For 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 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, lyrics, and notes. His single "Soul Sista" appears on the Love & 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, Vol. 3: 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, NY, and began gigging around the city until his tape landed in the hands of
Erykah Badu, for whose
Mama's Gun album he appeared and produced.
Bilal is a member of the Soulquarians collective, along with
Erykah Badu,
Mos Def, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson,
Q-Tip, and
D'Angelo. ~ Kerry Smith, All Music Guide
