Bilal

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Bilal Sayeed Oliver, known as Bilal, is an American singer and songwriter, born on 23 August 1979 in Germantown, Philadelphia. His mother was Christian and his father Muslim. At eleven he became choir director at his mother's church, and at fourteen he founded a group that performed in Philadelphia. His father took him to jazz clubs, where he decided he wanted to be in music. He studied at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York, where on his first day he met the pianist Robert Glasper. Through the New York clubs he came into contact with the Soulquarians, the collective of The Roots, Common, Erykah Badu and Mos Def, among others.

Music and breakthrough

The demo he recorded with Aaron Comess of the Spin Doctors won him a contract with Interscope. He made his debut in 2000 with the R&B single Soul Sista and in 2001 released the album 1st Born Second, with contributions from the Soulquarians and from producers such as Dr. Dre and J Dilla. His second album, Love for Sale, leaked without ever being officially released, but received great praise. Later came Airtight's Revenge in 2010, A Love Surreal in 2013 and In Another Life in 2015, now as an independent artist. In 2020, during lockdown, he recorded the EP Voyage-19 in three days with musicians working remotely.

Influence

Bilal is known for his wide vocal range, his work across several genres and his intense live performances. He showed how soul, jazz and experimental music can flow into one another. He has collaborated with Kendrick Lamar, Common, Erykah Badu, Jay-Z, Beyoncé and The Roots, among others.

Listening

Discography

Studio albums

• 20011st Born Second
• 2010Airtight's Revenge
• 2013A Love Surreal
• 2015In Another Life
• 2024Adjust Brightness

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

• After Hours: Session 4^NL Reader