Bilal talks legacy, family, and soul before free Milwaukee concert

Now in its second year, Summer of Soul is produced by Culture X Design kicks off with none other than Bilal as the opening night headliner. I sat down with the Grammy award winning soul artist ahead of his performance taking place just outside of the Marcus Performing Arts Center. Known for his genre-bending sound that fuses soul, jazz, funk, and experimental R&B, Bilal has worked with musical heavyweights including Erykah Badu, Common, Kendrick Lamar, and The Roots.

His critically acclaimed debut album 1st Born Second established him as a cornerstone of a movement, and his contribution to Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly earned him a Grammy Award.In our conversation, we talked about the personal experiences that have shaped his sound, the influence of family, and the dream collaborations still on his radar.

Bilal takes the stage at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 2, at the Peck Pavilion following Milwaukee’s own Shonn Hinton, a celebrated guitarist and soul artist in his own right. This night stands to be the very definition of a Summer of Soul.

HYFINated Conversations