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.
Think It Over
Bilal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Up on a cloud
Never thought we would fall back to the world
Gravity pulled us down
Then it tore us apart
Why cant things turn out like you wanted?
I never want to take away from you
I feel like you?re flying and I?m weighing you down
Go for now
Maybe the second time around would be sweeter
Oh Think it over Oh think it over
Oh think it over
So we was gonna be forever?
Like King and Coretta I thought we could change the world
But I needed air
I stepped out on the balcony and the world took me out
But u know I always have a thing for you
And if I deny it I would be lying to myself
I pick up the phone and put it down
But I?ve been asking around
And I hear you?re doing better now
Oh Think it over Oh think it over
Oh think it over
There will always be a hole
Always be a hole in my heart
Always be a hole
Always be a hole in my heart
Always be a hole in my heart
Always be a hole in my heart
Always be a hole
They?ll be a special place.
I?ll keep a special place for you
And I?ll keep it safe
I?ll keep it safe for you
If you can wait for me
Oh just wait and see
I will always have a place
In "Think It Over," Bilal reflects on a past relationship and the emotions that come with it. The song starts with him reminiscing about the good times they shared, describing it by saying "I like to think about all the fun we had up on a cloud." However, reality sets in, and they fall back to earth due to gravity, which eventually tears them apart. Bilal acknowledges that he cannot force things to turn out the way he wants, and he does not want to weigh his partner down, so he encourages her to be free and go her own way, hoping that maybe they will reconnect in the future, and it will be better.
Throughout the song, Bilal reveals his conflicted feelings. He thought they would be forever like King and Coretta, but he admits that he needed air, and he had to step out, leading to the end of their relationship. Yet he still cares deeply for his ex-partner and, even though he's trying to move on, and he knows he cannot take away her happiness. The song ends with him acknowledging the hole in his heart that will always be there, but he promises to keep a special place for his past love, and if she can wait for him, he'll always be there.
Line by Line Meaning
I like to think about all the fun we had
I enjoy reminiscing about the good times we shared
Up on a cloud
Feeling happy and carefree with no worries
Never thought we would fall back to the world
I never imagined we would come back to reality
Gravity pulled us down
Forces beyond our control separated us from our blissful state
Then it tore us apart
Our separation caused deep pain and heartache
Why cant things turn out like you wanted?
I question why life doesn't always align with our desires
I never want to take away from you
I don't want to hinder your happiness or success
I feel like you're flying and I'm weighing you down
I sense that I am hindering your success and holding you back
You should be free to be
I believe you deserve the freedom to be yourself
Go for now
Take a break and do what you need to do
Maybe the second time around would be sweeter
Perhaps we have the potential to have a better outcome if we try again later
So we was gonna be forever?
I am questioning the long-term validity of our relationship
Like King and Coretta I thought we could change the world
I believed we could make a positive impact on the world together
But I needed air
I needed space and time to reevaluate our relationship
I stepped out on the balcony and the world took me out
I experienced a life-changing event that made me reevaluate our relationship
But u know I always have a thing for you
You should know that I still have feelings for you
And if I deny it I would be lying to myself
I cannot hide the fact that I still have strong emotions towards you
I pick up the phone and put it down
I struggle with trying to contact you
But I've been asking around
I have been inquiring about how you have been doing
And I hear you're doing better now
I found out that you are succeeding and improving
There will always be a hole
There will be a permanent sense of loss in my heart
Always be a hole in my heart
The space that we shared will never be filled
They'll be a special place.
I will reserve a special spot for you in my heart
I'll keep a special place for you
I will never forget our memories and our connection
And I'll keep it safe
I will ensure that those memories and our relationship are cherished
If you can wait for me
If you can be patient with me and our relationship
Oh just wait and see
Please give me time and I will prove my commitment and love
I will always have a place
I will always have a spot for you in my heart
Contributed by Nolan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Swiftkillah1300
Please listen to his version of this song on acoustic set. it is breathtaking
Opshun1
I remember this being the first song I heard when the album dropped. The metronomic drums, ethereal guitar, and somber bass drew me in. The lyrics made me think back on a relationship I had to give up and sounded like he saw it all from a distance. A beautiful song that still evokes emotion everytime I listen to it.
Makolele Khosseni
this man's song be entering my ears and somehow finding a way into a place i cannot define. all i know is i cant have enough of it.
Ras Israel
ONE of the GREATEST to do it!
ItsYourGirl56
Bilal - Thank you everyday for this song. It soothes me so......You're a genius.
Betty Campbell
fantastic voice.I really like soul sista,little ones,and Is this love.
happy mbele
One of the best Male singers
Dele83
Somehow someway Bilals songs always hit that nerve. So soulful. #2020
Little Malcolm
i agree, it's frustrating to me though because that 1st Born album was on point track for track without skipping a song, but because of his style/content people were pretty much unaware of it. I bought because the single "Love It" was so crucial. But you have all of these industry clowns making this trash nowadays and real artists who actually make music for the soul don't get enough shine. it's very sad to witness yo
Ras Israel
ONE of the GREATEST to do it!