In a performance that absolutely no one would have seen coming just three months ago, D’Angelo took to last night’s SNL to give his first television performances since the release of his critically acclaimed album Black Messiah late last year.

Alongside his band, The Vanguard, he opened with a moving performance of the track “Really Love”:

 

And then, things got more black, more powerful, and more memorable. D’Angelo’s second performance, of “The Charade”, was quietly stunning. Dressed in all black and donning a hood, he performed in front of the chalk outline of a body while backed by his band, all wearing t-shirts proclaiming “Black Lives Matter” and “I Can’t Breathe”. The performance ended with everyone on stage standing with a raised fist, and I’m not entirely sure, but I think that moment is when black history month ACTUALLY began.

 

 

D’Angelo is back, and his timing couldn’t be any better.

What did you think of D’Angelo’s performances? Hit us up on Twitter with your thoughts.