#80 Voodoo by D'Angelo
The 100 Greatest Albums of All Time
- 2025 Album Rank
- 80
- Total Points
- 795
- Year Released
- 2000
- Billboard 200 Chart Peak
- 1
- Weeks at #1
- 2
- RIAA Sales Certification
- 1,000,000 (Platinum)
- Buy Album
- Apple Music Amazon
Voodoo Album Details
Voodoo is D'Angelo's highly influential second studio album, released on January 25, 2000, and widely regarded as a cornerstone of the neo-soul movement. Recorded over several years at Electric Lady Studios in New York, the album blends soul, funk, R&B, and hip-hop with a loose, jam-oriented approach inspired by the feel of classic 1970s recordings. D'Angelo, along with key collaborators like Questlove, Pino Palladino, and James Poyser, crafted a warm, analog sound characterized by deep grooves, intricate rhythms, and a raw, unpolished mix that rewards repeated listening.
Lyrically, Voodoo explores love, intimacy, spirituality, and cultural identity, with D'Angelo's voice shifting between smooth crooning, raw emotion, and layered harmonies. Tracks like Untitled (How Does It Feel), Devil's Pie, and Left & Right became defining moments, with Untitled especially cementing D'Angelo's legacy through its iconic, minimalist video. The album received universal acclaim and won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album, solidifying D'Angelo as one of his generation's most gifted and uncompromising artists.
Interesting Facts About Voodoo
- The recording process often involved hours-long jam sessions with musicians improvising and exploring grooves until ideas organically developed into songs.
- Questlove described the album's rhythmic approach as "drunk drumming," intentionally playing slightly behind the beat to create a laid-back, human feel.
- Devil's Pie was originally written for the soundtrack of the film Belly and produced by DJ Premier, bringing a harder hip-hop edge to the album.
- D'Angelo drew inspiration from artists like Sly Stone, Curtis Mayfield, and Prince, as well as the rawness of J Dilla's drum programming.
- The bass work by Pino Palladino on songs like Spanish Joint and The Root is widely celebrated for its fluidity and melodic approach.
- The famous video for Untitled (How Does It Feel) was shot in one continuous take, featuring a close-up of D'Angelo's bare torso, which unintentionally shifted public focus to his image over the music.
- Some of the album's songs were written or developed during live jam sessions with The Soulquarians, a collective that included Erykah Badu, Common, and Mos Def.
- Despite critical success, D'Angelo retreated from the public eye for over a decade after Voodoo, partly due to the pressures of fame.
- The album's sequencing flows intentionally like a live set, with grooves blending into one another to create a continuous listening experience.
- In retrospective reviews, Voodoo is often cited as one of the most important R&B albums of all time, influencing artists from Frank Ocean to Anderson .Paak.
Voodoo Tracklist
- Playa Playa
- Devil's Pie
- Left & Right
- The Line
- Send It On
- Chicken Grease
- One Mo'gin
- The Root
- Spanish Joint
- Feel Like Makin' Love
- Greatdayndamornin'/Booty
- Untitled (How Does It Feel) - Reached #25 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart
- Africa
