Eight Gigs: Bilal

You know Bilal, even if you think you don’t. His vocals have carried hooks and provided backing ambiance to hundreds of hit records across multiple Common albums, Jay Z’s “Fallin’,” and most recently on Kendrick Lamar’s last three albums. He’s a soul brother henchman that deserves the same name recognition of Nate Dogg when it comes to blessing a track. Bilal keeps supreme company like Soulquarians in its heyday or his current cohorts of Robert Glasper, Kimbra and Adrian Younge. Meanwhile, his albums A Love Surreal and In Another Life are testaments that he’s not merely a support singer. 2708 J Street, http://bilalmusic.com.