Playing a career-spanning set from Harlem’s Apollo Theater.
This weekend saw reclusive neo soul luminary D’Angelo resurface for the latest instalment in Swizz Beatz and Timbaland’s popular webcast series Verzuz.
Straying from the show’s typical one-on-one format, D’Angelo instead appeared from Harlem’s historic Apollo Theater solo and without an opponent, performing a comprehensive and career-spanning live set that featured songs from his three critically acclaimed albums Brown Sugar, Voodoo and Black Messiah, several covers and a new, previously unheard song. Though without the accompaniment of usual bandmates Questlove, Chris Dave, Jesse Johnson and Pino Palladino, D’Angelo’s captivating performance saw appearances from Method Man, Redman, H.E.R., Keyon Harrold and EPMD alumni DJ Scratch.
Swizz Beatz has since confirmed that D’Angelo was originally slated to pit his accomplished catalogue of music against that of fellow 1990s mainstay Maxwell in a February 14th Valentine’s Day episode of Verzuz before complications led to rearrangements on short notice.
Watch D’Angelo Vs Friends in full below.
Words by Sam Wilkinson.
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Fruit and Grooves Collective 