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.
robots
Bilal Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Say, yeah, yeah
Wake up to bow down
To the almighty dollar, pay your homage again
Boxed in, so get down
Buried, now you're livin' underground
Who sip wine and look down
On the gangsta's, hustla's and things
Who make it rain and shit on the fortuneless
All in the same game struggling to get up, yeah
(Know when, know what)
Say, yeah, yeah, yeah
(Are you a robot?)
So you a baby born with teeth
Ready to speak, the sign the end is near
His first words, uh, uh are, "Where's daddy?"
Can you hear the world stand still?
When she looked in his eyes, oh, oh, oh
She looked in his eyes, oh, oh, oh
She looked in his eyes, oh, oh, oh
Baby, I don't know, know where's the president
(Know when, know what)
Say, yeah, yeah, yeah
(Are you a robot?)
Say, yeah, yeah, yeah
(Know when, know what)
Uh, yeah
(Are you a robot?)
The information age is here
Then you better read the omen
There's something 'bout a natural disaster
War will never act here
A growin' thirst for power
As we approach the final hour
Monkey see, monkey do
What are you gonna do?
What are you gonna do?
What are you gonna do?
What are you gonna do?
?
The song "Robots" by Bilal is a commentary on the suffocating effects of consumerism and the struggle for power that accompanies it. The opening lines of the song urge the listener to wake up and acknowledge the power of money over our daily lives, and the importance people place on accumulating wealth. The phrase "buried, now you're livin' underground" suggests that this quest for material wealth has almost become a form of imprisonment, forcing people to sacrifice their own happiness and wellbeing for the sake of financial gain.
The lyrics then pose a question about whether individuals really aspire to be part of the elite "aristocrats" who look down on others from their positions of privilege. The reference to gangsters and hustlers alludes to the idea that this quest for wealth is a game in which everyone is striving to come out on top. The chorus repeatedly asks the question, "Are you a robot?", as though the singer is questioning whether people have lost all sense of their humanity in the pursuit of material gain.
The song also touches on broader themes of environmentalism and the dangers of natural disasters. The reference to "the final hour" suggests that there is a growing sense of urgency around issues like climate change and the need for collective action. The repeated question at the end of the song, "What are you gonna do?", challenges the listener to consider their own role in addressing the problems facing the world today.
Line by Line Meaning
Wake up to bow down
To the almighty dollar, pay your homage again
Wake up in the morning to start making money and bow down to the power of money.
Boxed in, so get down
Buried, now you're livin' underground
You feel confined and oppressed by society, and now you feel buried and hopeless in your current situation.
Do you wish you could be amongst the aristocrats
Who sip wine and look down
On the gangsta's, hustla's and things
Who make it rain and shit on the fortuneless
All in the same game struggling to get up, yeah
Do you envy the wealthy elite who think themselves superior to people who make money by illegal ways and hardworking people who are also struggling to get ahead?
(Know when, know what)
Say, yeah, yeah, yeah
(Are you a robot?)
Do you have the awareness of the situation and know what is going on in the world, or are you mindlessly going through life just like a robot?
So you a baby born with teeth
Ready to speak, the sign the end is near
His first words, uh, uh are, "Where's daddy?"
Can you hear the world stand still?
You were born with teeth, and your first words indicate that you understand that the world is on the brink of something catastrophic. The world seems to pause and hold its breath as this realization sets in.
When she looked in his eyes, oh, oh, oh
She looked in his eyes, oh, oh, oh
She looked in his eyes, oh, oh, oh
Baby, I don't know, know where's the president
When she looked at your newborn child, she realized that she doesn't know who is in charge of the country and who can lead us through these difficult times.
(Know when, know what)
Say, yeah, yeah, yeah
(Are you a robot?)
Do you have the awareness of the situation and know what is going on in the world, or are you mindlessly going through life just like a robot?
Say, yeah, yeah, yeah
(Know when, know what)
Uh, yeah
(Are you a robot?)
Emphasizes the importance of being mindful of what is happening around you and not just going through life like a robot.
The information age is here
Then you better read the omen
There's something 'bout a natural disaster
War will never act here
The current age is defined by the easy access to information, so it is important to read the signs of what is to come. Although war is not happening here, there is something about natural disasters that indicate a shift in global stability.
A growin' thirst for power
As we approach the final hour
Monkey see, monkey do
What are you gonna do?
People are becoming increasingly greedy and power-hungry as the end of the world draws near. We must question whether we will follow their lead or do something different.
What are you gonna do?
What are you gonna do?
What are you gonna do?
Reiterates the need for personal reflection and action in the face of impending doom.
Contributed by Brooklyn D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Chorsie E. Martin II
Bilal is one of the most prolific artists of our time and Robots is just a tiny sample of how important his contribution is to the blind masses. Open your eyes!
Lowkeeyg
Bilal I see you brother!! You are in inspiration to the young intellectuals who see and wish to speak. Peace and love fam. Continue to be true!
Gwenn Quero
C'est juste génial !
HabeshaQween
Amazing, this is REAL music!!
soundp
Great track and video from Airtight's Revenge. Bilal is da truth.
Chris Webb
my track of the year, love it
Asante
This song is so deep.
lilspazboy
Seriously underated
christopher ojukwu
man bilal hit the spot on this video & song. so much truth.he way to real for these other so called artist.p.s u no longer have to be a robot, just research the truth out about this world on your own insted of believing what everyone tells u!!!
cosmic coolie
Dope ! Bliah My wife&I been effin with ya since First Born2nd.