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806:" and a retrospective look on the world and where we are today. There’s not a lot of music like that these days. It almost like some people today have the mental concept of if the world’s going to blow up tomorrow, let’s just get drunk, high and party and if shit blow up, we blow up… I made a record that was my retrospect on that mentality.
458:, who he says "was dope at that; mixing a lot different artists in a band to create one distinct sound". Recording with a smaller budget than previously for Interscope, he found that "you don't need to be in a gigantic studio, you just need to be in a good room with acoustics and be creative with how you mic things or use things."
407:. Recalling the process, he says, "It sort of starts on the piano and then I go to the Garage Band and make, like, a little sketch of something I can sing to and then go from there. It allows me play around with the shape of the song more." The songs were variously written in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Amsterdam.
494:
experimented with different snare drums and kicks. It took a bunch of time because we had that freedom to just experiment and be creative." In an interview soon after the album's release in late 2010, Bilal said that he and McKie "put the finishing touches and tightened everything up over the last year".
753:
type of deal, with people giving it mad love online and just became this underground type of sensation. So that's the real revenge, the music couldn't be shut down or hidden, but people got it and they loved it, just like I loved making it. That was the meaning behind 'revenge,' and 'Airtight' is
414:
in different ways and tried to "write short stories and dark tales of life in general". He drew inspiration from his personal experiences, as well as "a lot of things from fiction" in an effort to "make certain statements, from a love standpoint", he explains. Bilal adds that his experience with
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after listening to Bilal's preliminary compositions on GarageBand. McKie began recording with Bilal in late 2008, starting with 13 compositions and eventually co-producing seven of the album's songs. As McKie explains, "We just went through a bunch of sounds, locked ourselves in the studio and
441:
After hearing some of Bilal's GarageBand compositions, his touring drummer persuaded him to record one of the songs at the former's studio. By doing so, Bilal felt inspired to record further. In the studio, the singer held improvisatory sessions with his accompanying musicians, comparing it to
1204:
perceived a "brooding, airless intensity" and praised its "claustrophobic introspection and soul-searching". Sputnikmusic's Nick Butler said that, "musically, there are dozens of neo-soul records in the past three or four years that reach far beyond the limits of most of
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cited the album as "a generation-defining masterwork of unflinching vision" and wrote that it is "all about texture and musicality. Songs more than shout or intimate their ideas, they envelop you fully, so you feel the full weight of what it is Bilal is talking about".
1221:
a "buried jewel that really deserved a wider audience", commenting that "It's personal, idiosyncratic, complex, dense, sophisticated and messy, a thoroughly contemporary soul record with a defiant indie-rock sensibility, which is why it never found a home on radio".
1240:
s
Anupamistry wrote that it lacks "the cut-loose, flailing vocal work" of Bilal's previous work, but ultimately complimented its "more progressive, less structured, arranging". Apart from a few overdone "rock guitar histrionics", Dacks wrote in his review for
1177:
journalist Jeff Weiss noted its "formless floating funk" and praised Bilal as "ludicrously soulful and endearingly experimental", calling the album "a soothing anodyne to the often over-processed come-ons that pass for contemporary R&B".
29:
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Bilal Oliver – vocals, keyboards (tracks: 1, 4, 5, 10), synthesizer (2, 3), piano (2, 5), organ (3, 9, 10), human beat box (3), synthesizer bass (7), horn/string arrangements (9, 11)
397:
Bilal worked on the album intermittently for approximately three years, with the singer saying he began creating its music "around 2008". While touring in response to the popularity of
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rifle. Instead of a rifle, Bilal is holding a microphone, and instead of peering through his bedroom curtain, Bilal is peering through a heavy red stage curtain. In an interview with
2413:
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but nobody is writing or delivering lyrics like this. Emotionally, is so revealing that it gets difficult to listen to". In a year-end article on overlooked albums in 2010,
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652:
Lyrically, the album explores a wider range of subjects than Bilal's previous albums, including love, spirituality, politics, economics, and religion. Evan
Rytlewski of
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being bootlegged, and getting in conflict with my label and it never coming out. Just the whole long, drawn-out standstill behind it and how it kind of turned into a
1231:
found the album overlong, particularly the second half, which he said "bogs down with an abundance of noodly slow jams. But the strong stuff here is very strong".
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359:, formed the inspiration for the album's dark songwriting, which explores themes of love, spirituality, capitalism, and politics, with lyrics informed by
674:
766:. I kind of kept that name, 'Airtight.' And I think even back then I thought it would be dope to have an album with the title Airtight-something, so
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show". In contrast to his previous albums, Bilal pursued a more guitar-led direction based in rock and soul, with influences from jazz, blues, and
3049:
762:. I casually read both of their whole catalogs, and they inspired me as a songwriter also, but there's a book Iceberg Slim wrote and the title is
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694:, "every second screams personal statement, from the weighty, heartfelt lyrics to Bilal's anguished, soulful vocals. There are no throwaway
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s Andrew Martin says it "owes more to contemporary album-oriented indie rock than pop, R&B or hip-hop", while
Michael Hewlett from the
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403:, his controversially shelved but leaked album, Bilal began composing new music on his computer using the digital audio workstation
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ranked the album number 61 in its year-end list of best albums for 2010, calling it a "wildly inventive, wildly enjoyable album".
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journalist Luke Gibson, "the production is to experimental to be called Neo Soul, to funky to be called Acid Jazz, and to
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based in Los
Angeles. Its earliest release was in the UK on September 6, 2010. In the US, it debuted at number 101 on the
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2005:
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percussion, subdued guitar and keys, strings, bluesy horns, and lyrical themes concerning poverty and the pitfalls of
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nature" and how it "largely eschewed Bilal's earlier throwback aesthetic for a denser electronic sound". According to
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Well, the meaning of the title is reflecting all the stuff I've been through in the last nine years, with my album
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Bilal's brand is utterly contemporary, meaning it's a mix of everything that's come before while adding a raft of
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s A.D. Amorosi stated, "Bilal - the vocalist - opens the valves and bleats, glides, coos, and cajoles like
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1166:"one heavy, messy, dynamite album — one that could take a decade to be fully processed". Tyler Lewis of
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voice runs down metaphysical and personal subjects overtop a continuously changing musical landscape...
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prog soul of the '70s, with a strong, jazzy undercurrent, but it's much more than that. Bilal's reedy,
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during a period of approximately three years, working alongside the musician-producers Steve McKie,
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Conley "Tone" Whitfield – electric bass (2, 3, 6, 8, 10), guitar (6, 10), piano and drums (6)
713:. The track "Little One" is based on Bilal's relationship with his then-nine-year-old son, who is
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A 30-second sample of the song, which features a guitar-led production with an irregular rhythm
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1949:"EXCLUSIVE: Bilal on His New Album's Concept and Corporate Conformity in Today's Black Music"
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Masayuki Hirano – Moog electric piano (1), keyboards (2, 8), Moog and synthesizer (4, 5)
485:, and, most prominently, Steve McKie. A drummer-producer who had recorded with the singer on
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that the album "has something for everyone who appreciates the entire spectrum of soul".
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styles. Referencing Bilal's intention to create music that would challenge a computer,
355:. Experiences from his personal life and professional conflicts with his former label,
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The ones that got away: Music critics reveal what they left off their year-end lists
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later named it among "a line of revelatory, late-period neo-soul albums", including
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rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an
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just an old nickname that I got. Back in the day, I used to really be into reading
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584:'s Frannie Kelley, "the sound here is more electronic than the neo-soul of the
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343:- and guitar-oriented than Bilal's previous albums, featuring influences from
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chart, selling 4,600 copies in its first week. Although it charted modestly,
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2013:
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309:, while touring in the aftermath of his unreleased but widely leaked album
2140:"Relish Spins - Bilal's voice steadies album; Chesney: More rock 'n' soul"
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794:, Bilal elaborated on the message behind the album's cover art, stating:
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298:. It was released on September 14, 2010, by the independent record label
93:
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chart, with first-week sales of 4,600 copies. It peaked at number 21 on
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Bilal began composing music for the album using the recording software
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Junius
Bervine – synthesizer and Fender Rhodes electric piano (1)
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When writing the lyrics, Bilal says he wanted to approach expressing
705:"Restart", written about resuming a relationship, features varying
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https://www.billboard.com/artist/bilal/chart-history/billboard-200
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Steve McKie – drums (1–3, 5, 7–10), drum programming (3, 7–9)
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36:
1844:"Q&A With Bilal: The Return & Revenge Of A Genre Blender"
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Ben "Bananas" O'Neil – lead guitar (2), acoustic guitar (10)
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Mike
Severson – guitar, electric guitar (1, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11)
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I'm killing them with the words. This album was my version of
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2489:
Bilal Album & Song Chart
History - R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
1567:
Steve McKie – producer (1–3, 7–10), engineer (1–3, 5–11)
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I want to make music that is going to confuse the computer.
2012:(Interview). Interviewed by Jerry L. Barrow. Archived from
1533: – synthesizer strings and string arrangements (5, 11)
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KenBts. – modular synthesizer and drum programming (5)
2369:
Bilal Breaks the Dollar, Headlines
Echoplex Thursday Night
2062:"G'tn singer hard to reach but gaining national following"
739:, Bilal elaborated on the album title's meaning, stating:
2510:
Bilal Album & Song Chart
History - Independent Albums
2777:
1588:
Conley "Tone" Whitfield – engineer and producer (6)
1225:
Some reviewers were less enthusiastic. Mikael Wood of
1784:"Bilal Talks About His New Album, Airtight's Revenge"
576:
writer Marcus J. Moore says it explains the music's "
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was well received by music critics upon its release.
1482: – electric guitar (2, 3, 8, 9), effects (3, 8)
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calls it "sped-up rock and jazz". In the opinion of
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and the ensuing conflict with his then-record label
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1615:Brent Rollins The Design Explosion! – artwork
423:led him to the "dark underworld" storytelling of
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1606:Andrew Lojero – executive producer, A&R
1694:, a 2008 album by singer-songwriter and fellow
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2467:Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 9/19/2010
2228:"Bilal w/ Lauren Tilese at Ardmore Music Hall"
1494: – acoustic and electric guitar, bass (4)
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980:
592:, with several Bilals often singing at once."
437:(shown in 2005) played guitar on several songs
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1143:was met with widespread critical acclaim. At
8:
1573:Frederick G. McIntosh – co-producer (4)
1075:
1037:
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851:has sold 4,800 copies in the United States.
778:The album's cover art is a reference to the
624:sonic touches. At its heart is the classic,
2431:. Parlour Magazine. Retrieved on 2011-11-1.
2088:"First Listen: Bilal, 'Airtight's Revenge'"
1702:, featuring Bilal and also conceived using
1585:KenBts. – engineer and co-producer (5)
786:peering through his window while holding a
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1609:Allen Avanessian – executive producer
858:
675:New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh)
366:The album debuted at number 106 on the US
27:
18:
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2727:. Sputnikmusic. Retrieved on 2010-09-27.
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1564:Bilal Oliver – producer (1–5, 7–10)
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2622:Takiff, Jonathan (September 14, 2010).
2326:"Singer Bilal Teams with Autism Speaks"
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588:' heyday ... The production is heavily
2353:Bilal: "The Dollar" (Black Milk Remix)
1971:
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1947:Abdusalaam, Ismael (August 14, 2010).
1570:Nottz – engineer and producer (4)
537:
454:. He utilized ideas from the music of
2420:. SoulBounce. Retrieved on 2011-11-1.
2324:Peters, Mitchell (October 10, 2011).
2138:Hewlett, Michael (October 21, 2010).
2086:Kelley, Frannie (September 5, 2010).
1978:"Bilal: In Another Life Album Review"
1806:
1804:
1691:New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)
1488:Tom Spiker – electric guitar (3)
887:
864:
7:
2647:Amorosi, A.D. (September 26, 2010).
2548:Kellman, Andy (September 10, 2010).
2476:. HipHopDX. Retrieved on 2010-09-27.
2465:Jacobs, Allen (September 22, 2010).
2310:Nishimoto, Dan (September 8, 2010).
1881:(Interview). Interviewed by Ron Hart
1612:Hawk Burns – executive producer
1473: – piano (7), Fender Rhodes (9)
1155:score of 87, based on nine reviews.
688:(2012). According to David Dacks of
2720:Butler, Nick (September 20, 2010).
2595:Gibson, Luke (September 22, 2010).
2440:Pattison, Louis (August 27, 2010).
2389:Jones, Steve (September 18, 2010).
2351:Martin, Andrew (February 1, 2011).
2288:Wood, Mikael (September 16, 2010).
2199:Dacks, David (September 21, 2010).
2166:Gibson, Luke (September 22, 2010).
2039:Lewis, Tyler (September 28, 2010).
2006:"Meet Bilal's Producer Steve McKie"
2004:McKie, Steve (September 14, 2010).
1603:Arnold Mischkulnig – mastering
1115:
982:
2672:Anupamistry (September 30, 2010).
2572:Rabin, Nathan (October 12, 2010).
2355:. Prefix. Retrieved on 2011-06-13.
2314:. Prefix. Retrieved on 2011-06-13.
1976:Moore, Marcus J. (June 29, 2015).
1873:"Revenge of the Soulquarian Bilal"
774:film. It kind of fit the scenario.
473:Bilal collaborated with producers
14:
2736:Powers, Ann (December 30, 2010).
1725:Reeves, Mosi (October 29, 2010).
1077:
1039:
908:
302:, his first album for the label.
2367:Weiss, Jeff (October 28, 2010).
2252:Rytlewski, Evan (24 July 2012).
2112:Martin, Andrew (June 19, 2010).
1936:Bilal – the EYE WEEKLY interview
1576:Darryl Sloan – engineer (4)
1543:Lamont Caldwell – saxophone
1129:
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702:; it's 100 percent pure soul. "
538:Problems playing this file? See
520:
2060:Lear, Len (September 4, 2015).
1618:Eric Coleman – photography
1549:Jermaine Bryson – trombone
1546:Leon Jordan, Jr. – trumpet
550:has been described as a mix of
327:, Conley "Tone" Whitfield, and
3050:Bilal (American singer) albums
1257:
717:. "The Dollar" features oddly-
294:by American singer-songwriter
1:
2527:"Airtight's Revenge by Bilal"
2254:"Frank Ocean: Channel Orange"
1907:Reyes, Andres (Autumn 2010).
1600:Jason Goldstein – mixing
1509: – electric bass (5, 11)
489:, McKie was eager to work on
2597:"Bilal - Airtight's Revenge"
2168:"Bilal - Airtight's Revenge"
1591:Dan Raaf – engineer (8)
1527: – drum programming (5)
1518: – drum programming (4)
1758:Staff (December 24, 2010).
1350:Shafiq Husayn, Bilal Oliver
3076:
2744:. Retrieved on 2010-12-31.
2711:. Retrieved on 2010-10-14.
2692:. Retrieved on 2010-09-30.
2660:. Retrieved on 2010-10-15.
2635:. Retrieved on 2010-09-27.
2585:. Retrieved on 2010-10-14.
2560:. Retrieved on 2019-11-18.
2516:. Retrieved on 2010-09-27.
2497:. Retrieved on 2010-09-27.
2451:. Retrieved on 2010-09-27.
2402:. Retrieved on 2010-09-27.
2377:. Retrieved on 2010-11-01.
2301:. Retrieved on 2010-09-27.
2201:"Bilal Airtight's Revenge"
2050:. Retrieved on 2010-09-28.
1871:Bilal (November 4, 2010).
1842:Anon. (October 18, 2010).
1766:. Retrieved on 2010-12-31.
1760:The Best 70 Albums of 2010
1738:. Retrieved on 2010-10-29.
1659:Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
841:Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
815:The album was released by
3006:The Dresden Soul Symphony
3000:The Dresden Soul Symphony
2657:The Philadelphia Inquirer
2312:Bilal: Airtight's Revenge
1500: – electric bass (1)
1431:
1424:Bilal Oliver, Steve McKie
1417:
1410:Bilal Oliver, Steve McKie
1403:
1396:Bilal Oliver, Steve McKie
1389:
1382:Bilal Oliver, Steve McKie
1375:
1357:
1339:
1322:
1315:Bilal Oliver, Steve McKie
1304:
1297:Bilal Oliver, Steve McKie
1286:
1279:Bilal Oliver, Steve McKie
1272:
1264:
1261:
1181:The Philadelphia Inquirer
975:The Philadelphia Inquirer
895:
892:
872:
869:
709:sections and a soul/rock
393:Bilal on tour in May 2008
279:
232:
217:
180:
26:
3045:Albums produced by Nottz
1953:Beats, Boxing and Mayhem
1552:Damon Bryson – tuba
1536:Horns on tracks 9 and 10
843:and at number 23 on its
764:Airtight Willie & Me
315:. He wrote and recorded
3060:Progressive soul albums
2632:Philadelphia Daily News
1276:"Cake & Eat It Too"
963:Philadelphia Daily News
160:Conley "Tone" Whitfield
2835:(2001–03; leaked 2006)
1531:Miguel Atwood-Ferguson
1162:, Andy Kellman called
808:
776:
638:
509:
465:
438:
394:
2145:Winston-Salem Journal
1909:"Cool on the Outside"
1812:"Hip-Hop Soul: Bilal"
1597: – producer (11)
602:Winston-Salem Journal
508:
433:
392:
385:Writing and recording
3055:Plug Research albums
2114:"Airtight's Revenge"
1582: – producer (5)
860:Professional ratings
733:In an interview for
3014:The Real Thing Tour
2066:Chesnutt Hill Local
861:
811:Marketing and sales
729:Title and packaging
227:Airtight's Revenge
16:2010 album by Bilal
2840:Airtight's Revenge
2768:Airtight's Revenge
2724:Airtight's Revenge
2703:Airtight's Revenge
2682:2010-10-03 at the
2676:Airtight's Revenge
2651:Airtight's Revenge
2626:Airtight's Revenge
2576:Airtight's Revenge
2552:Airtight's Revenge
2472:2010-09-23 at the
2444:Airtight's Revenge
2416:2011-11-01 at the
2393:Airtight's Revenge
2292:Airtight's Revenge
2043:Airtight's Revenge
1925:– via Issuu.
1729:Airtight's Revenge
1673:Independent Albums
1219:Airtight's Revenge
1207:Airtight's Revenge
1164:Airtight's Revenge
1147:, which assigns a
1141:Airtight's Revenge
859:
855:Critical reception
849:Airtight's Revenge
845:Independent Albums
772:black exploitation
768:Airtight's Revenge
665:BLACKsummers'night
548:Airtight's Revenge
510:
491:Airtight's Revenge
439:
425:Airtight's Revenge
395:
375:Airtight's Revenge
357:Interscope Records
317:Airtight's Revenge
287:Airtight's Revenge
196:Airtight's Revenge
52:September 14, 2010
22:Airtight's Revenge
3027:
3026:
2742:Los Angeles Times
2374:Los Angeles Times
2016:on March 23, 2011
1681:
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1447:
1446:
1174:Los Angeles Times
1138:
1137:
821:independent label
525:
283:
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213:
212:
3067:
2988:Related articles
2939:Featured singles
2802:
2795:
2788:
2779:
2763:
2762:
2760:Official website
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1848:BallerStatus.com
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1786:. Archived from
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1723:
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1368:Conley Whitfield
1259:
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1199:
1191:at his freest".
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865:Aggregate scores
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792:Parlour Magazine
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498:Music and lyrics
469:
452:electronic music
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84:progressive soul
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2978:Little One Tour
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2856:In Another Life
2824:1st Born Second
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2705:(2010): Reviews
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1435:"Think It Over"
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804:What's Going On
770:sounded like a
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700:in-da-club jams
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641:— David Dacks (
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2848:A Love Surreal
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2752:External links
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1820:. May 27, 2011
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1158:Reviewing for
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751:phoenix-rising
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685:Channel Orange
626:album-oriented
617:
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468:— Bilal (2015)
460:
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331:. The album's
281:
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271:Released: 2010
260:
258:Released: 2010
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245:Released: 2010
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205:A Love Surreal
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2947:The 6th Sense
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2832:Love for Sale
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2598:
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2583:
2582:The A.V. Club
2578:
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2569:
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2563:
2559:
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2300:
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2259:The A.V. Club
2255:
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2245:
2233:
2229:
2223:
2220:
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2118:Prefixmag.com
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2015:
2011:
2010:NODFACTOR.COM
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1790:on 2010-09-23
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1580:Shafiq Husayn
1578:
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1525:Shafiq Husayn
1523:
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1498:Derrick Hodge
1496:
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1421:"Who Are You"
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1249:Track listing
1248:
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1236:
1235:
1230:
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1220:
1216:
1212:
1208:
1203:
1196:
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1194:The A.V. Club
1190:
1183:
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1176:
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939:The A.V. Club
936:
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903:
900:
899:
891:
888:Review scores
886:
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868:
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854:
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835:
834:
829:
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818:
817:Plug Research
810:
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795:
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789:
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769:
765:
761:
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756:Donald Goines
752:
748:
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746:Love for Sale
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655:The A.V. Club
649:
646:
645:
637:
635:
631:
627:
623:
616:
615:to be Funk".
614:
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594:Prefixmag.com
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487:Love for Sale
484:
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475:Shafiq Husayn
470:
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417:Love for Sale
413:
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325:Shafiq Husayn
322:
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312:Love for Sale
308:
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300:Plug Research
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290:is the third
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191:(unreleased)
189:
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187:Love for Sale
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156:Shafiq Husayn
154:
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130:Plug Research
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2995:Soulquarians
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1788:the original
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1407:"The Dollar"
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2961:These Walls
2608:October 11,
2337:January 22,
2262:. Chicago:
2151:January 22,
1700:Erykah Badu
1696:Soulquarian
1492:Freddie Mac
1265:Producer(s)
800:Marvin Gaye
680:Frank Ocean
670:Erykah Badu
456:Frank Zappa
147:Steve McKie
3034:Categories
2929:Little One
2922:All Matter
2894:Soul Sista
2709:Metacritic
2532:Metacritic
2449:BBC Online
2237:August 21,
2212:August 22,
2179:August 21,
2123:August 21,
2048:PopMatters
1989:August 22,
1958:August 14,
1921:August 19,
1885:August 21,
1853:August 20,
1824:August 20,
1794:2010-09-23
1764:PopMatters
1710:References
1704:GarageBand
1559:Production
1363:Little One
1310:All Matter
1217:described
1168:PopMatters
1149:normalized
1145:Metacritic
1008:PopMatters
879:Metacritic
788:M1 carbine
723:capitalism
698:or breezy
622:futuristic
568:electronic
540:media help
421:Interscope
405:GarageBand
379:PopMatters
341:electronic
337:rock music
307:GarageBand
266:Little One
253:All Matter
176:chronology
89:electronic
79:indie rock
2908:Fast Lane
2875:Voyage-19
2514:Billboard
2494:Billboard
2399:USA Today
2331:Billboard
2264:The Onion
2020:March 23,
1983:Pitchfork
1670:Billboard
1656:Billboard
1643:Billboard
1635:position
1456:Musicians
1451:Personnel
1379:"Move On"
1215:USA Today
1108:USA Today
833:Billboard
826:Billboard
784:Malcolm X
613:free-form
573:Pitchfork
516:"Restart"
369:Billboard
60:2008–2010
3019:Neo soul
2954:Faithful
2722:Review:
2680:Archived
2674:Review:
2649:Review:
2624:Review:
2602:HipHopDX
2574:Review:
2558:AllMusic
2550:Review:
2470:Archived
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2391:Review:
2298:Time Out
2290:Review:
2206:Exclaim!
2173:HipHopDX
2097:July 25,
2071:July 20,
2041:Review:
1727:Review:
1684:See also
1393:"Robots"
1326:"Flying"
1243:Exclaim!
1228:Time Out
1189:Coltrane
1160:AllMusic
1032:Time Out
951:HipHopDX
902:AllMusic
736:The Root
715:autistic
691:Exclaim!
668:(2009),
644:Exclaim!
608:HipHopDX
353:futurism
339:is more
137:Producer
94:neo soul
57:Recorded
49:Released
39: by
2915:Restart
2901:Love It
2886:Singles
2773:Discogs
2554:- Bilal
2269:24 July
1698:member
1595:88-Keys
1439:88-Keys
1292:Restart
1153:average
847:chart.
660:Maxwell
647:, 2010)
632:-meets-
590:layered
483:88-Keys
329:88-Keys
240:Restart
223:Singles
209:(2013)
200:(2010)
164:88-Keys
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