Track Listings (17) - Disc #1| All Artists: Bilal Title: 1st Born Second Members Wishing: 1 Total Copies: 0 Label: Interscope Records Release Date: 7/31/2001 Album Type: Explicit Lyrics Genres: Blues, Pop, R&B Styles: Contemporary Blues, Contemporary R&B, Soul Number of Discs: 1 SwapaCD Credits: 1 UPCs: 606949300920, 0606949300920 |
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Search - Bilal :: 1st Born Second
 | Bilal 1st Born Second Genres: Blues, Pop, R&B
Riding in on a D'Angelo-spawned wave of shivery voodoo groove, 22-year-old Bilal Oliver tries to flip the neo-soul script on his long-awaited, oft-delayed debut. It's an ambitious effort, a collection of 17 tracks on wh... more » |
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Amazon.com's Best of 2001 Riding in on a D'Angelo-spawned wave of shivery voodoo groove, 22-year-old Bilal Oliver tries to flip the neo-soul script on his long-awaited, oft-delayed debut. It's an ambitious effort, a collection of 17 tracks on which this latest inductee into the Soulquarians collective (who's made appearances on Common's Like Water for Chocolate and Guru's Streetsoul, and produced tracks on Erykah Badu's Mama's Gun) proves he's worth his salt in hype. A host of A-list producers--Mike City, James Poyser, Dr. Dre (who rolls out a fine slice of funk on "Fast Lane"), and the ubiquitous Raphael Saadiq (behind the slinky "Soul Sista," which first appeared on the Love and Basketball soundtrack)--provide backing tracks that show off the young singer-songwriter's depth and range. Equally at home in reggae riddims ("Home"), anguished balladry ("When Will You Call"), and carnivalesque, Busta Rhymes-style sardonics ("Sally"), Bilal wants to show us he can do it all, and winds up spreading himself a bit thin at times. The best moments on the album happen when the classically trained vocalist lands on solid, soulful hooks (as on the sweetly aching melody of "All That I Am" or the haunting hum of "Love Poems") that allow his limber pipes to swoop gorgeously from gravelly basso to full-bodied falsetto, evoking shades of Prince and Marvin Gaye along the way. --Sylvia W. Chan Similarly Requested CDs
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CD Reviews1st class debut... essence_uk | 06/24/2002 (5 out of 5 stars) "Philadelphia native Bilal really came correct on this, his debut LP. He originally lept into spotlight with his performance of "International Lover" at NYC's 1999 tribute concert with Philly combo The Roots.He's the most exciting talent to emerge since D'Angelo in my eyes. Although forget what you've been told the two artist's are not that similar. Bilal is far more jazz based with Miles Davis being massive influence on his music school training. They do share clear influences in Marvin Gaye and Prince which may be where comparisons stem from. Bilal also has done backing vocal chores for D'Angelo concerts.With production credits like Jay Dee, Raphael Saadiq, Dr. Dre, Mike City, Soulquarians etc one would expect quality and you're right to.Forget accusations of some tracks here being "too mainstream", the Dr. Dre joints ("Sally" and "Fast Lane") are tight, with the later bringing Curtis Mayfield-like reporting on society's ills.Mike City's "Love It" also is a great jam with infectious chanted chorus. Mike has also produced hits for Sunshine Anderson and Dave Hollister.The haunting "When Will You Call" and "Queen Of Sanity" are back to back spine tingling, beautiful ballads.Other highlights on an album with no weak tracks are: the sparse affecting Soulquarian produced groove of "Sometimes", in which Bilal analyses his imperfections, "Soul Sista", the Raphael Saadiq produced ballad (Originally found on "Love & Basketball OST") and the self produced jazzy mid-tempo songs "All That I Am" and "Love Poems". Bilal even covers reggae in the Marley-ish "Home" and Funkadelic grooves on "Second Child".Common and Mos Def assist on the laidback groove of "Reminisce" but aside from that it's Bilal all the way. For further Bilal collaborations check: "Certified" with Guru, Common's "Like Water For Chocolate" album, "I Can't Wait" on Jaguar Wright's debut, "Best Friend" on Tweet's "Southern Humming Bird" as well as work with Cherokee, Jermaine Dupri and DJ Scratch.He also appears on "The Ali" and "The Wash" soundtracks.Sadly the singles "Soul Sista", "Fast Lane" and "Love It" didn't really propel him into public consciousness. This album however is highly slept on, one of 2001's clear highlights and great things will be expected from his sophomore set.For all the latest news and tour-info, check Bilal's official site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Bilal/" WOW!!...........TIGHT!!.................LOVE IT!!! reggy-reg | The Boogie Down, NY | 08/02/2001 (5 out of 5 stars) "First it was "Soul Sista" that shook me up because there was nothing else out like it. Then I heard "Sometimes", it had me saying to myself "this man got issues" but I still love the song. "Love It" came next and of course NYC didn't give it that much love on the radio, but I fell for it and then came the WNBA commercials. THE MAN IS HOT YALL........ All of these factors had me waiting outside of the record store for it to open, so that I could have it listen to on my way to work. LOVE THIS CD. "For You" must of replayed 3 times before I even went to the next track "Fast Lane". Bilal, Jadakis and Dr. Dre, who would've imagine that trio working together on one of the tightest jams on the disc. Don't take my word on how good the CD is. Ask one of your friends who was smart enough to get before you." NOW! This is what I call real music J. Highsmith | Mitchellville, Maryland United States | 08/03/2001 (5 out of 5 stars) "After a smashin' debut on the Love And Basketball soundtrack with the Raphael Saadiq produced "Soul Sista" and his guest appearance on Common's hit, "The Light", Bilal finally gets his chance to shine on his own with "1st Born Second" R&B fans have been waiting for Bilal's CD just like rap fans have been waiting for Jadakiss' solo CD to drop. The 2nd single "Love It" was released and just like reviewer "Deldrick" mentioned, it's like the song never even came out. Urban radio of today will not play the song unless someone is cheating on the other, somebody has ice on or somebody is beggin' like Keith Sweat back in the day. "Love It" is a nice song and hopefully Bilal will get the recognition and airplay that he deserves. Ladies and gentlemen, this CD was well worth the wait. Eventhough Bilal is compared to D'Angelo and other artists, you will be able to tell the difference between him and them after you hear his debut CD. After the intro, Bilal comes with some sounds that I would not even expect from him. The song "For You" sounds like it would be something that Prince would do but at the same time he has that nice street soul edge to the track. "Fast Lane" is a Dr. Dre produced track featuring Jadakiss and it's explaining a tale about what happens if you get caught up in the street life. This should definitely be the next single. The Soulquarinas produced "Sometimes" has Bilal in the way that you would almost expect the CD. I like the way that the track chnages pace and it it still able to keep your attention. This is a very diverse CD. Just when you think Bilal has settled on one style, he switches is up on you again. He even adds some reggae flavor with "Home". Other songs worth noting are "Reminisce" w/Mos Def & Common, "Love Poems", the hilarious "Sally" produced by Dr. Dre, "You Are" and the nice slow jam "When Will You Call". "When Will You Call" is my favorite song on the CD and even people that don't feel Bilal's sound overall will enjoy this song. Overall, this is a nice debut CD. When I think of debut CDs, Jill Scott, Maxwell, Musiq, Erykah Badu, Jazzyfatnastees and Alicia Keys come to mind. This CD is definitely worth your money and your time. People who can appreciate real music will enjoy this CD."
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