D’Angelo’s Biggest Billboard Chart Hits: ‘Lady,’ ‘Untitled’ & More

Despite a shorter songbook than many of his peers, D’Angelo enshrined a highly regarded, quality-rich discography into the R&B catalog.

The Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and producer, who died Tuesday (Oct. 14) at age 51, joined contemporaries including Erykah Badu, Lauryn Hill and Maxwell at the forefront of the neo-soul movement, which focused on recapturing live, thick instrumentation, rich songwriting and weighted, passionate delivery in the vein of its nominal predecessor. With the acts’ ascent in national and international prominence, neo-soul joined new jack swing, the quiet-storm ballads and hip-hop-inspired samples and collaborations as key pillars of the 1990s R&B canon.

D’Angelo, born Michael Archer, made his Billboard chart breakthrough in 1994 as a co-writer and co-producer of the Jason’s Lyric soundtrack cut “U Will Know.” The single was performed by B.M.U. or Black Men United, a one-time collective that included Boyz II Men, Brian McKnight, and Usher, and reached No. 5 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and No. 28 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Two years later, he arrived as a solo performer with “Brown Sugar,” another No. 5 success on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and a No. 27 Hot 100 hit. The track’s parent album of the same name, meanwhile, exceeded the song’s highs — pushing to a No. 4 best on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and No. 22 on the Billboard 200 — on the strength of third single “Lady,” his sole top 10 Hot 100 hit (No. 10).

His commercial might peaked with 2000’s Voodoo, which opened at No. 1 on both the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The Prince-like lead single “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” raced to No. 2 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, fueled by big radio support and its steamy, sensual music video that features the shirtless singer performing the track direct-to-camera in a nearly unbroken edit. To complement the chart wins, Voodoo won a Grammy Award for best R&B album and “Untitled” took the prize for best male R&B vocal performance.

Following a nearly 15-year-hiatus, a time marked by personal issues and reduced musical activity, largely limited to occasional touring and features, D’Angelo returned with his third album, Black Messiah, in 2014. It introduced the final Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart hit in his lifetime, the No. 43-peaking “Really Love.”

As fans and industry associates remember and reflect on D’Angelo’s musical legacy, here’s a countdown review of his 10 biggest hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

D’Angelo’s biggest hits ranking is based on weekly performance on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart through Oct. 18, 2025. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value and weeks at lower spots earning the least. Due to changes in chart methodology over the years, eras are weighted differently to account for chart turnover rates during various periods.