What always impressed me about D'Angelo (and Anthony Hamilton now) is that they're young contemporary artists that feel and sound old-school, when REAL R&B/Soul was being made. They're throwbacks. I prefer my R&B on the gritty side, and these guys fit the bill. Jaheim is also pretty good, and I liked Maxwell's first couple of albums, then they started getting redundant.
"The best kind of pride is that which compels a man to do his best when no one is watching."