Questlove gives Bilal his flowers following the release of a live album, comparing him to the greats across genres.
On Saturday (June 15), the multifaceted artist popped up on Instagram to shower the singer-songwriter with praise, along with a video compilation of Bilal’s latest musical masterpiece.
“Bilal is Jon Hendricks + Walter Junie Morrison + Melvin Wilson (The New Birth) + Jeff Buckley + Donny Hathaway + Ronnie Dyson + Glenn Goines + Joey Dee (Cymande) + Jay Kay + Bobby Debarge + Andy Kauffman + George Duke + Oscar Brown Jr + Angelo Moore + David Byrne+ the unexpressed trauma experience of Trans Atlantic Africans & the accumulated marvel of our magic in a voice,” he began in the caption. “For real.”
“I know it’s hard for someone to make a move without some sort of insurance of satisfaction,” he added before diving into the power of teaming up with likeminded individual. “I mean let’s face it did Million Dollar Baby sit there on the shelf alone & you gravitated to it? Or did you (like me) see all your peeps riding the wave having fun on their socials & you get fomo?
“No shame in that,” he exclaimed. “But sometimes you just gotta support religiously people that deserve the Royal Treatment. We live in a world in which an artist like Bilal possesses a talent so majestic it’s almost seen as a hindrance or a stain that will keep him from getting his just desserts because he is so advanced math it’s almost UNcommon.”
“It don’t have to be that way: Bilal & @robertglasper & @boombishop & @common & I came to @glasshaus & jammed in the living room w 100 of our peeps & made a fine piece of art.
Is this hip hop’s #MoneyJungle? a quiet summit meeting that will make “best of” lists some 20 years down the line?”
The 11-track album, first announced in mid-May, features Questlove, Common, Robert Glasper, and Burniss Travis. It was recorded and filmed at Bilal’s intimate show at Glasshaus in Brooklyn and includes live renditions of beloved songs from his iconic catalog, such as “Soul Sista” and “Sometimes.”
“I felt comfortable to create because I knew I had some of the best motherfuckers in the world playing. I like intimate vibes where everyone’s drawing off the energy in the room. When you’re up there making something and giving, with the people up there listening and receiving, it creates this circular motion of energy; it’s a timeless moment,” said Bilal, previously speaking on Live at Glasshaus, Rated R&B reports.
Check out Questlove’s tribute of sorts, below.