Bilal (American singer)

Bilal ( born August 21, 1979 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as Bilal Sayeed Oliver ) is an American soul singer and songwriter. He became known mainly through the participation in the neo-soul movement and his collaboration with rapper Common.

Musical Career

Bilal began his musical career after finishing college as a jazz singer in smaller clubs and got a professional vocal training at the Mannes Music Conservatory in New York. In addition to jazz and big band pieces, he also sang opera arias. In 1995 he was discovered by the operators of the record label Moyo Music and contracted. He moved to Brooklyn, where again Erykah Badu became aware of him. He then worked on her album Mama's Gun and became a member of the neo-soul merger Soulquarians, the next Badu among others, Questlove, D' Angelo, J Dilla and Common angehör (t ) s. D' Angelo, he accompanied on tour as a background vocalist.

Bilal in 2001 published his debut album 1st Born Second, which could be placed on rank 31 on the Billboard 200 and was almost unanimously praised by critics ( "one of the most significant debuts in black pop falling on the past 25 years" - PopMatters ). It was produced among others by the Soulquarians, Raphael Saadiq and Dr. Dre. The Single Sista Soul reached number 71 of the Billboard Hot 100 The name of the album is derived from Bilal's self-image as representative of the second generation of the neo-soul movement that was founded by artists such as The Roots and D' Angelo: "First born prodigal son of the second generation of contemporary soul stirrers "

2006 Love for Sale successors should appear. Because the album was leaked in advance and Bilal's label Interscope Records feared poor sales, the album was, although highly praised, not officially released until today. He currently has a record contract with Plug Research on which also the second official album Airtigh 's Revenge was released in 2010.

Outside the Soulquarians worked Bilal, among others, Max Herre, Guru, The Game and Jay -Z and Beyonce and Solange Knowles together.

Discography

Album

  • 2001: 1st Born Second
  • 2008: The Dresden Soul Symphony (Live album )
  • 2010: Airtight 's Revenge
  • 2013: A Love Surreal

Singles

  • 2001: Fast Lane (feat. Jadakiss and Dr. Dre )
  • 2001: Love It
  • 2001: Soul Sista
Common (rapper) Internet leak Guru (Rapper) Jay Z The Dresden Soul Symphony (album) Discogs Integrated Authority File
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