Popular as a leading figure in neo soul! D’Angelo’s most popular songs ranked

Chicken GreaseD’Angelo8rank/position

Chicken Grease

When people think of Western music with cool bass lines, many probably picture intense rock bands.

However, the appeal of the bass isn’t limited to rock.

Bass pairs extremely well with Black music, and it’s an especially perfect match for neo-soul, a genre that trended in the ’90s.

“Chicken Grease” is a track by D’Angelo, a pioneer of neo-soul, featuring a bouncy, simple bass line that really shines.

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D’Angelo – Cruisin’ (Official Video)

D’Angelo, known as an artist who built a genre called neo-soul—rooted in the 1970s’ New Soul and mixed with elements of funk, hip-hop, and jazz—is renowned for his highly sophisticated musicality.

Among his works, the one that’s especially perfect for a day off is “Cruisin’.” With its laid-back drums and groovy keyboards, it’s an ideal track for settling into a relaxed, chill mood.

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D’Angelo – Lady (Official Video)

D’Angelo, who led the movement known as neo-soul in the 1990s, became a living legend precisely because of his sparse output.

He reportedly has no particular attachment to being labeled an R&B singer, but there’s no doubt he’s one of the indispensable genius artists when discussing the ’90s R&B scene.

Here, I’d like to introduce “Lady,” a track from his debut album Brown Sugar, released in 1995—the very work that marked the beginning of his legend.

Co-written with Raphael Saadiq, this song is D’Angelo’s biggest hit and continues to radiate a timeless allure as an R&B classic.

Its simple, stripped-down minimal arrangement, restrained vocals, and heartfelt melody—everything comes together in a perfectly balanced, indisputably masterful track.

As an aside, Drake quoted “Lady” on “March 14,” the closing song of his 2018 album Scorpion.

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D’Angelo and The Vanguard – 1000 Deaths (Audio)

This is a dark, grief-stricken song mourning death by D’Angelo, often called the prodigy of neo-soul.

The vocals are embedded within an avant-garde structure that samples a suggestive radio broadcast from the intro, making it a uniquely unparalleled track.