D'Angelo's Family Prepares Posthumous Album Featuring Unheard Recordings From Vault

The family of soul luminary D’Angelo is organizing a posthumous album that aims to share previously unreleased material from the singer’s private archives, according to reporting by AllHipHop. The initiative was revealed by the singer’s older brother, Luther Archer, who spoke about the family’s archival plans during an appearance on Kiss Richmond.

According to Archer, a core project is currently coming together with six specific songs already selected from the singer's collection. The family is also weighing further releases that could highlight rare B-sides, alternate takes, and a dedicated compilation composed entirely of cover versions recorded by the celebrated musician.

“We’ve got an album coming out,” Archer said during the broadcast. “There are six tracks [so far]. But then we have a whole vault of music that’s never been released.” Archer explained that the abundance of material inside the vault allows the estate to consider multiple distinct offerings rather than condensing the singer's remaining work into a single project.

Among the notable recordings under discussion is an unreleased collaboration pairing D’Angelo with the late pop titan Michael Jackson and contemporary R&B star Mary J. Blige. AllHipHop noted that the track would unite three deeply influential figures in modern Black music, though its ultimate presence on the forthcoming tracklist remains unverified at this stage.

The unreleased material may trace back more than a decade. In 2014, musician Jesse Johnson publicly shared details regarding a rendition of Sly and the Family Stone’s song “Hot Fun in the Summertime.” That recording was said to feature vocal performances from Jackson, Blige, and D’Angelo in connection with Jackson’s posthumous release "Xscape," though it ultimately did not appear on that finished album. AllHipHop reported that this earlier work might be

Throughout his lifetime, D’Angelo earned widespread acclaim as an artist dedicated to creative autonomy, often taking extensive breaks between major studio releases. His catalog consists of three defining full-length albums: his 1995 debut "Brown Sugar," the seminal 2000 follow-up "Voodoo," and the 2014 release "Black Messiah." Each record reinforced his stature as a meticulous creator who worked on his own timeline rather than adhering to traditional commercial expectations.

The singer passed away from pancreatic cancer on Oct. 14, 2025, at age 51. Longtime collaborator and musician Questlove had previously stated that unreleased recordings from D'Angelo would eventually emerge, supporting the family's announcement that the vault would be opened. Despite Archer's comments, the family and representatives have not yet announced an official project title, release schedule, or finalized tracklist.