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Though Philly crooner Bilal (Beloved, Intelligent, Lustful and Living It) cut his teeth working with D'Angelo and Erykah Badu, many hip-hop heads will recognize him from his appearances on Common's Like Water for Chocolate ("The 6th Sense") and Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3 ("Certified"). While the title, 1st Born Second, of Bilal's debut bristles with oxymoronic implications, it is really a nod to the Soulquarian family that Bilal calls home. Though 1st Born Second is replete with a very discernible Soulquarian vibe, Bilal's piercing voice (imagine Prince on ecstasy) and soul-searching ballads prove that he is a deserving inductee to this musically advanced collective. He is bestowed with a dream team production ensemble (Dr. Dre, ?uestlove, Jay Dee, James Poyser, Rapheal Saadiq, Mike City, and Vidal Davis), but it is his voice, itself an instrument, that is the main attraction here. These vocal gifts are eminently displayed on the sugary, WNBA adopted anthem "Soul Sista," "All That I Am," and the introspective "Sometimes," where the artist does some self-reflecting over ?uestlove's minimalist percussion snares and James Poyser's subtle keyboard riffs: "I wish I wasn't me sometimes/I wish I was drug free sometimes." Granted, Bilal occasionally falls prey to the moody musings and pleading romanticism ("For You") that marks the efforts of fellow neo-soul constituents like Maxwell. However, Bilal's ambidextrous nature, experimental inklings, and shape-shifting falsetto's foster a more diverse atmosphere, as he comfortably graces the funky Dr. Dre and Scott Storch-produced "Fast Lane" featuring Jadakiss, and waxes poetically about lost love on the Jay Dee-produced "Reminisce" featuring Common and Mos Def.
© Matt Conaway /TiVo
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Richard Serrell, ComposerLyricist - Mike Starr, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Bilal, Producer, Drums, Keyboards, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2001 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
Bilal Oliver, ComposerLyricist - Peter Mokran, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bilal, MainArtist - Alan Mason, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ethan Mates, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Megahertz Music Group, Producer - Jim Danis, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
Bilal Oliver, ComposerLyricist - Mike City, ComposerLyricist - Bilal, MainArtist - Scott Storch, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Jadakiss, FeaturedArtist - GREG BURNS, Assistant Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Dr. Dre, Producer, Recording Engineer, FeaturedArtist, StudioPersonnel - Sid McCoy, Spoken Word, AssociatedPerformer - John Tyree, Assistant Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mauricio "Veto" Iragorri, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Damu Mtume, ComposerLyricist - Sean Sturge, Assistant Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jim Danis, Assistant Mixer, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Fa Mtume, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2001 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
Bilal Oliver, ComposerLyricist - Dante Smith, ComposerLyricist - Mos Def, Rap Vocalist, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Bilal, MainArtist - Jaydee, Producer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Neal Pogue, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Yancey, ComposerLyricist - Common, Rap Vocalist, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Lonnie Lynn, ComposerLyricist - Steve Mandel, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Todd Farrell, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Soulquarians, Producer
℗ 2001 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
Bilal Oliver, Producer, Co-Producer, ComposerLyricist - L. Lynn, ComposerLyricist - Dahoud Darien, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Bilal, MainArtist - Neal Pogue, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Mandel, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Prendent, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
Bilal Oliver, ComposerLyricist - Mike Elizondo, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Serrell, ComposerLyricist - Bilal, MainArtist - GREG BURNS, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Thomas Rounds, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mel-Man, Producer - Dr. Dre, Producer, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tommy Coster Jr., Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Ronald Shannon Jackson, ComposerLyricist - Mauricio "Veto" Iragorri, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sean Sturge, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
Bilal Oliver, ComposerLyricist - Bilal, MainArtist - James Poyser, Producer, Organ, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jon Smeltz, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Russell "The Dragon" Elevado, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ahmir Thompson, Composer, Producer, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Mandel, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - The Soulquarians, Producer - Paladino Bass, Piano, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2001 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
Mike City, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Peter Mokran, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bilal, MainArtist - Jessie "Biz" Stewart, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
Bilal Oliver, ComposerLyricist - Andres Levin, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, Unknown, Other, StudioPersonnel - Mike Severson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Bilal, Keyboards, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2001 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
Bilal, MainArtist - Neal Pogue, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Raphael Saadiq, Producer, ComposerLyricist - James Mtume, Vocal Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Mandel, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Prendent, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
Bilal Oliver, Producer, Co-Producer, ComposerLyricist - Aaron Comess, Producer, Drums, Bass Guitar, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Bilal, MainArtist - Alan Mason, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - IAN ALEXANDER, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Mike Moreno, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Mokrin, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Giasper, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Rene Hart, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2001 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
Bilal Oliver, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Aaron Comess, Producer, Drums, Bass Guitar, Recording Engineer, Unknown, Other, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Bilal, MainArtist - Neal Pogue, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Robert Glasper, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Mandel, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Arron Tabib, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2001 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
Bilal Oliver, Producer, Co-Producer, ComposerLyricist - Aaron Comess, Producer, Drums, Bass Guitar, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Bilal, Vibraphone, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - IAN ALEXANDER, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Peter Mokrin, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Arron Tabib, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Keisha Whatley, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2000 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
Marsha Ambrosius, ComposerLyricist - Bilal, MainArtist - Serban Ghenea, Guitar, Mix Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Vidal Davis, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - A. Harris, Producer - V. DAVIS, Producer - Natalie Stewart, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2001 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
Bilal Oliver, Producer, Organ, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mike Severson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Bilal, MainArtist - Neal Pogue, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Mandel, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ken Stubbs, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gintas Janusonis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Pat McClarn, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - KC Benjamin, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Laron Thomas, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Markus Strikland, Trumpet, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Merchand, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2000 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
Bilal Oliver, Producer, Co-Producer, ComposerLyricist - Dahoud Darien, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Bilal, MainArtist - Neal Pogue, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Mandel, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Tony Prendent, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2001 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
Bilal Oliver, Producer, Organ, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Mike Severson, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Bilal, MainArtist - Robert Glasper, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Russell "The Dragon" Elevado, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steve Mandel, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - James Hurt, String Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Ken Stubbs, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gintas Janusonis, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Pat McClarn, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Merchand, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ellie Katz, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2001 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
Album review
Though Philly crooner Bilal (Beloved, Intelligent, Lustful and Living It) cut his teeth working with D'Angelo and Erykah Badu, many hip-hop heads will recognize him from his appearances on Common's Like Water for Chocolate ("The 6th Sense") and Guru's Jazzmatazz, Vol. 3 ("Certified"). While the title, 1st Born Second, of Bilal's debut bristles with oxymoronic implications, it is really a nod to the Soulquarian family that Bilal calls home. Though 1st Born Second is replete with a very discernible Soulquarian vibe, Bilal's piercing voice (imagine Prince on ecstasy) and soul-searching ballads prove that he is a deserving inductee to this musically advanced collective. He is bestowed with a dream team production ensemble (Dr. Dre, ?uestlove, Jay Dee, James Poyser, Rapheal Saadiq, Mike City, and Vidal Davis), but it is his voice, itself an instrument, that is the main attraction here. These vocal gifts are eminently displayed on the sugary, WNBA adopted anthem "Soul Sista," "All That I Am," and the introspective "Sometimes," where the artist does some self-reflecting over ?uestlove's minimalist percussion snares and James Poyser's subtle keyboard riffs: "I wish I wasn't me sometimes/I wish I was drug free sometimes." Granted, Bilal occasionally falls prey to the moody musings and pleading romanticism ("For You") that marks the efforts of fellow neo-soul constituents like Maxwell. However, Bilal's ambidextrous nature, experimental inklings, and shape-shifting falsetto's foster a more diverse atmosphere, as he comfortably graces the funky Dr. Dre and Scott Storch-produced "Fast Lane" featuring Jadakiss, and waxes poetically about lost love on the Jay Dee-produced "Reminisce" featuring Common and Mos Def.
© Matt Conaway /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 17 track(s)
- Total length: 01:16:27
- Main artists: Bilal
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Interscope
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 2001 Moyomusic/Interscope Records ℗ 2001 Interscope Geffen (A&M) Records A Division of UMG Recordings Inc.
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