Recording artist D'Angelo performs at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on August 21, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Those that were waiting to see D'Angelo versus a worthy opponent on Verzuz got a little something different for the latest "match" as D pretty much battled himself and had some homies drop in to support. The event—D'Angelo & Friends—held at the legendary Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York on Saturday night (Feb. 27) started off about an hour late. Yet, it wasn't a Keyshia Cole type hour late, as DJ Scratch (formerly of the legendary hip-hop group EPMD) held down the wheels of steel with a strong blended mix set and pre-show that spanned '80s, '90s, and 2000s hits of Black music.
Once D'Angelo sat behind the piano and thanked everyone for coming through, he played a song that set the tone that many didn't know (I still don't know that one), before easing into the familiar tracks: "Me And Those Dreamin' Eyes Of Mine," "Lady," and "Left And Right," with the latter punctuated by a surprise funk performance by the duo of Redman and Method Man. The smoke twins Red and Meth came out hyped as always and did their street version of the uncles at the BBQ doing the two-step. Many of the comments on the Instagram Live comment feed were filled with "Black don't crack..." and "Those guys are aging backward." Red and Meth were fire and showed love to the furry overcoat and wide brim-wearing D'Angelo. "Legends," is how D dubbed the duo when they walked off the set.
DJ Scratch continued to control the energy of the night as his cuts weaved in and out of D's storied favorites and the banter between the two was light and hearty. D'Angelo told the story of how he first came to Harlem and the Apollo as a teenager to compete on the famous Wednesday's Amateur Night. DJ Scratch asked, "So what happened?" D'Angelo sharply replied, "I won!" They laughed and D expressed how that's how he got his start in the music industry.
What was special about the night was how D was really surprised by the "Friends" that showed up for him. He seemingly found out who was on the bill with him at the same time as the live viewers. His moment with the songstress H.E.R. was so genuine as they turned their cordial fandom for one another into the coolest tune performance of "Nothing Even Matters." H.E.R. exclaimed, "I'm singing with D'Angelo right now! What is life?!"
Knowing that D'Angelo isn't much for the fanfare and bright lights of stardom, to see him perform for the Verzuz crowd sans a worthy opponent was a rare treat that we didn't know we needed. Normally everyone wants to see some musical bloodshed with a head-to-head battle, but it was good to see soul music just be soul music and that be the focus rather than the "Who won..." convo was a nice break in the Verzuz series. Even though D' didn't have someone to battle, the star of the night was his full-length, dark brown sheared mink coat. Look up the convos about it on various comment sections and you'll know why.
You can watch the full event down below or on Apple Music...or if you just want to run those incredible D'Angelo vintage vibes back, you can create a playlist with the songs he and his friends performed down below.
Interesting Fact: In a post-Verzuz live chat between Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, Swizz shared that D'Angelo was supposed to go against Maxwell on Valentine's Day, but it didn't work out.
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D'Angelo and Friends Set List
(Unknown Song) (feat. Keyon Harrold)
Cruisin’
Alright
Lady
Me and Those Dreamin’ Eyes of Mine
Left and Right (feat. Method Man and Redman)
Method Man's “Break Ups 2 Make Ups”
1000 Deaths
Back to the Future, Part. 1
Sugah Daddy
Devil’s Pie
One Mo’ Gin
Chicken Grease
Feel Like Makin’ Love
Jonz in My Bonz
Really Love
Another Life
Send It On
Spanish Joint
H.E.R.'s Best Part
Nothing Even Matters (feat. H.E.R.)
The Root
Brown Sugar
Untitled (How Does It Feel)
copied
NEWS
Hardy Brings His New Song “Bottomland” to The Tonight Show
Hardy took the stage on The Tonight Show for a moving performance of his song “Bottomland.” The country artist delivered the anthemic track solo, seated on an upturned log as the camera circled around him, adding an intimate touch to the late-night set.
“Bottomland” is featured on Hardy’s latest album, Country! Country!, which was released in September. The track finds the Nashville musician looking back on his upbringing as he sings, “Lord just take me as I am/ Bury me in bottomland/ I am just a country boy/ Where I come from didn’t have no choice/ But what I’ve done well or so I’m told/ So baby wear my watch, baby sell my gold.”
Country! Country! serves as Hardy’s fourth studio project and includes 20 songs, among them the single “Favorite Country Song.” In a recent episode of Rolling Stone’s Nashville Now podcast, Hardy opened up about the album, his decision to record a cover of the 1975’s “Love It If We Made It,” and how the 2022 bus accident that left him injured and dealing with PTSD shaped his new music.
Rolling Stone described the album as “surprising,” noting that beneath its surface, Country! Country! continues Hardy’s tradition of exploring deeper and darker themes. The publication pointed out that several tracks dive into thoughts of mortality and self-reflection, with at least eight songs addressing his own death or burial.
Hardy plans to bring Country! Country! to fans with a major tour next year. Announced in October, the Country! Country! Tour! will launch in February and continue through August 2026. The extensive run will include a strong rotation of supporting acts, such as chart favorite Tucker Wetmore, indie duo Muscadine Bloodline, and honky-tonk artist Jake Worthington. Cameron Whitcomb, Mitchell Tenpenny, and McCoy Moore will also join select dates on the tour.
