Noggy
strangefruitmusic
It doesn’t really matter if it’s soul, pop, rock or opera … this man can sing anything without losing credibility.It should come as no surprise that he rocks the hell out of the Soft Cell classic “Tainted Love”.
Filed under: alternative, music, music video, pop | Tags: airtight revenge, bilal
The live performance video of “Levels” surfaced way back in 2009 and was just one of many signs that after a long hiatus new music from Bilal was really heading our way. The rest is history … “Airtight Revenge” proved to be very much worth the wait and Strange fruit music was witness to a killer performance just a few months before the album dropped.
But since this is Bilal …all he has created must be taken to a higher level at some point. So it’s no wonder that the official music video for “Levels” is directed by Flying Lotus and features none other than Erykah Badu and Shafiq Husain. Obviously this combination of participants can only result into something very interesting…just check it out!!
Filed under: Download, music, nu soul, pop | Tags: airtight revenge, bilal, exile
Courtesy of VTech and Plug Research Music comes the remix of Bilal’s “Think It Over” by LA-based producer Exile. A very good choice if you plan on messing with a track as laidback as “Think it Over”.
Exile picked up the pace of the track and added some extra sound effects to spice it up a little. Surprisingly he managed to keep the whole thing sounding pretty good. But hey that is just my opinion…see what you think and press play!!
if you press the arrow on the right side of the soundcloud music wave (you know…the small one underneath the info button) you can download this straight to your computer!!
Filed under: alternative, music | Tags: airtight revenge, bilal, plug research
We feature so many cool video’s several times a week why would this one be any cooler than all the other one’s at the moment? Quite simple… director Mikael Colombu did a very great job adding exactly the right frame to stress every word put into the lyrics of Robots. Apart from beautiful to watch, these visuals are actually functional.
(source: Vtech)
Filed under: alternative, music, music video | Tags: airtight revenge, bilal
Available on iTunes
To watch live performance video click here & to download click here
Filed under: Download, music, music video, nu soul | Tags: airtight revenge, bilal, steve mckie
DOWNLOAD: BILAL – RESTART
Produced by Bilal and Steve McKie – “Restart” is the official first single from Mr Bilal Oliver‘s forthcoming album, Airtight’s Revenge and as of now available for free download on plugresearch.com.
On the 18th of July 2010 Strange Fruit invited Bilal to Rotterdam and of course he performed Restart you can watch that below.
“Restart” is out now – click to buy on iTunes, which also includes an instrumental version and a remix by experimental LA producer Deadelus.
Filed under: Download, music, music video, soul | Tags: bilal, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson
Download this track for FREE!:
miguelatwood-ferguson.bandcamp.com/track/some-day-well-all-be-free-feat-bilal
Recorded live in Los Angeles at Grand Performances, California Plaza July 23, 2010.
Produced by:
Miguel Atwood-Ferguson
This was dropped in my mailbox by someone named ArtDontSleep …and I have to say if this is what it amounts to .. I’m happy “Art’ is experiencing insomnia
Have to love Mikael Columbu for providing us with such excellent Bilal material!!
Bilal Oliver performs Move On in the Attic Addict tent at Dour Fest, Belgium. Shot & edited by Mikael Colombu for Attack Of The Crazy Dolphins Film Productions, Good Music Only, and Free Your Funk.
Normally I shoot two or maybe three videos to give y’all a bit of a taste of what a performance was like. This time I risked having my right arm amputated cause it was stiffly glued to my body as I taped the whole Bilal concert. Couldn’t put the camera down…for the man is the epitomy of AWESOMENESS!!
The band, his voice, the fans, the Rotown athmosphere…everything was just right and Bilal didn’t leave a heart or an eardrum untouched. I’ve often seen him perform and as far as I know the audience gets his all!! This time was no different. You had to be really def and blind if you were not able to sense that Bilal’s heart, soul and creativity were all over this unforgetabble performance!!
As usual I will provide you with visual proof of all the aforementioned but since I have a lot of footage to select from it’s gonna take me a while to upload it all. Of course I did manage to upload at least one highlight….Bilal’s version of Led Zeppelin’s Since I ‘ve been loving you!!
Bilal Oliver performs Think It Over at La Bellevilloise in Paris. From the upcoming document ‘Bilal Day’ shot & edited by Mikael Colombu for Attack Of The Crazy Dolphins Film Productions, Good Music Only, and Free Your Funk.
As you already know by now Bilal is going to perform in Rotterdam on the 18th of July and of course is Strangefruitmusicblog policy to hit you up with lots of info so y’all are warmed up for the actual performance. So below you’ll find are weapon of choice in the warm up department….enjoy!!
www.greedmontpark.com recently had a chance to sit down with Neo Soul recording artist, Bilal, to talk about the span of his career and the highly anticipated release of his new album “Air Tight’s Revenge”. For the 1st installment they talked about his childhood in Philly along with the progression of his early career and everyday life…
In part 2of this interview Bilal talks about his experiences on collaborating with artist like Dr. Dre and J Dilla to Jay-Z and Beyonce.
Here is the conclusion to the interview with Bilal, where he addresses the leak for “Love for Sale” and how that effected his career and the making of his new album “Air Tight’s Revenge”
RELATED POST: ARE YOU READY FOR BILAL?!
Even though this is hard for us to imagine the continuing info is for those of you who are not familiar with Bilal Sayeed Oliver.
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.
Since his background story is featured in detail on the wikipedia website and pretty much sums up everything I entended to tell ya’ll only better….
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 except “Something to hold onto” was produced by grammy award producer Nottz. 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. Slated to be released September 14th 2010.
Since I was one of those fans willing to buy Love for Sale I was happy to find that in 2009 he dropped a mixtape by the name of The return of Mr. Wonderful featuring some old and some new tracks. It’s still available for Purchase when you click here.
DOWNLOAD: LEVELS (LIVE)
RELATED POST:
SHAFIQ HUSAYN FEAT. BILAL – CHEEBA (MUSICVIDEO)
EYE TO EYE // BILAL ON CentricTV (INTERVIEW)
BILAL “AIRTIGHT REVENGE” ALBUM COVER
BILAL ‘AIRTIGHT’ COVER & TRACKLIST!!
VIA:Plug Research
1. Cake & Eat It Too – Produced by Bilal Oliver & Steve Mckie
2. Restart – Produced by Bilal Oliver & Steve Mckie
3. All Matter – Produced by Bilal Oliver & Steve Mckie
4. Flying – Produced by Bilal Oliver & Nottz
5. Levels – Produced by Bilal Oliver & Shafiq Husayn
6. Little One – Produced by Conley “Tone” Whitfield
7. Move On – Produced by Bilal Oliver & Steve Mckie
8. Robots – Produced by Bilal Oliver
9. The Dollar – Produced by Bilal Oliver & Steve Mckie
10. Who Are You – Produced by Bilal Oliver & Steve Mckie
11. Think It Over – Produced by 88 Keys
Yeah Yeah I know we featured the cover before but it’s on repeat because this time we have a tracklist to go with it!! Naturally this calls for a Strange Fruit reminder to join us at the 18 of July at Rotown for a beautiful Bilal performance.
I normally do not just post an album cover without a tracklist or any kind of additional information. But ofcourse there is always room for an exception. This cover screams “buy me”!! Airtight’s Revenge drops September 14th – get ready. But before you run to your nearest record store be sure to drop by Rotown on the 18th of July to see Bilal perform. For more info click here (info in Dutch).
Filed under: alternative, Download, Electronic, Hip Hop | Tags: bilal, label love
Label Love is an eclectic yet unified bundle of unique sounds compiled simply for the love of sharing them with the universe – each track plucked and presented by label heads from Bastard Jazz, ESL, Fania, Now Again, Plug Research, Tru Thoughts and Ubiquity.
Each label evokes it’s own signature swagger giving this collection a diversified and interesting flow of genres. Label Love consists of nostalgic classics, fresh unreleased gems and other dope selections with the goal of expanding minds to new styles, vibrations and colors.
Available for download at http://labelloveworldwide.bandcamp.com/
www.bastardjazz.com
www.eslmusic.com
www.fania.com
www.nowagainrecords.com
www.plugresearch.com
www.tru-thoughts.co.uk
www.ubiquityrecords.com
Something especially magical occurs when artists are given free reign to simply create. Choruses give way to bridges. Bridges give way to lengthy improvising. Lengthy improvising gives way to a song taking you on a sonic journey most unexpected. Such isBilal‘s new track “Free” that is not–I repeat not–on the upcoming Airtight’s Revenge. Give it a chance. It unfolds, then gives, then gives some more. Nottz does a great job on the production tip. If this is an indication of what Revenge will bring, I expect a frothfest of rabid proportions once this album drops in September.
Bilal: “Free” [Download]
Singer Bilal dishes on his upcoming new album, new sound and love of people….
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