If there is one R&B artist for whom the neo-soul categorization seems limiting, it is Philadelphia native Bilal.
None of his recordings resemble the sycophantic worship of soul artists who thrived in the ’60 and ’70s, and it isn’t just because his voice – classically trained, capable of singing opera in seven languages – is so unique.
While some inspirations are detectable, his recordings are wholly modern and become increasingly creative. His individuality led to being dropped from a major label, and he went several years without releasing any solo material.
Bilal | West Side Girl – Short Film
httpv://https://youtube.com/watch?v=3VGIQricq_s
Through evangelism from his peers and word of mouth from his early fans, Bilal gained an insatiable following and was supported by sympathetic independent labels, where he was finally able to thrive creatively.
Bilal Sayeed Oliver came up in Germantown, a northwest neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A deep interest in jazz was fostered by his father, who took him to the city’s clubs. Singing eventually became more than an interest. He attended New York’s New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, where he received voice training, as well as training in jazz and big-band arrangements.
Common feat. Bilal & John Legend | Faithful
httpv://https://youtube.com/watch?v=8xwc28hUVlo
Grenique’s Black Butterfly, a 1999 release on Motown, was the first major album to feature Bilal’s vocals; he contributed to three songs. The following year, he established a deep connection to hip-hop by appearing on Common’s Like Water for Chocolate and Guru’s third Jazzmatazz album.
These recordings led him into the Soulquarians, a rotating collective of collaborators who included Common, Jay Dee (aka J Dilla), the Roots’ Ahmir Thompson, D’Angelo, Erykah Badu, Mos Def, Q-Tip, and Raphael Saadiq within its ranks.
Bilal | Second Child
httpv://https://youtube.com/watch?v=_CqBw-7phP8
A turbulent solo deal with Interscope resulted in Bilal’s debut album, 1st Born Second. An exemplary neo-soul release featuring collaborations with Mike City, Robert Glasper, and many of the Soulquarians, it was issued in July 2001 and reached the Top Ten of Billboard’s R&B albums chart.
At that point, the closest points of comparison were D’Angelo and Maxwell, yet Bilal was more dynamic than the former and less mannered than the latter. 1st Born Second carried an energy that neither one of those singers, as hot as they were at the time, could boast.
Bilal | You’re All I Need
httpv://https://youtube.com/watch?v=xw9HIjVxDls
Bilal recorded a second album, Love for Sale, and handled much of the songwriting and production duties, while Jay Dee, Dr. Dre, and Nottz assisted in limited capacities. Promo vinyl was pressed and the album leaked online, prompting Bilal’s label to put it on ice.
Bilal was subsequently dropped, but his following increased significantly. He must have had some mixed feelings when he performed the material to appreciative crowds who knew the material – off a technically unreleased album – inside out.
Musiq fest. Bilal | Don’t Stop
httpv://https://youtube.com/watch?v=v0mDOC5lA4Q
Meanwhile, nine years passed without a commercially released follow-up to 1st Born Second. Bilal had been a featured artist on songs by Beyoncé, Musiq, Clipse, Sa-Ra, Jay-Z, and several others, including many of his fellow Soulquarians, but it wasn’t until 2010 that he released his second proper album.
Airtight’s Revenge was released on the Plug Research label and saw Bilal working extensively with Steve McKie, along with Sa-Ra’s Shafiq Husayn (Bilal had appeared on Husayn’s own Plug Research album, Shafiq En’ A-Free-Ka), Nottz, Conley “Tone” Whitfield, 88-Keys, and several studio musicians who gave the set a loose, band-like feel.
Bilal | All Matter
httpv://https://youtube.com/watch?v=0apYId-zQQE
Its “Little One” was nominated for a 2011 Grammy in the Best Urban/Alternative Performance category. In February 2013, after appearing on the Roots’ Grammy-nominated Undun and Robert Glasper Experiment’s Grammy-winning Black Radio, Bilal released A Love Surreal on eOne.
Please notice: the number of tickets is limited to 300!! You can buy them here: cassiopeia-berlin.de
Bilal LIVE
Tuesday, 12 November 2013 | 20:00 CET
Cassiopeia | Revaler Strasse 99 | Tor II | 10245 Berlin/Friedrichshain
bilalmusic.com | cassiopeia-berlin.de
