Though he performs under the single name of Bilal, he was born Bilal Sayeed Oliver and trained in jazz and classical music before joining the SoulQuarians, the progressive-soul collective of [Erykah Badu], D'Angelo, Q-Tip, Guru, Talib Kweli and the Roots' Ahmir Thompson. Bilal belongs in that heady company, because he has the skills to create melodies and harmonies as well as grooves, because he possesses a terrific tenor voice that can nail every note he writes and because his lyrics can articulate the meaning implied by the music.