Bilal

I luv this CD, I bought this CD when it was released and I still listen to it, this album is a classic!

Simply put, Bilal is a musical genius. But that's obvious given his credentials (Julliard, New School) and collabos (Erykah Badu, every Common LP since Like Water for Chocolate, D'Angelo...need I say more?). I admit when the album first dropped in '01 I was put off by the first single featuring the commerical Dre and Jadakiss, which was lacking in lyrical substance and appeal in my opinion. But Soul Sistah and Love it were always my faves. Then when I heard "Sometimes" about 2 years ago, I thought it would be worth it to give the album a second look. I am happy to say that I was not dissappointed! It has been so long since someone with such substance, talent and character has stepped on the scene, and he has been HIGHLY slept on by the general public and mainstream R&B outlets. Dude sings straight SOUL, bump the neo, infusing jazz and even gospel at some points with his tight vocals, you too will become one of the many underground followers of Bilal. He does sporadic shows in NYC several months apart, but you better buy your tickets early as he usually manages to pack a full crowd. No date for a second release has been marked by his record label and his myspace page says this is due in part to album leaks, further delaying release of the project. A great album to set the mood, I would highly recommend.

I have had this CD for a long time and everytime I listen to it I long for another release from him!! Bilal is very talented, this album is amazing, and every song tells a story. Highly recommended!!!

At his best, Bilal is a very talented neo-soul artist. But, there are parts of this album that are simply lackluster. This young man has a very nice voice and showcases some raw talent with his debut CD, "1st Born Second". This album title, along with his name, intrigued me even before I listened to him. I said to myself, "Bilal, what a unique name", then I heard the name of his CD, and I just had to purchase it to see what he was about.

This album begins with some pretty weird songs. In some of them, Bilal is singing/rapping, and it is very hard to interpret what he is saying. His CD definitely picks up mid way through, and he finishes off with a bang! Typcially with albums, artists put their best songs at the beginning and end, usually not in the middle. He beings his album with "For You". It is beyond me why he opened his CD with such a bad song. The lyrics aren't good and neither is the production. The album progresses with the Dr. Dre produced "Fast Lane". This definitely sounds the work of him too because it incorporates some sounds he used on songs he produced previously to this one. "When Will You Call" and "Queen of Sanity" are album mentionables. These ballds showcase Bilal's lyrical and vocal ability. In "When Will You Call", Bilal has broken up with his lady, but he still wants her to call because he hopes these is still something there between them. "Queen of Sanity" is lyrically the best song on this piece of work. In the song, he says, "I forget life when I hold you tight" and "How do you run this race and never lose your place". Those are some profound lyrics!

Overall, after a couple of listens to Bilal's first album, his talent will all but jump out at you. He has a great knack for music and could be one of neo souls best if he uses discretion with choosing which songs to put on his final product. I recommend this album to neo soul fans.

Mikeisha's Top 5
1.When Will You Call?
2. Queen of Sanity
3. Sometimes
4. You Are
5. Love Poems

Is about all I can say about Bilal Oliver.....Slept on and talented. Preacher's son out of Philly who has been doing it and doing it well. If you do not have it, my advice is go out and get it! Well worth the buy. You will be spinning this one for a while to come...

Soulfull and dynamic. The first time I heard it, I wanted to know more about the artist. I certainly recommend.

Great song! It is good that a few are not sticking to the "corporate music" script and Bilal is one of them. I can't wait until his sophomore album comes out!

SOUL SISTA... The first time I heard this song I was vacuuming the living room floor when all of a sudden I just stopped and said "OOOhhhhh.. I am finally hearing real authentic black music from the soul. Finally a fresh breath of air." I was mesmerized and in a trance from the sweet sound of his voice. Everything about the song and video had meaning unlike anything I had heard or seen in a long time. No frills simply pure music and a meaningful black and white video. The next thing I did was run to the record store grab the single. Every song and snippet touched my soul. It was like I was in a dream. All the songs had I true meaning from a person who you could tell was putting his entire soul into each song. I believe this song ranks up there with some of the great songs of the past in my opinion. This single is MUST HAVE for any R&B purist. Nothing else to say but "PICK IT UP AND SEE FOR YOURSELF."

DWill from NYC.. man youre dead wrong about the 'advance' Bilal album (the 8 mp3s you got off of napster). Of course those are rough tracks, unfinished or whatever.. but they are extremely soulful r&b tracks coming from a rare new talent that is just gonna blow the scence up. No songs have have enveloped me like Bilal's since i first heard Adrianna Evans. "Sometimes" "Home Is Where I wanna Be" and "Your Love Sent to Me" are classic cuts that put me moods that no other songs can. Maybe I'm feeling Bilal so hard because im the same age as him, I dont know.. just give those tracks another listen or two, they'll grow on you and you'll be fiending for more. I know am. peace

I love this song, but if his album is anything like the songs that I got off napster, he definitely needs to go back into the studio and re do his whole album. Don't get me wrong, I'm feeling his work on Common Sense album and a couple of his songs, but, this guy is mega talented and I know his sound is more polished than musiq's. He can blow and I don't think what I heard was his best or even close to a valient effort. His voice is tighter than musiq's, anyone who has studied voice and music theory can see, but Musiq's album is going to be much tighter if he doesn't go back into the lab. In a recent interview in a magazine, Musiq stated himself that his album was somewhat rushed. Music lovers have really been waiting for this album, and I think that he should have put more work into it than he did. Sometimes, Your love sent to me, and Soul Sista are banging, but, All that I am, Home is where I wanna be, Hand me down, and Love poems don't come close to showing his true talent. I'm waiting for the album patiently hoping that he comes correct. If you have been following neo soul then you would know in 95 there was an artist by the name of Frankie, album ( My heart belongs to you) Chcky Thmpson of Bad Boy Prod. Musiq's voice resembles his. Frankie got no airplay, and his album was toooooooooo tight. No dis to Musiq because he is tight, I just want to give others their just do. Come Correct Bilal or don't come at all

I had to type this review because I was disappointed by the 4-star ratings. If I could give this album 7 stars, I would. Bilal gave breath to a neo-soul movement that has been stuck on the same-sound, same-tempo, and same coffeehouse poetry messages for a decade. He was definitely the most underrated artist of 2001---regardless of musical genre. The radio-released "Soul Sista" and "Fast Lane" do not do justice to the remaining material which is far superior. However, if you are the type of neo-soul fan who enjoys elevator music soul (often used as a backdrop to sipping wine by candlelight, pedicures, and getting your hair "did"), then probably this album will not satisfy.

Bilal is so talented and eccentric and I love it. This CD is a great project and I await more from him.

Bilal is definately a talented man. This album however I don't think does him justice. There are a few cuts that seem out of place, mainly because of the beat selection. Both of the Dr. Dre beats ("Fast Lane", "Sally") stick out like sore thumbs on this album. Bilal sounds unnatural over them. He is more suited for the more soulful production and live intrumentation found on "Soul Sista" (Raphael Saadiq) or "Sometimes" (SoulQuarians). Bilal shows off his vocal flexibility on this album and at times it's breathtaking (Queen of Sanity). Other songs such as like the Marley-esque "Home", and the fervent "Slyde" prove that Bilal shouldn't be overlooked. It's a shame that Bilal has gone AWOL since this album. I think if he got with the right label he could work wonders. While this album has it's share of missteps it also has some great music.

"1st Born" gives us what is missing from a lot of new music today: SUBSTANCE! This is the kind of album that you like 2 or 3 cuts of when you first listen to it, but the more you play it, every cut is the best thing you've heard in a long time! Bilal is a true artist in the neo-soul class with D'Angelo, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu Maxwell. You will not be disappointed with this one!

Like D'Angelo's Brown Sugar CD, Bilal comes out of nowhere and drops a classic album the first time around.

The seaport Oran is well-known for a folkloric style of music called "raï," which originated in rural Algeria in the 1930s as a mixture of Spanish, French, African, and Arabic influences. "Raï" means "opinion" or "view" in Arabic.

I have been listening to the musical style for many years now, but mostly to Khaled, Mami, and Hasni.

A friend suggested that I listen to Bilal, a native Algerian who apparently lives in France but completed his musical studies in Oran. I am not an official fan of Bilal's whose music reflects a melting pot of music influences, especially Spanish. A small downside: he is no Khaled or Mami when it comes to singing (he really likes those synthesizers; my "raï" is that it's better not to hide a weak voice behind them).

I am glad that this CD comes with the non-album bonus track, "How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore?" Get this while you can!

I am glad that this CD comes with the non-album bonus track, "How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore?" Get this while you can!

while I wasn't all that crazy about His Album I really did dig this Song&the Vibe going along with it.Bilal is a Very Talented Cat&this Cut is Good.

AH !! Finally, some beautiful music! Bilal really has come into his own with this latest album and particularly this single. Yes, people, it still IS possible to make a song that expresses the pure joy of the feeling of love and being in love. You'll "love it" too!