Because why should we believe that this is a new studio recording by the long absent D'Angelo when it could just as easily be the new studio recording by long absent Bilal or Cody Chesnutt or random other dude who never came up in the first place? Seems to be the new thing to do these days. It'll be cool if it is, but even cooler if it's not. We'd prefer to hear new D'Angelo in its final form and use it to make babies.