Bilal

For twenty-one-year-old Bilal Sayeed Oliver, dreams started falling into place quite
rapidly. A self-confessed jazz junkie from Philadelphia, PA, Bilal started out by
singing in small clubs until he began training in jazz and big band arrangements
at the Mannes Music Conservatory in New York. With this formal training,
the young singer/songwriter learned to sing opera in seven languages. His
debut album, "1st Born Second", is a collection of songs entirely by the artist
himself, right down to the music, lyric, and note. His single "Soul Sista" appears
on the Love and Basketball movie soundtrack. In addition, Bilal sang the hook
on Common's "The 6th Sense" with neo-soul singer Jill Scott. He also scats and
plays keyboards. Bilal has appeared on Common’s Like Water for Chocolate,
Guru’s Jazzmatazz Street Soul, and has written and produced for the likes of
Erykah Badu. Bilal, the same musician who has called jazz "the original booty
shake," is also known for heaping truth in his music. Talks of record contracts
came about when Bilal met brothers Fa and Damu Mtume, creators of Moyo
Entertainment in 1995 at a Philly barbershop. After hearing his demo, the Mtumes
asked Bilal if he was interested in becoming a recording artist. Eventually Bilal
moved to Brooklyn, New York, and began gigging around the city until his tape
landed in the hands of Erykah Badu, for whom he appears and produces on her
"Mama’s Gun" album. Bilal is a member of the Soul Aquarians
collective, along with Erykah Badu, Mos Def, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson,
Q-Tip, and D’Angelo.

Discography  :

Offical website:  http://www.bilal-the-man.com