When word began to spread on Friday afternoon that everybody’s favorite arty soul man D’Angelo would be previewing his new album Black Messiah a few days later at an afternoon listening session in New York City, fans like myself became excited. There are times when even a burned-out music scribes such as myself are forced to shed our icy exteriors, crack a smile and get with the heat. After waiting for what has felt like forever, the tides of soul had turned and the formerly titled James River was finally here. Calling my closet friends, I was spreading the news as though I had stock in the record.

However, the following day when the new song (which blogs were reporting was a single, although it’s not) “Sugah Daddy” was unveiled, I wasn’t really sure what to think. While the strangeness of the song sounded like a funky experiment in that cool keyboard, hot horns Sly Stone/Prince b-side kind of way, I’ll save my final opinion until I hear “Sugah Daddy” within the context of the album. Still, it’s impossible for me to listen to any D’Angelo music and not think back to that magical time damn near twenty-years back when the Virginia born and breed musician released his first single “Brown Sugar,” the stellar debut that put the southern brother on the soul map in the first place.

Produced by Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest, the sticky icky ode to weed became one of the most celebrated singles of that year. Influenced by the jazzy funk of 1970s fusion mavericks, D’Angelo and Ali crafted a dope track in more ways than one. Nominated for a two Grammies the following year, the song has achieved classic status. A few years back, I talked to Ali about his friendship with D’Angeleo, and the making of “Brown Sugar.

http://www.soulhead.com/2...alishaheed

All D'Angelo discussion in the sticky, plz.