Avg Rating: 
3.4 ( 13 total votes )
Bilal - Free
Producer: Nottz
Album: Airtight's Revenge
Label: Plug Research
It’s been nine years – nine years! – since R&B/neo-soul innovator Bilal dropped his first and, to date, only studio album (not counting the never-released Love for Sale). Can an artist who’s been flying under the radar for so long really hope for another big break? Put me down for a “Yes;” judging on newly-released single Free, the singer’s retro-informed yet forward-looking style has only grown fresher in the intervening years. A galloping ode to life on the open road, this creative joint finds beatsmith Nottz blending a sample from The Supremes’ Automatically Sunshine with bouncy bass, ominous piano trills, and exotically fresh brass as the artists invites a special lady to leave behind the daily grind and run away with him. Sure to earn repeat spins from listeners with a taste for left-of-center soul grooves, this cut and much more can be found on what, if it weren’t for Big Boi‘s Sir Lucious Left Foot, may have been in the running for the year’s most eccentrically-titled LP: Airtight’s Revenge is set to hit stores and online retailers September 14.
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Member Reviews and Ratings
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 8792 |
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Good to hear from you, Bilal (its been too long). This Nottz instrumental could have worked just as well for a singer like Raphael Saadiq, but since we just heard from him I'm glad Bilal was the lucky recipient. Looking forward to what is next up (get me an advance, JK!)
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2010 |
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Resident DJ  Total Ratings: 544 |
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First Maxwell, then Sade, now Bilal. I'm glad a lot of singers who've been MIA for years have decided to come back. This is also a good song to start off with, his voice still sounds great and Nottz's beat is perfect for Bilal.
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| Posted on Jun 17, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 2480 |
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Hmmmm...not really sure about this one. In general I'm a Bilal fan, but he can be a little too spacey for me, just like on this track - I'd like to hear just a little more grit, but that just might not be his thing. In either case, I'm stoked to hear more from the man.
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2010 |
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"Free" is a great example of what soulful vocals should sound like. Hopefully this is just an appetizer for what Bilal has in store for us when "Airtight's Revenge" is served up.
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2010 |
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Resident DJ  Total Ratings: 1233 |
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Um....no sorry.
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| Posted on Jun 18, 2010 |
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Resident DJ |
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sample worked very nicely. vocals were spacey but they fit with the beat well. good first look at bilal
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| Posted on Jun 19, 2010 |
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| Posted on Jun 21, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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glad to hear him back with a new single!
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| Posted on Jun 21, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 278 |
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NOT IN SYNC.
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| Posted on Jun 22, 2010 |
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Professional  Total Ratings: 41 |
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one of my favorite joints right now
want to hear more Nottz & Bilal songs!!! i loved Bilal since his first album & Nottz lays down a perfect beat for Bilal to lay his vocals on The Art of Blends... DJCriticalHype.com Critical Hype on Twitter |
| Posted on Jun 23, 2010 |
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| Posted on Jun 26, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member Total Ratings: 76 |
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Smooth and laidback vibe and funky
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| Posted on Jun 27, 2010 |
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| Posted on Jul 05, 2010 |
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