Gearing Up For Bilal Oliver’s A Love Surreal

14 Friday Dec 2012

Posted by in Feeding The Music Jones, New Flava In My Ear

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It was fitting that the last post on this blog before I went on hiatus was an announcement of the official date that Bilal Oliver’s first “official” album in eight years would see the light of day. It was quite a celebration, bitches!

Airtights Revenge was released in 2010 to stellar reviews. Now, just over two years later, your boy is back with A Love Surreal, coming to an ITunes near you on February 12. Yes, I am plotting on how to get to his album release concert in Philly at my favorite venue, although he is coming this way a couple days later. I’m just that kinda stan!

To get us geared up for the release of the first single for the album, Bilal recently released a mixtape(on his Facebook page!), appropriately titled Retrospection. Curated by fellow Philly artist, Vikter Duplaix, Retrospection —much like 2009’s The Return of Mr. Wonderful— takes you on a journey through some of his greatest hits and unreleased recordings that should have seen the light of day like his rendition of Stevie’s “Too High.”

Grab your FREE download of Bilal Oliver’s Retrospection.

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I was excited to see Vikter Duplaix involved in this project, having just been blessed to be at one of his body-rocking Kiss N Grind parties when the Fall tour rolled through DC recently. We danced, we shouted, and shook out bodies down to the ground as Vikter spun the hottest soul, house, classic r&b, funk and Afrobeat. Want to get an idea of what you missed? Feast your ears on this.

Bilal and Vikter also sat down  for a chat —surrounded by some very lovely works of art at the Norm Maxwell Gallery in LA — to talk about Bilal’s evolution as an artist. He talks about defining his sound and what it means as an artist to hail from Philadelphia. I’ve already schooled you about the hotness that has come out of Philly. 

So while he had all our attention, Bilal released his first single, “Back To Love,” on Essence.com. The theme for A Love Surreal is that Bilal is a love doctor teaching people how to find their way back to each other.

Are you as excited about this project as I am, fellow B_Ollowers? Let me know what you think of the first single.

Be sure to connect with Bilal on Facebook and Twitter.

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New Flava In My Ear: Christmas Time Is Here

13 Thursday Dec 2012

Posted by in Feeding The Music Jones

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Anyone else struggling a bit to get in the holiday spirit? It’s my absolute favorite time of the year but I’ve yet to get that giddy “Merrrrry Chrissssmuh!” feeling yet.

Yesterday, while sitting at my desk counting down the moments until my holiday vacation begins working, I decided to take a couple of my favorite holiday albums for a spin. Rahsaan and Ledisi never fail to put a smile on my face. I also took Cee Lo’s Magic Moment for a test drive that went pretty well! I was starting to feel a tad bit more fa-la-la-la la!

Then a new gem from one of my favorite DJ/producers Applejac came across my twitter feed and it was love at first listen.  He took the Charlie Brown Christmas classic, “Christmas Time is Here,” put his thang down, flipped it and reversed it into a smooth, jazzy soulful groove that I have played no less than five times.

Those delicious vocals you hear? None other than Jessica Newry (nee Johnson), who I’ve been digging on since I heard this acoustic gem last year. Need to hear more like I did? This isn’t the first time AppleJac and Jessica have made beautiful music together. Press play on that gem as well as all his other dope remixes on some of your favorite jams.

Go on and add this new flava to your holiday music rotation. I guarantee it will lift your spirits like it did mine.

Connect with AppleJac and Jessica Newry on Twitter.

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New Flava In My Ear: This Is What I Want

12 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by in New Flava In My Ear

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I think the first time I heard Ne’a Posey sangggg was Inauguration Weekend 2008. Listen to a clip as she tore the house down like she was auditioning to perform for Obama himself!

I’ve been not so patiently waiting for her to drop an album ever since and the day has finally come! Not that I haven’t enjoyed her in other roles like “Head Drank Mixtress in Charge” or Hostess with the Mostess. But I have been more than ready  for  Ne’a to kick some new flava in my ear.

Her debut EP, This Is What I Want, Vol 1, was just released on the Suite 301 label and it is a stone cold groove of soulful tracks that were just what the doctor ordered to get me through the “It’s 3PM And I Am RET To Go” doldrums at work. I didn’t care who was listening as I pumped up my favorite track, “Spin Me,” and got a serious chair dance on. “State of the World” is another fave, with sassy songstress, Debórah Bond holding it down on background vocals.

I look forward to seeing what else Ne’a has in store. A volume 2 perhaps? I hope so. The game needs her. I’m also checking for future releases from the Suite 301 label. It’s about time to put Maryland on the map! We got talent.

Download Ne’a Posey’s This Is What I Want, Vol 1 for FREE.

Connect with Ne’a Posey on Facebook.

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Back In Stride Again!

12 Wednesday Dec 2012

Posted by in Feeding The Music Jones

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I’m so happ–pp–yy to see-eee–ee you and meeee…back in stride againnnn!

Side note: Before I reintroduce myself, it’s only right that I stop and pay homage. They all doing it. But Nicholas is one cold cat in that red sport coat, ain’t he? He’s holding down the back row and all. But all eyes on him!

Although it may seem that I silently pledged not to return until Bilal dropped his NEXT album after Airtight’s Revenge, this two year break was unintentional. If I had some home training,  I would have at least dropped a “good bye, see you soon, thanks for the support” post. I kept waiting for my desire to write more than 140 characters at a time to keep returning. The years rolled by.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ve never stopped loving the music. In fact, the amazing musical adventures I’ve had over these past couple years has made the love stronger. I just had to get over my exhaustion with writing about it. I’m not entirely sure it won’t return. If it does though, I’ll at least hang a closed sign on the door.

Although some would say that I write “well,” the words have never come easy for me. Some of these posts would take me hours to conceptualize and write.  I was burnt out. Then I began to foolishly compared myself to other writers and decided that maybe I didn’t write well enough to even bother. Self-doubt is a bitch. And NOT the business for grown ass women.

What I’ve learned over the past couple years is that it’s about my voice. You used to come here because you liked what I had to say and how I said it. Whether it’s 2  or 22, 222 of you (and I have no plans to HAVE to worry about that), I want to cultivate a community of true music lovers who learn from me as much as I learn from you. Since I stay stuck in the 70s/80s/90s, I need you all to put me on to the good stuff.

Enough of the explanations though. I’m back and I’m veddy happy to be here. I truly appreciate each and every one of you who have asked about my return either through a comment (always a pleasant surprise), through e-mail or on Twitter. You have no idea how much that meant. That “one day” is here! This time, I’m truly not worried about anything but sharing the tunes I’m digging and the  adventures I have with my fellow slaves to the music.

As some of you longtime visitors will see, I’ve cleaned up the house a bit. Put some fresh paint on the walls. Straightened out the clutter a bit with the categories and the about page.  Same ole Viv though.

I was supposed to re-launch in September with a mix of what I’ve been rocking out to in 2012. However, my mixologist and I work together like Fred and Esther. It’s all love of course!  So then as we were nearing the end, he experienced technical difficulties….again.  I thought of posting the unfinished mix but ya’ll don’t deserve that. One way or the other, I will bring you my personal Best of 2012.

Glad to be back. Let’s Rock!

B-Day: September 14, 2010

21 Wednesday Jul 2010

Posted by in Music News, Upcoming Album Releases

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Bilal, if you’re listening, we need this image on a t-shirt.

I know you think my throwback is cute and all.


But this B-ollower, as he likes to call his tweeple, is ready for an upgrade just in time for the new album.

This has been covered all over the innanets, but judging from some of the comments I’m seeing on my YouTube videos, some of ya’ll are still not woke.

Bilal fans and stans, you’ve waited not so patiently for nine years for an official project and the time has finally come. It’s official, Airtight’s Revenge will in fact see the light of day.  September 14, it will be in stores and online everywhere for your purchasing pleasure.

Here is the tracklisting:

1. Cake & Eat It Too – Produced by Bilal / Steve Mckie [watch it live]
2. Restart – Produced by Bilal / Steve Mckie
3. All Matter – Produced by Bilal / Steve Mckie
4. Flying – Produced by Bilal / Nottz
5. Levels – Produced by Bilal  / Shafiq Husayn [watch it live]
6. Little One – Produced by Conley “Tone” Whitfield
7. Move On – Produced by Bilal  & Steve Mckie
8. Robots – Produced by Bilal  [watch it live]
9. The Dollar – Produced by Bilal  / Steve Mckie
10. Who Are You – Produced by Bilal  / Steve Mckie
11. Think It Over – Produced by 88 Keys

There were snippets from the entire album posted on the internets a few weeks ago but most outlets have removed them. Completely understandable. Bilal and Plug Research aren’t taking any chances with this one. I don’t think the fans can take another Love for Sale debacle.

Since my interests these days are taking me in the direction of the fusion of new media and music promotion, I’m excited at the way he using social media to promote the album and interact with his fan base. He joined Twitter earlier this year and already has 10K followers. I expect that to grow exponentially once the album is released and he reclaims his spot as one of THE best to touch the mike.

He actually talks to his fans and doesn’t just use the tool as a one way  “buymyshitcometomyshow” broadcast medium.  He shows that he actually reads what people are saying to him by retweeting.  He crowdsources by asking questions such as what we think about him touring with a particular artist.  He shares photo and video from shows. He’s planning tweetups in cities where he is touring. It’s all very authentic. In short, he’s doing it right.

Bravo, B. Bravo.

Mark your calendars for September 14.

DC area tweeps, you’ll be happy to know that an album release show has already been set for September 19th at the Birchmere. Tickets will be on sale via Ticketmaster on July 23rd. It will sell out.

Meanwhile, take a listen to this great conversation between Bilal and Gilles Peterson.  As Giles plays tracks from the new album, which Bilal says he took the Frank Zappa approach in creating, they talk about the new music; what he’s been up to these past nine years; the lost album; record industry rule 4080; what’s poppin in his iPod; and how DC is the bestest fan base ever.

And for goodness sakes, get on Twitter already. Follow Bilal….and me.

image credit: SoulBounce