Bilal

Bilal Sayeed Oliver (born 21 August 1979), also known by the stage name of just Bilal, is an American "neo soul" and jazz singer, who is also a member of the loose collective, the Soulquarians.

Biography

In 2001, he released his debut album 1st Born Second, which featured contributions from the Soulquarians as well as high profile producers such as Dr. Dre. The album, while critically lauded, failed to achieve any significant mainstream success, and received limited promotion (although the single "Soul Sista" became fairly popular on late night alternative radio). Despite this, Bilal managed to gain a sizable following and high attendance at his live shows, as well as much acclaim and respect from his peers, many whom noted his range and ability to sing in a freeform style, and his classically trained falsetto.

In the following years Bilal continued to appear on projects by other artists both high profile and avant garde, while recording and developing his follow-up set to be released on Interscope Records and featuring contributions primarily from producers Dr. Dre and J Dilla (as heard by Dilla himself). These plans proved to be changeable and the final result, Love For Sale, was an album that appeared to be built around Bilal's own musicianship, with many of the tracks produced and written by the artist himself. However, near the album's completion, Interscope delayed the release date, then shelved the album indefinitely, hinting that it saw little commercial potential in it since it had already leaked online in its entirety

. Online, many fans and music critics expressed their sadness that what they viewed as a carefully crafted album would be kept from a proper release. Bilal continues to tour and he signed to Plug Research in 2009.

Discography

Albums

Singles

"Fast Lane"; # 41 R&B, # 27 R&R-Urban, # 7 Germany Black Singles
"Love It"; # 61 R&B
"Soul Sista"; # 71 US, # 18 R&B

Appearances

With Common

Common and Jill Scott, on "Funky For You" from Like Water for Chocolate
Common on "Nag Champa (Afrodesiac For The World)" from Like Water for Chocolate
Common, on "The 6th Sense" from Like Water for Chocolate
Common, on "Heaven Somewhere" from "Electric Circus (album)"
Common, on "Aquarius" from "Electric Circus (album)"
Common, on "Star69 (PS With Love)" from "Electric Circus (album)"
Common and John Legend, on "Faithful" from Be
Common, on "It's Your World/Pop's Reprise" from Be
Common, on "Black Maybe" from Finding Forever
Common, on "Misunderstood" from Finding Forever
Common, on "Play Your Cards Right Finding Forever

Others

1999

Grenique [2] on "Let Go", "You Say" and "Love Within" from Black Butterfly

2000

Guru and J Dilla, on "Certified" from Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3: Streetsoul

2001

Jermaine Dupri on "Supafly" from Instructions
"Bring 2" on The Wash (soundtrack)

2002

Scratch (musician), on "Square One" from "The Embodiment of Instrumentation"
Talib Kweli on "Waitin' for the DJ" & "Talkin' to You" from Quality
Da Ranjahz & Ras Kass on "Da Dopest"
Jaguar Wright on "I Can't Wait" from Denials Delusions and Decisions
Tweet on "Best Friend" from Southern Hummingbird
Cherokee, on "A Woman Knows" from "Soul Parade"
John Ellis, on "John Brown's Gun", "Nowny Dreams" and "The Lonely Jesus" from Roots, Branches & Leaves

2003

Beyoncé on "Everything I Do", from the soundtrack of The Fighting Temptations
Musiq on "Dontstop/Her" from Soulstar)

2004

Boney James's "Better With Time", from "Pure"
Robert Glasper on "Maiden Voyage" and "Don't Close Your Eyes" from "Mood"

2005

Robert Glasper on "Chant" from "Canvas"
Luvpark on "Fade Away" and "Luvtheme" from "Luvpark"

2006

Pete Kuzma on "High and Dry" from "Exit Music: Radiohead Tribute"[3]
Clipse and Pharell Williams, on "Nightmares" from Hell Hath No Fury

2007

Hezekiah, on "Looking Up" from "I predict a Riot"
Timbo King & The Last Poets on "Trust Factor" from Spookz Who Kicked Down The Door
Sa-Ra on "Sweet Sour You" fromThe Hollywood Recordings
Jay-Z on "Fallin'" from American Gangster
The Randy Watson Experience on Can't Hide Love, from Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire
Common on "Play Your Cards Right" from ''Smokin' Aces soundtrack.

2008

Ghostface Killah & Prodigy of Mobb Deep on "Trials of Life" off an unknown DJ Green Lantern mixtape.
Erykah Badu on "The Healer","My People","Soldier","Twinkle" & "Master Teacher" off New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)
The Game (rapper) on "Cali Sunshine" from LAX (album)
Solange on "Cosmic Journey" from Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams
M.O.P. on "Get Rich"
88-Keys on "M.I.L.F." from The Death of Adam
Scarface on "Can't Get It Right" from Emeritus
J Dilla on "Remember"

2009

Zap Mama's on "The Way You Are", from ReCreation
Shafiq Husayn on "Cheeba" from En' A-Free-Ka (Plug Research) REMIXED BY NOTTZ

Signed Music Artists

Biography