This brotha came onto the scene around 2001, dropped some heat on us and then pulls a D'Angelo and hasn't dropped shit since! Dude was the 2nd closest to that Prince vibe that I've ever heard. H NEEDS to make a return.

BILAL! WHERE YOU AT, SON!?

OdysseyMiles said:

OdysseyMiles said:

Damn. Is he for real?

Probably gettin ready to do his yearly free show in prospect park brooklyn.

Cracked out somewhere I suppose.

TheCrucialExperience said:

"2d closest?" I hope you think Me'Shell was the closest.

Bilal and D'Angelo are either a) weeded out of their minds, b) lazy or c)feeling the pressure of their own success.

namepeace said:

I'll take all of the above for 500, Alex.

namepeace said:

D's been the closest thus far. Bilal's stylings and phrasings had a Prince vibe to it. Since Meshell is a chick (Well, that's arguable in some people's minds ) the best you can say for her is she's the clostest to a female version of Prince we have.

TheCrucialExperience said:

I don't think her gender has anything to do with it. I see what you're saying, but she's miles ahead of D'Angelo. Unlike him, she's willing to work, and to take chances. She's Prince's true heir.

TheCrucialExperience said:

DAMN, that is so ironic you would ask that.. I just popped in his cd today wondering the same thing??

I loved soul sista????? Where u at brutha??

isthisdadawn said:

"When Will You Call" is THE SHIT!

he's probably in jail or rehab

i saw bilal performing not too long ago at the jazz cafe in london, he great performer and gives it his all, but hes off his head!

although he played new material and mentioned a new album alot... but heard nothing since

Unlike everyone else, I think he's somewhere licking his own nuts and high

Bilal was up here in Boston about two months ago performing at the Regatta Bar. He was doing jazz and has chopped off his locks.

He mentioned that he had a new lp of mostly jazz material coming out soon.

Man...hee's got some voice. And he seemed as if he cleaned up, for all you haters out there who love to see brothers self-destruct.

chuckaducci said:

Ok, thanks for the update.

chuckaducci said:

I hate to see brothers with talent waste the opportunity to make their mark.

So he needs to come on with the come on.

I'm tired of these brothers living off their reps (yes, Maxwell, D'Angelo, Bilal, I'm talking about you) in lieu of putting out music.

namepeace said:

You've made a valid point.

No he hasnt....

Who is he to determine what type of artist D'Angelo, Maxwell and Bilal are supposed to be? So what that they have not released albums every year to satisfy the public's desire? That is not artistry but commercialism. Dont get mad at these brothers cos they dont release albums as much as you'd like them to. They have problems just like everyone else; get off their back. Part of the reason why they have it seemingly harder than "normal" folks is cos people like the genius above places these artists on pedestals so that when they fall, or their personal problems are made public, they are completely exaggerated. Then comes the supposition of "living off of a rep." Suppose you are an artist and suppose you have an addiction problem. Suppose you have some semblances of common sense left and you want to clean yourself up; your first thought wouldnt be to put out a record but to get clean.

"Living off of a rep" may be true but its mostly speculative; no one, unless they are physically in these guys' inner circle, really know what is going on.

Bilal may be tortured (not the first artist), he may be addict (not the first) but give the guy a break and support him. Stop all the hatin'.....

chuckaducci said:

So wait a minute. If the public desires to hear more from these artists, then how is that hate?

Last I checked, these artists signed deals to record albums for the financial benefit of themselves and their employers. They want to be famous. They want to be rich. Otherwise, they wouldn't show up at awards shows, on videos, or otherwise get airplay.

Wake up. All of these artists, however good or great, are commercial, player.




Spare me. Someone has them on a pedastal, all right. But it's not who you think.

I'd like for them to fulfill their potential. I'm not holding my breath for these guys, but when I look at the prolific output of people like Stevie and Prince, and the relative fearlessness of an Ndegeocello to record and work, it makes it hard for me to buy into D'Angelo or Bilal being on the same level. They have the ability to be on the same level, and they're enjoying (enjoy meaning having the benefit of rather than taking pleasure in) an artistic reputation that they haven't fully earned in relation to other artists.

If they've got personal problems, then they need to take time and deal with them. That's life. But they've also got to accept the flip side of that. If they're taking their own sweet time to fulfill their potential, then they've got to recognize that the people that support them will get agitated because they see in them the potential to do great things with what they've been given and they want to support them financially in the process.



Okay. Get clean then. As you know (or at least, should know), there's a fine line between support and enabling. But these guys presumably crave acceptance as musical artists at a level commensurate with their talent. And one thing people hate to see is wasted talent, especially talent as potentially prodigous as Bilal's and D'Angelo's.

Much of this discussion is indeed speculative. But if that is so, your (mostly) eloquent and supportive statements could also be off base. They could simply be b.s.-in'.



What you're asking is for me to be a yes-man, an enabler. If he needs to get clean, then let him get clean. But anyone who has known and loved a substance abuser has to say, at some point, if you want to be successful -- in business as well as in life -- you've got to carry your cross to Calvary and deal with the problem once and for all.

The fact that, despite my irritation with these guys, I still want to see them put out albums I will buy, indicates support.

So please keep the "hatin'" card in the pocket.

It's a copout.

Not all "support" consists of sweet words and platitudes.
[Edited 8/9/05 9:13am]

chuckaducci said:

That's damn good to hear then, cool! And yeah, you know how people like to see otehr people fail, the haterade flows!

I must say the Bilal album has aged well, but I am looking forward to a follow-up.

So wait a minute. If the public desires to hear more from these artists, then how is that hate?

Last I checked, these artists signed deals to record albums for the financial benefit of themselves and their employers. They want to be famous. They want to be rich. Otherwise, they wouldn't show up at awards shows, on videos, or otherwise get airplay.

Wake up. All of these artists, however good or great, are commercial, player.

Oh...so I didnt know you were privy to the exact reasons why these artists became musicians. Yeah right. And the very fact that you equate wanting to be rich and famous to being at awards shows, having radio airplay and being all up in a video shows your logic is horribly and laughably faulty. And besides, when is the last time you saw any of these artists on tv, heard them on the radio or saw their video? Again, unless you've personal insight on the psyche of these artists when they signed their record contracts, you're speaking out of turn and dont know what you're talking about, playa.




I'd like for them to fulfill their potential. I'm not holding my breath for these guys, but when I look at the prolific output of people like Stevie and Prince, and the relative fearlessness of an Ndegeocello to record and work, it makes it hard for me to buy into D'Angelo or Bilal being on the same level. They have the ability to be on the same level, and they're enjoying (enjoy meaning having the benefit of rather than taking pleasure in) an artistic reputation that they haven't fully earned in relation to other artists.

Who are you to determine what these artists potential is? How are you capable of determining if and how potential is either being used or neglected? Why are you judging the musical legacy of Stevie et al with that of Bilal et al? Let an artist be who they are, not what you wish or suppose them to be. These artists all have different talents and legacies to establish that I'm sure you dont have the personal insight to. Perhaps the heavens only meant for Bilal to release two lps. Perhaps D'Angelo was only meant to release three? Who knows? And please stop mentioning Ndedeocello in the same breath you do with Steve Friggin Wonder and Prince!

I dont know about you, but I love a true to life artist struggling with whatever personal affliction. Why? Cos it shows that these artists are not in possession of any "super" power, but are just as human and flawed as I am.

You just make sure you fulfill your potential, playa.

chuckaducci said:

What is it about "business" that you don't understand? You put the "sophist" in sophisticated.

They signed contracts to record for labels.

They appear in music videos.

They make promotional appearances on awards shows.

I say they're in a "commercial business."

That's a fact. That doesn't require a look into their psyche.

Whatever artistic aspirations they have, they want to make money in the process. Nothing wrong with that. They could have taken a vow of poverty or avoided mainstream media altogether if their intentions were as altruistic as you'd like to believe. Reality is indeed much grayer than that. Join us sometime.




Who am I? Namepeace, a music fan with an opinion. If you don't like it, well . . . so?

Who are you to tell me I can't assess the potential of these artists? You're a virtual yes-man for Bilal, so I take it you have some opinion of his potential. So do I.

Who are you to tell me I can and cannot mention Me'Shell in a league with Stevie and Prince? You can't even make logical arguments on a tangential issue like my opinion of Bilal, why would I ever listen to you?

Bilal and D'Angelo can do whatever they want. But they have gifts that people like me would love to support. And if I'm irritated with the fact that they take so long to release albums, that's my opinion. Period.




I do just fine on my own, "playa."

No . . . wait a second . . . we've both used that term, so let me try another one . . .

I do just fine on my own, "potna."

So you love the fact that they're struggling because it shows their humanity? That's a little perverse, isn't it?

You love the human through the struggle, you don't love the struggle of the human. You ought to remember that, "pla . . ." I mean, "potna."

And don't worry about what I think. I'm just a "hater," remember?

Surely you can do better than this. I expected more from you. Your little potshots at me have nothing to do with your idol Bilal and cheapen your argument. So maybe someone has to work on their own "potential" to post with clarity and class and avoid ad hominem attacks.

*refusal to stoop to your level edit*
[Edited 8/9/05 12:12pm]

Namepeace, i think that's the first time i've seen you use an emoticon.

sinisterpentatonic said:

sometimes they're necessary to deal with dumb arguments from orgers who should know better without resorting to insults.

namepeace said:

Who you telling?

chuckaducci said:

"Haters" my ass, I don't have shit to do w/ him doing drugs This ain't about loving to see brothers self destruct - that's the last thing I wanna see. Muufuckas gotta take responsibility for their own shit. Glad he's performing, hope he's cleaned up & back in the studio soon.




.
[Edited 8/10/05 1:40am]

What is it about "business" that you don't understand? You put the "sophist" in sophisticated.

They signed contracts to record for labels.

They appear in music videos.

They make promotional appearances on awards shows.

I say they're in a "commercial business."

That's a fact. That doesn't require a look into their psyche.

Whatever artistic aspirations they have, they want to make money in the process. Nothing wrong with that. They could have taken a vow of poverty or avoided mainstream media altogether if their intentions were as altruistic as you'd like to believe. Reality is indeed much grayer than that. Join us sometime.

LOL! I do put the sophist in sophistication and you aint the first to notice. Second of all, you claimed that Bilal and these other artists entered into the music business for riches and fame. Did you not? I was debating this case, "brotha." I was saying you dont know what their personal aspirations are so dont assume that it's to be all up in the public's eye making money and being on the covers of magazines cos you know what.....?...they aint!

Who am I? Namepeace, a music fan with an opinion. If you don't like it, well . . . so?

I was being rhetorical, genius. I really really dont care who you are to be honest. This is a music board forum and no place for affection.

Who are you to tell me I can't assess the potential of these artists? You're a virtual yes-man for Bilal, so I take it you have some opinion of his potential. So do I.

Haha! I'm not a yes man for Bilal. I'm a musician and I know how hard it is to kick habits that can hinder the creative process and make life a mess. I'm sympathetic towards Bilal's and D'Angelo's and Maxwell's plights and problems (mostly assumed).

Who are you to tell me I can and cannot mention Me'Shell in a league with Stevie and Prince? You can't even make logical arguments on a tangential issue like my opinion of Bilal, why would I ever listen to you?

Because the opinions of a person who places Me'Shell in the same league with Stevie Wonder and Prince, two giants of modern recording history, I dunno.....I got some cheap waterfront property to sell ya if that's the case, "brotha."

Bilal and D'Angelo can do whatever they want. But they have gifts that people like me would love to support. And if I'm irritated with the fact that they take so long to release albums, that's my opinion. Period.

Touche. It just seemed like to me you were whining and hating rather than voicing some concern. And fans who whine and hate are true fans; they want a product from a robot. Musicians are not robots and make mistakes. Dont expect art from an artist when you want it; it dont work like that "brotha."

So you love the fact that they're struggling because it shows their humanity? That's a little perverse, isn't it?

You love the human through the struggle, you don't love the struggle of the human.

I'll say it again...I love it not because I like to see people I admire in pain, but because I realize that they are not some manufactured product slinging out art that isnt true to their person. They are struggling with problems like I'm struggling with problems. I respect a musician who is battling horrible pain because I myself, like other musicians I know, battle pain and affliction every day. I see no perversity in that. If you do, its no surprise to me...we're just different cats with different views.

Surely you can do better than this. I expected more from you. Your little potshots at me have nothing to do with your idol Bilal and cheapen your argument. So maybe someone has to work on their own "potential" to post with clarity and class and avoid ad hominem attacks.

You're a smart guy. But again, you've no idea what you're talking about. I've never volleyed a potshot towards you. Show me where I did. I admire Bilal's talent, but idolize no one. I post with extreme clarity which is obvious because how could you reply to my posts without understanding me and these ad hominem attacks are not attacks and are ad hominem because how else could I reply to your posts in a message board?!


sometimes they're necessary to deal with dumb arguments from orgers who should know better without resorting to insults.

Hey. Call it how you see it. I dont think my arguments are dumb but again, I'm not gonna get my panties all up in a bunch cos some boardie caint follow me.

"Haters" my ass, I don't have shit to do w/ him doing drugs

I didnt say you did dude. If you're not a hater, which you dont seem to be, why are you stressin'?