Bilal's classical training at the Mannes Music Conservatory in New York was instrumental to his conversance with Jazz, voice, and big band arrangements. It has also been reported that he is capable of performing opera in seven languages and writes both music and lyrics.
In 1995, Bilal encountered Faulu Mtume, and his brother, Damu Mtume (sons to James Mtume and founders of Moyo Entertainment) at a barber's shop in Philadelphia. His plans to produce film scores was shelved after he handed the brothers a demo recording; they were so impressed that they successfully convinced him to record commercially.
Bilal has also frequently collaborated and performed with several neo-soul and alternative hip hop artists, including Common, Erykah Badu, Talib Kweli, and The Roots. He also covered Radiohead's "High & Dry" for the 2006 Radiohead tribute, Exit Music: Songs With Radio Heads. Bilal appears in Dave Chappelle's Block Party.
His sophomore full-length recording, Love for Sale is rumored to have been shelved after being leaked on the internet. Despite no official release as of yet, Love for Sale has become an underground classic.
In 2010, Bilal released his sophomore album, Airtight's Revenge, 9 years after his debut album. The album was well-received, critics praised his lyrical substance and experimental sound.
Bilal is set to release his 3rd album, A Love Surreal, on February 26, 2013. Bilal explains that the album has a warmer, more acoustic sound compared to his previous works. He released a mixtape leading up to the release in late 2012 called Retrospective of the Man Called Bilal. 6 days after the mixtape was released, he took the wraps off his first single for A Love Surreal, "Back To Love". A video was released the next month. So far, reviews for A Love Surreal are positive, praising Bilal's natural singing talent and lyrics.
Astray
Bilal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something happens to the weather, when you go
I'm tired of shake take em to heaven
Love me, hate me, any better
Doing what it come down, wanna be up forever
But you need another fix and you're gone away
It's where you ought to be
Don't go astray
I'll keep you close to me
That's where it's ought to be
Your only place
Have you seen looking all over town?
Looking on the block, I didn't know the spot?
Who showed up just throws as hell
Using the past and escape go
All happened so hard to break
'Cause you just can't take the pain
It's where you ought to be
Right here next to me
Don't go, don't go don't go astray
I'll give you close to me
That's where it's ought to be
Your own, your only place
So much, so much, so much
Right here next to me
Need so much, need so much, need so much
The lyrics of "Astray" by Bilal convey a message of a person trying to keep another person from going down the wrong path. The artist describes feeling chills in the summertime as something happens to the weather when that person is around. The first verse talks about how the other person needs a fix and always ends up going away. The chorus emphasizes the singer's desire for that person to stay close and not go astray. The second verse describes the search for someone who has gone missing and appears to be going through a difficult time or running away from something. The singer suggests that it is hard to break away from one's past and painful experiences. The song ends with the repeated phrase "Right here next to me" and "Need so much," emphasizing the singer's need for the other person to remain close.
Overall, the message of this song is about the importance of having a support system or people in your life who care about you, especially when you are going through tough times. It is a reminder to hold onto those important relationships and not let them slip away.
Line by Line Meaning
Feel the chills in the summer time, hopped and go
Even in the heat of summer, there is something exciting that makes you want to move and go on an adventure.
Something happens to the weather, when you go
Things change when you leave. The atmosphere changes and everything seems different.
I'm tired of shake take em to heaven
I'm tired of fake people who pretend they're something they're not just to seem superior.
Love me, hate me, any better
No matter what people think of me, I won't change who I really am or what I believe in.
Doing what it come down, wanna be up forever
I'm going to do what needs to be done to succeed and stay on top for as long as possible.
But you need another fix and you're gone away
You need something to keep you going, but you end up losing yourself in it and losing touch with reality.
It's where you ought to be
Being close to me is the right place for you to be.
Right here next to me, don't go
Don't leave me, stay here by my side.
Don't go astray
Don't get sidetracked or lose yourself on a different path.
I'll keep you close to me
I'll make sure you stay close to me so you don't get lost or go astray.
That's where it's ought to be
Being close to me is where you belong.
Your only place
This is the only place you belong and where you will be happy.
Have you seen looking all over town?
Have you been searching all over for something or someone?
Looking on the block, I didn't know the spot?
I searched around the neighborhood but couldn't find it or recognize the place.
Who showed up just throws as hell
Someone unexpected showed up and surprised me.
Using the past and escape go
Using the past as a way to escape the present or future.
All happened so hard to break
Everything happened so suddenly and it's hard to move away from it.
'Cause you just can't take the pain
It's hard to move on from something that hurts so much.
So much, so much, so much
There's so much going on that it's hard to keep up or know what to do.
Need so much, need so much, need so much
I need so much from you, and I hope you'll stay by my side.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: UNKNOWN COMPOSER, BILAL OLIVER, HZEKIAH DAVIS, STEVEN MCKIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind