January February March April May June July August September October November December 201220132014

Returning from a career near-death experience dealt by the majors, the Philly soul/jazz/funk singer delivers one of the year's finest R&B platters, period.

 

BY RON HART

 

Every generation of soul music seems to have its great "lost" album, from David Ruffin's David to Q-Tip's recently emancipated 2001 avant-R&B classic Kamaal the Abstract. In the grand scope of this decade about to come to an end, that hidden treasure was Love for Sale, the sophomore album from Soulquarian upstart Bilal Syeed Oliver. Originally scheduled to be released in early 2006, the daring and adventurous full-length, written, produced and performed pretty much entirely by Bilal himself with the exception of contributions from the likes of Dr. Dre, J. Dilla and Nottz, was delayed and then ultimately, and inexplicably, shelved by the Philadelphia-born singer's label at the time, Interscope Records. Not, however, before it was leaked onto a torrent site by an industry insider, and to this day the album resides in online purgatory.

 

However, after nearly a four-year-long sabbatical from the game following the harrowing chain of events that abruptly ended his tenure with Interscope and its distributor, Universal Records, Oliver made a triumphant return to the music world in 2010, signing with the respected beat-minded Los Angeles indie Plug Research (Flying Lotus, Daedelus, Dntel) and releasing his third LP, Airtight's Revenge, this September. Working once again with Nottz along with the likes of Steve McKie, Shafiq Husayn, Conley "Tone" Whitfield, underground hip-hop string arranger Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and 88 Keys, the 11-track set is an intense, combustible extension of the vibes originally featured on Love for Sale, and easily one of the finest R&B albums to come out this year.

 

BLURT had the opportunity to catch up with Bilal by email on the happenings surrounding the release of Airtight's Revenge and the future of one of modern soul's buried treasures.

 

***

 

BLURT: What inspired you to sign with Plug Research for Airtight's Revenge?

BILAL: Timing. I was in Shafiq's Studio working on a song for his record and the label walked in and really liked what they heard. They then called me every day until the record was theirs. It was also a way for me to be able to do exactly what I wanted to do creatively. No pressures to make that single or radio hit. No pressures to do anything but be me. I needed folks that would allow this. 

 

Was your decision to sign with an indie propelled in any way from your experiences at Interscope?

I always knew that I wanted to do my thing and didn't want to be boxed in as "neo-soul" or anything else that was going on at the time. I was really discouraged about how things went down at the label but then Love For Sale was well received by my fan base even more so than 1st Born Second and I was able to tour off a record that essentially never came out.  So after that I had confidence that my audience would always appreciate me keeping it real with them and doing my music, so it was great to go indie and sign with a label that understood that.

What was your approach, creatively, to this new LP and how do you feel it differs from your last two albums?

I took my time with this record. It was recorded over like three years. We put the finishing touches and tightened everything up over the last year, but these tunes were written all over the place: some in New York City, some in Philly, some in LA, some in Amsterdam. I produced a lot of these joints myself with my good friend and drummer Steve McKie.

What is the story behind the title for Airtight's Revenge?

Airtight is a nickname Common laced me with a long time ago. This album is my humble revenge on an industry that tried to keep me locked out for a while. It's all love for me.  Revenge is love to me. My message and story are about spreading love, but this is now the end of an era as well as the beginning of a new one. 

 

Have you made any moves about acquiring the rights to Love for Sale? Where does that album stand in that regard?

That album is owned by Interscope. There are songs no one has heard yet and versions I like better than what was leaked. Maybe one day they will let them go. As of now, I don't see that happening anytime soon. 

 

Are you still in contact with your Soulquarians brethren? Have The Roots approached you about playing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon?

I'll be on Jimmy Fallon Nov 2nd. Amir [?uestlove] is my brother.  I used to jam in his house back in the day and we speak all the time. We are all just a phone call away. 

 

 

blog comments powered by Disqus

 

More Photos

My Web Poll

The 5th Anniversary of Record Store Day looms – April 21. Which RSD vinyl exclusive are you gonna camp out for at midnight? Pussy Galore – Feel Good About Your Body 45 The Clash – London Calling (remix) 45 T. Rex – Electric Warrior 6x45 box Flaming Lips – Flaming Lips and Heady Fwends 2-LP Uncle Tupelo – The Seven Inch Singles 3x45s box Rainbow – Long Live Rock and Roll picture disc LP Never To Be Forgotten: The Flip Side of Stax 1968-74 10x45s box Afrika Bambaata/MC5 – Kick Out the Jams 45 Arcade Fire – Sprawl II 12-inch Pharcyde – Bizarre Ride II Singles Collection 7x45 box DEVO – Live in Seattle 1981 2xLP Freakwater – Feels Like the Third Time LP Captain Beefheart – Diddy Wah Diddy 7-inch gatefold EP Pete Townshend – Quadrophenia Demos Pt. 2 10-inch Public Image Limited – One Drop EP Shabazz Palaces – Live at KEXP LP Tortoise – Lonesome Sound/Mosquito 2x45 Widespread Panic – Live Wood LP Atmosphere & the Uncluded (Aesop Rock/Kimya Dawson) – 10-inch picture disc Bonnie Prince Billy – Hummingbird 10-inch Current Results