Probably my favorite singer of today, seeing that when I feel like there is nothing music can offer me, I just go through a medley of his live performances via youtube.
These are songs that I know and memorize to death, but I can hardly find a video of Bilal performing a song the same way twice. Everytime I hear "Sometimes," (off of his first and only official release 1st Born Second) I feel like church. The studio version: a spiritual cleansing. The live versions??? Its like putting Leonardo DaVinci on white widow and watching him go to work.
But most people don't even know about Bilal's 2nd effort, which was shelved by Universal in '06. Love For Sale is the title of the unreleased effort that made so much buzz through the internet, that when he performs the songs people STILL know them word for word even without an official release. Love For Sale will be in the top 3 r&b albums to come out whenever it decides to release, as Bilal ventured to vintage southern soul in Make Me Over, afrobeat on Sorrow, Tears and Blood, and brings a slow jam effort that made my mother beg me send it to her upon hearing the opening lines.
It was a multifaceted effort that showed huge growth from 1st Born Second, where at times it looked very obvious that he was backed by a major label. Where as 1st Born Second seemed like Bilal being experimental and a bit unfocused, Love For Sale sticks to a certain mood for the duration of the album. This makes it that much easier to find yourself riding to the album in its completion.
here are some of my favorite tracks
the nigga is chill, but live.
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