The 2025 Grammy Awards delivered a poignant and powerful moment when Lauryn Hill took center stage to orchestrate a dual In Memoriam tribute honoring two monumental figures in R&B history: D'Angelo and Roberta Flack. This carefully curated segment transformed the ceremony into a soulful celebration of artistic legacy, featuring an impressive lineup of contemporary musicians who paid homage through heartfelt performances of the legends' most beloved compositions.
The tribute unfolded in two distinct movements, each reflecting the unique artistic signatures of the honorees. Hill herself served as both curator and performer, bridging generational gaps and connecting the dots between past innovation and present-day inspiration. Her presence lent an authenticity and gravitas to the proceedings, particularly given her own historic connection to one of Flack's signature songs.
The D'Angelo Tribute: A Neo-Soul Masterclass
The segment dedicated to D'Angelo opened with a deeply personal touch as Lauryn Hill's voice intertwined with archival vocals of the late artist on their collaborative track "Nothing Even Matters." This duet across time created an ethereal atmosphere, immediately establishing the intimate tone of the tribute. The song choice was particularly meaningful, representing the creative synergy between two artists who helped define the neo-soul movement.
Following this opening, Lucky Daye took the stage with a smooth interpretation of "Brown Sugar," D'Angelo's breakthrough single that introduced the world to his distinctive blend of classic soul and modern sensibilities. Daye's performance captured the song's laid-back groove while honoring its revolutionary impact on 1990s R&B.
The momentum continued as Raphael Saadiq and Anthony Hamilton joined forces for "Lady," one of D'Angelo's most enduring ballads. Their combined vocal prowess brought new dimensions to the romantic anthem, with Saadiq's seasoned musicianship complementing Hamilton's raw emotional delivery. Leon Thomas then stepped forward with "Devil's Pie," showcasing the darker, more complex textures of D'Angelo's artistry.
Transition with Vanguard BGVS elevated the energy with "Another Life," demonstrating how D'Angelo's influence extended into vocal arrangement and harmonic sophistication. Bilal's rendition of "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" perhaps captured the essence of D'Angelo's artistic fearlessness, tackling the iconic track with both reverence and personal interpretation. The D'Angelo segment concluded with Jon Batiste's vibrant performance of "Africa," leaving the audience with a final impression of the global reach and rhythmic innovation that characterized the artist's work.
The Roberta Flack Tribute: A Journey Through Timeless Melodies
The tribute then shifted to honor Roberta Flack, whose elegant vocal style and sophisticated arrangements helped define adult contemporary R&B in the 1970s. Hill and Batiste opened this segment with a delicate, nuanced performance of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," the song that launched Flack into superstardom and earned her multiple Grammy Awards.
Leon Bridges and Batiste then collaborated on "Compared to What," showcasing Flack's ability to merge social consciousness with musical accessibility. Lalah Hathaway and October London's interpretation of "Closer I Get to You" paid homage to Flack's legendary partnership with Donny Hathaway, Lalah's father, creating a moment of profound generational continuity.
John Legend and Chaka Khan brought their considerable talents to "Where Is the Love?," another classic from the Flack-Hathaway repertoire. Their performance highlighted the timeless relevance of Flack's material, particularly its themes of compassion and human connection. Hill then returned to the stage alone for "Feel Like Makin' Love," a song that both Flack and D'Angelo famously covered, symbolically bridging the two tribute segments.
The climax of the entire tribute arrived when Hill reunited with her Fugees bandmate Wyclef Jean for "Killing Me Softly with His Song." This performance held special significance, as the Fugees' 1996 hip-hop reinterpretation of Flack's classic had introduced the song to an entirely new generation. The arrangement masterfully transitioned from Flack's original version into the Fugees' iconic arrangement, creating a powerful moment of artistic continuity and cultural evolution.
Understanding the Legacy of D'Angelo
D'Angelo's impact on contemporary music cannot be overstated. As a pioneering force in the neo-soul movement, he helped revolutionize R&B by blending traditional soul, funk, and jazz elements with hip-hop production techniques and a modern aesthetic. His debut album "Brown Sugar" arrived in 1995, offering a counterpoint to the highly produced, commercial R&B dominating the airwaves at the time.
What set D'Angelo apart was his commitment to musical authenticity and his reclusive nature. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he released only three studio albums, yet each project represented a significant artistic statement. His 2000 album "Voodoo" is widely regarded as a masterpiece, influencing countless artists across multiple genres. The news of his death from cancer at age 51 last year shocked the music community, particularly those who had worked closely with him. His passing represented the loss of an artist who had consistently prioritized creative integrity over commercial convenience.
The Enduring Influence of Roberta Flack
Roberta Flack's legacy rests on her extraordinary vocal technique and her ability to infuse popular music with classical sophistication. Trained as a classical pianist and vocalist, she brought a level of musical refinement to pop and R&B that was unprecedented when she emerged in the early 1970s. Her interpretation of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" became one of the defining ballads of its era, earning her Record of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Performance at the Grammys.
Flack's collaboration with Donny Hathaway produced some of the most beloved duets in R&B history, including "Where Is the Love?" and "The Closer I Get to You." Their partnership combined technical excellence with deep emotional resonance, setting a standard for vocal duets that remains influential. Flack's version of "Killing Me Softly with His Song" became her signature piece, though she lived to see it reborn through Lauryn Hill and the Fugees' transformative hip-hop version.
Her death last February at age 88 marked the end of a remarkable seven-decade career that continued long after her commercial peak. Flack remained an active performer and advocate for music education, demonstrating an enduring commitment to her craft that inspired multiple generations of vocalists.
A Tribute That Transcended Generations
What made this Grammy tribute particularly effective was its structural intelligence and emotional authenticity. By pairing D'Angelo and Roberta Flack, the segment drew connections between two artists who, despite their different eras and styles, shared a commitment to musical excellence and emotional honesty. The inclusion of artists spanning multiple generations—from Chaka Khan's seasoned expertise to Leon Thomas's contemporary edge—created a dialogue between past and present.
Lauryn Hill's role as curator and performer added layers of meaning to the proceedings. Her personal connections to both honorees—through collaboration with D'Angelo and through the Fugees' reinterpretation of Flack's work—positioned her as the ideal bridge between these musical worlds. The reunion with Wyclef Jean provided a poignant full-circle moment, reminding audiences of the Fugees' role in keeping Flack's music relevant to new audiences.
The tribute's power lay not just in its star power but in its thoughtful curation. Each song selection told a story, each performance added a new dimension to understanding these artists' contributions. Rather than simply presenting a medley of hits, the segment created a narrative about influence, innovation, and the ways great music continues to resonate across time.
In an era where award show tributes can sometimes feel perfunctory, this In Memoriam segment stood out as a genuine artistic statement. It honored D'Angelo and Roberta Flack not just by remembering their greatest hits, but by demonstrating how their musical DNA continues to shape contemporary R&B and soul. The performances served as both memorial and living testament, proving that true artistry never dies—it simply finds new voices to carry it forward.