Bilal

Bilal Sayeed Oliver (born August 23, 1979) is an American singer and songwriter, an independent artist recognized for the range of his vocal register, his work across multiple genres and the intensity of his live shows.

First signed to a major label, he made his debut with the R&B single “Soul Sista” in 2000, before turning to jazz and a more progressive soul sound. He has released four critically acclaimed albums, and his unreleased but widely circulated second album, Love for Sale, was also acclaimed. He was a member of the Soulquarians, an experimental Black music collective active from the late 1990s to the early 2000s. He has collaborated notably with Kendrick Lamar, Common, Erykah Badu, Jay-Z, Beyoncé and The Roots.

In August 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown, he wrote and recorded his debut EP, Voyage-19, in three days with various musicians during remote sessions livestreamed on YouTube. This three-track EP was released the following month, with its proceeds and associated donations given to the participating artists, many of whom were facing financial hardship due to the pandemic.