Imani Archer is mourning the loss of her father, R&B icon D’Angelo, with a heartbreaking tribute following his death.
The Grammy-winning artist, born Michael Eugene Archer, died on Tuesday (October 14) at the age of 51 after a private battle with pancreatic cancer.
A day after his passing, Archer shared a moving letter on Instagram honoring his father.
“Dear Dad, there are no words to describe this immeasurable loss,” she wrote. “I am in absolute disbelief and shock. You were my biggest hype, my protector, my greatest musical inspiration, the kindest and most selfless man and the best father anyone could have.”
The musician’s only daughter – who established herself as a musician – remembered her father’s unwavering strength, writing that “until the end” he continued to protect her from “anything that could scare or hurt me.”
“You are a unique soul and I am so grateful that you chose me to be your daughter,” Archer added. “I don’t know how I can live without you… Everything I do will always be for you.”
She ended her message with two powerful words: “fucking cancer.”
In a statement to VarietyD’Angelo’s family said that “our family’s bright star has dimmed his light”, adding that they were “eternally grateful for the legacy of extraordinarily moving music he leaves behind”.
