4 Things to Know About D'Angelo's Self-Produced Black Messiah

D’Angelo produced Black Messiah himself. He took full control of the production, shaping the album’s sound without outside producers.

Engineer Russell Elevado worked alongside him. Elevado was a key collaborator throughout the lengthy recording process, helping realize D’Angelo’s vision.

The album took years to complete. The self-production contributed to the long wait, as D’Angelo refined every detail.

Self-production gave D’Angelo creative freedom. He could experiment and follow his instincts without compromise, resulting in a unique, cohesive sound.