. Metacritic
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  39. AllMusic
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  42. Los Angeles Times
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  45. Spin
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  46. USA Today
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  47. Chicago Tribune
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  48. Slant Magazine
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  49. Slant Magazine
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  51. Mojo
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  52. The Times
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  54. New York Times
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  61. GRAMMY.com
    https://www.grammy.com/grammys/awards/58th-annual-grammy-awards-2015
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  88. Billboard Japan
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  89. "Jaaroverzichten 2015"
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  90. "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2015"
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  91. Billboard
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  92. Billboard
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