1st Born Second

Bilal's debut, First Born Second, is a classic example of this.
The opening tracks are patchy. The Dre produced 'Fast Lane' is misleading as to the direction of the album and sounds, typically of Dre, overproduced. Don't be too quick to write Bilal off, however, as his ear-catching talents shine through the rest of the album, especially in the outstanding introspective 'Sometimes' and 'Remenisce'.

The album is a strong display of the youngsters immense vocal talents. He sings with a Prince like falsetto throughout, using effective overlapping vocal collages, a sure sign of production by Raphael Saadiq and the Soulquarian collective.

The vocal talents in the first half of the album are obvious, the right production is working well, tracks like 'All That I Am' and 'Sally' are good strong efforts, but there seems to be something lacking, something that brings everything that was individually good about the various tracks and makes it all melt together - a standout track.

The track in question comes half way through the album. If the rest of the tracks are milk, flour, eggs, and sugar, Soul Sista is the cake. Everything the album has promised to offer so far comes together to form a delicious slice of slow thumping philly soul, as smooth as Maxwell and as blatant as D'Angelo.

Bilal's debut is a solid show of outstanding talents from a poentially great artist seemingly still finding his feet. Worth the money for soul fans, however anyone else might be better off waiting for the inevitabley more mature second album.


Soul Brotha   August 26, 2005
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Bilal is a soul artist much like D'Angelo,Sade and Lauryn Hill they take long stretches of time between albums. "1st Born Second" was released in 2001 and i can honestly say that i pretty much slept on the album it just sat on my shelf collecting dust i gave it another spin not so long ago after hearing his now bootlegged follow-up "Love For Sale" i forgot how much charismatic and promising singer he actually is!. Although i've had this album for lil over 3 years i think i played it within that stretch about 8 time now since the last time i played it ive listened to it 12 times more lol i seriously can't get enough im absolutly mad at myself that i never gave this album a really good chance. It opens up with a brief intro with a poem which makes me laugh when he says "im like warm lotion on your back....daaayummm" lol
then opens up to the rest of the album "For You" has a weird computer generated noise thats all i can describe i has with a touch of jazz to this song with a strong hip-hop influence the song is cool singing about all the things i'd do for this partner. "Fast Lane" & "Reminisce" are the most commercial sounding songs on the entire CD hooking up with Dr.Dre and Jadakiss for a "street-soul" vibe which works very well where as "Reminisce" goes back to his SoulQuarian roots with Common and Mos Def which stands as one of my favourite tracks gives it a good 'Philly-Soul' vibe.
"All That I Am" has a nice up-tempo vibe to it even though the lyrics are somewhat angry but its a good song its very catchy then you get to Dr Dre's second installment to the album in the shape of "Sally" it reminds me of Dr Dre's "Still D.R.E" in terms of the beat but it's not really my favourite Bilal sounds great the chorus just annoys me a bit but the verses are cool hes voice is jus so cool!. "Sometimes" is my favourite song on the album the words are jus superb "i wish my eyes wasnt so red..sometimes" one of my favourite lines and his voice on this just shows its full potenial and can hear clearly that Prince is one of his staple influences. "Love It" & "C'mere" are probably the more weaker tracks the latter is just more like an interlude with just a bunch of wailing and weird noises while "Love It" is an up-tempo soulful groove and also was the one of the singles it just didnt' grab me.
"Soul Sista" the 1st single that was produced by Raphael Saadiq it was the song that properly introduced me to Bilal as a solo artist (i heard him on Common's "Like Water For Chocolate" before this release) the song is just beautiful Prince should be proud the only thing that i didnt like was the 'sex noises' towards the end i just didnt think there was any point. "When Will You Call" another of my favourites he just really breaks it down on this one i fount it quite a vulnerable song about his girl not calling him and not hearing from her for a while n he feeling a bit depressed out it all. "Queen Of Sanity" starts off kinda eerie and he sings very low to begin with he does pick up and again shows off the actual strength he has in his voice "Love Poems" has a weird intro that carrys on through-out the song sorta like wood wind chimes clanging together has a spoken word portion where he speaks then towards the end a woman reads out the poem which i enjoyed (i love poetry) another favourite. "You Are" is a nice slow jam ballad which has a nice beat and lyrics are sweet and if im not mistaken its Marsha from Floetry on background vocals. The most experimental and effective addition to the album "Home" is a soulful reggae track which would make any avid reggae fan happy its a happy song "Slyde" is weird but i like it with its thick,heavy bassline which just oozes sexiness reminds me a bit like Lenny Kravitz mixed with D'Angelo a good song and the closer "Second Child" is kinda disturbing about abuse it fount it a bit too weird to listen to at 1st but its an ok song i dont wanna say i love it 'coz i don't but if this helped Bilal vent then....cool

Top 5
1.Sometimes
2.When Will You Call
3.Soul Sista
4.Reminisce
5.You Are
This album is a modern masterpiece in soul music today he's a rising star even though hes been in this game for a while
buy it and own some greatness


A must have album!!   July 19, 2005
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

I bought this album having heard nothing about Bilal but only listening to the samples on itunes (and wanted something new to listen to). All I can say it the album is fantastic, pure old school yet modern brilliance !!! The album is fantastic so soulful and so real! Perfect music whatever mood your in! A really refreshing new sound and twist to modern soul!! You will not regret buying this album!!!!!!!! Make sure you listen to -You Are, Home and All That I Am.


An album worth 5000 stars   January 7, 2005
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

I borrowed this album from a friend not long after it came out, I was instantly hooked, I went straight out and got the original where it stayed in my cd player!!!!.
I have to say honestly it is one of the best albums ive ever heard!!!!!.
Bilal sings with his heart, he loves soul, he loves the music he produces and you know he knows what real music is just by listening to this album.
Along the soul lines of Dwele, Jill Scott, Jaguar Wright, Rahpael Sadiq but completely original and his own style. His voice is utterly divine, lyrics are supreme and the instruments......well it blew me away!!

There isnt many cd's that u can leave in from track No 1 and play through - this is one!!.

Tracks including: For You, Love It, Sometimes, Soul Sista are just the work of a genius.

I strongly recommend this album buy it and you will have found soul heaven.

I am now waiting in anticipation for a new album and if Bilal comes to the UK to tour i'll be there!!!


Definatley a unique talent!   June 3, 2004
 2 out of 2 found this review helpful

The first thing that struck me about this album and I still love till this day is the ecleticism of the lp.It is definatley a combination of soul, jazz, funk, RnB, hip-hop even has an element of reagge in a track.People familliar with his work usually talk about 'soul sista','fast lane' etc. But i would say that there is far more to the album than these. One has to highlight the excellet and very funky 'Sally' which was also produced by Dre, the amazing jazzy love poems and when will you call i would say are some of the best the album has to offer.'Reminicse' feat Mos Def and Common is very good and 'all that i am' in my opnion is probably the best track on this LP which was not an easy decision to make. Overall a excellent album with variety that keeps your interest all the way through. Vocally he is quite similar to Prince but in my opnion thats where the similarities end. I dont know why he hasnt realised anything else yet but i hope he does, because this man is pure talent.