The Bullitts
The Bullitts | |
---|---|
Birth name | Jeymes Samuel |
Born |
London, England | 27 July 1979
Origin | London, England |
Genres | Alternative rock, hip hop, pop, R&B, electronica |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, record producer, filmmaker |
Instruments | Vocals, guitar, piano |
Years active | 2000–present |
Labels |
Kilburn Lane Music (current) Giant Step Records |
Associated acts | Jay Electronica, Mos Def |
Website |
www |
Jeymes Samuel (born July 27, 1979), also known by his stage name The Bullitts, is a British singer-songwriter, music producer and filmmaker from London. Samuel has a cinematic element to his music and has accompanied most of his releases with a short film. His studio album, titled They Die By Dawn & Other Short Stories..., was released in July 2013. The album was supported by the singles "Close Your Eyes" (featuring Lucy Liu and Jay Electronica), "Landspeeder", "Supercool" and "World Inside Your Rainbow". He is the brother of world-famous musician Seal.
Life and career
1979–2009: Early life and career beginnings
Jeymes Samuel initially embarked on a career in film making, having shot his first reels at the age of eight. However he began making music at the age of 13. In the year 2000, Samuel released "When It Rains", his debut single in the form of a 12", under his real name on Giant Step Records. On January 1, 2002, in conjunction with Little League Productions, Samuel released the mixtape The Prequel. Also in 2002, Samuel contributed background vocals on the song "The Proud", from American rapper Talib Kweli's debut album, Quality. In 2004, Samuel wrote "Serenade", for Icelandic singer Emilíana Torrini's 2005 album Fisherman's Woman. Little League Productions would later debut Samuel's new moniker and release his single titled "The Bullitts Theme," in 2007.
In 2009, Samuel wrote and co-produced three songs on fellow British singer Mr Hudson's album Straight No Chaser, namely "Straight No Chaser", "Everything Is Broken" (featuring Kid Cudi) and "Time".
2010–present: They Die By Dawn & Other Short Stories...
In November 2010, named in honor of the Steve McQueen film Bullitt, under the pseudonym The Bullitts, Samuel began uploading "FlixTapes", to his official YouTube channel; a series of videos in which he added new vocals to his favorite movie and television themes. The first episode, titled "Tales of the Unexpected", was released on 14 November 2010.[1] Samuel's lead single from his first studio album, titled "Close Your Eyes", premiered in April 2011, by BBC Radio 1 DJ, Zane Lowe, as "The Hottest Record in the World".[2] The single features narration by American actress Lucy Liu and a verse from American rapper Jay Electronica. Its music video is a re-imagining of the Salvador Dalí and Luis Buñuel film, Un Chien Andalou. In May 2011, the album's second single, titled "Landspeeder", was also aired by Zane Lowe on Radio 1, as "The Hottest Record in the World".[3][4] "Landspeeder", was later included on the original motion picture soundtrack to the British 2011 slasher film, Demons Never Die.[5]
Samuel released "Weirdo", in July 2011, a short piece starring actor Jesse Williams.[6] In it, two young lovers in paper bag masks spend a day on the streets of London before robbing a newsagents during a declaration of love. For the song "Run and Hide", by Jay Electronica, Samuel directed a tragic film noir in Paris, based around the actress Elisa Wald-Lasowski.[7] Samuel played at The Big Chill music festival on 6 August 2011, performing on the main stage, where he was joined onstage by Lucy Liu, Jay Electronica and actor Idris Elba.[8]
The album's third single, titled "Supercool", was premiered on Lowe's show on 4 October 2011.[9] Its accompanying music video featured Samuel dressed as a homeless individual being harassed by someone filming him against his will; during this he bumps into actress Rosario Dawson, and the pair end up having a dance off on the streets of Soho.[10] In 2011, Samuel wrote "Wonderful Life", alongside Estelle Swaray, for Swaray's third album All of Me (2012). In late 2012, Samuel was handpicked by Baz Luhrmann and Jay-Z to be Executive Music Consultant for the soundtrack to the film The Great Gatsby (2013).[11][12]
In early 2013, Samuel released a short film titled They Die By Dawn, with a star-filled cast that includes Michael K. Williams, Erykah Badu, Isaiah Washington, Jesse Williams and Rosario Dawson. The film, which is a gun-slinging, black cowboy western, was accompanied by the music from Samuel's album.[13] Samuel's first album under the moniker The Bullitts, is titled They Die By Dawn & Other Short Stories... and was released on 9 July 2013. The album was produced entirely by himself and features guest appearances from Jay Electronica, Lucy Liu, Mos Def, Rosario Dawson, Doxi Jones and Tori Amos.[14]
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Album details |
---|---|
They Die By Dawn & Other Short Stories... |
|
Singles
Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"When It Rains"[upper-alpha 1][15] | 2000 | non-album single |
"Who Write The Songs"[upper-alpha 1][16] (featuring Canibus) |
2003 | The Prequel |
"Baby Don't Cry"[upper-alpha 1][17] (featuring Kool G Rap) | ||
"The Myspace Song"[upper-alpha 1][18] | 2006 | non-album singles |
"The Bullitts Theme"[19] | 2007 | |
"Close Your Eyes"[20] (featuring Lucy Liu and Jay Electronica) |
2011 | They Die By Dawn & Other Short Stories... |
"Landspeeder"[21] | ||
"Supercool"[22] | 2012 | |
"World Inside Your Rainbow"[23] | ||
Guest appearances
Title | Year | Album | Artist(s) |
---|---|---|---|
"When It Rains (Restless Soul Mix)"[24][upper-alpha 1] | 2001 | Sessions: Volume One | Ron Trent, Felix Hopkins |
"Who Write The Songs"[upper-alpha 1] | 2003 | Late Night Tales: Sly & Robbie | Sly & Robbie, Canibus |
"Too Much Drama"[25][upper-alpha 1] | 2004 | Undercover Cuts | Brooklyn B.L.E.S.S. |
"Democracy Leaders"[25][upper-alpha 1] | 2006 | Fight the Power | N/A |
"Striptease"[26][upper-alpha 1] | Yam Who Revue | Yam Who? | |
"Bullitts Theme"[27] | 2007 | Walk Tall, Kick Ass, Love Music | N/A |
"Bulletproof"[28] | Help George Tabb! Vol. 1 | N/A | |
"Fade Away"[29][upper-alpha 1] | 2009 | Loss 4 Wordz | Scratch |
"Run and Hide"[30] | 2015 | Act II: Patents of Nobility (The Turn) | Jay Electronica |
Notes
Production discography
Various artists – Walk Tall, Kick Ass, Love Music (2007)
- 08. "Bullitts Theme" (performed by The Bullitts)
Mr Hudson – Straight No Chaser (2009)
- 04. "Straight No Chaser"
- 11. "Everything Is Broken" (featuring Kid Cudi)
The Feeling - Together We Were Made (2011)
- 08. "Mr. Grin"
Jay Electronica – Act II: Patents of Nobility (The Turn) (2015)
- 06. "Dinner at Tiffanys (The Shiny Suit Theory)" (featuring Charlotte Gainsbourg & Jay Z)
- 13. "Run and Hide" (featuring The Bullitts)
- 14. "Ten Thousand Lotus Petals"
Filmography
Year | Film | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2013 | They Die by Dawn | Lobo | Short film Writer, director, producer, actor |
2016 | The Harder They Fall | Lobo | Feature film Writer, director, producer, actor |
References
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdDEgBAlNLc
- ↑ Cochrane, Greg. "Introducing…The Bullitts". Introducing…The Bullitts. BBC. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ↑ "Hottest Record – The Bullitts – Landspeeder" 3 May 2011, BBC web site
- ↑ NME. "NME Bullitts article". The Bullitts to release debut single featuring Jay Electronica and Lucy Liu – video. NME. Retrieved 26 April 2011.
- ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/demons-never-die-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mr0003686190
- ↑ "The Bullitts – Weirdo" 8 July 2011, Youtube
- ↑ "The Bullitts & Jay Electronica "Run & Hide"" 28 July 2011, Complex web site
- ↑ "The Bullitts debut at The Big Chill 2011" 4 August 2011, Virtual Festivals web site
- ↑ "Hottest Record – The Bullitts – Supercool" 4 October 2011, BBC web site
- ↑ "The Bullitts – Supercool" 4 January 2012, Youtube
- ↑ Ramirez, Erika (December 31, 2012). "Jay-Z, The Bullitts to Score 'The Great Gatsby'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved April 7, 2013.
- ↑ Vena, Jocelyn; Horowitz, Josh (April 29, 2013). "Beyonce's 'Back To Black' Helps Make 'The Great Gatsby' A Bit 'Darker'". MTV News. MTV Networks. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
- ↑ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-bullitts-merges-country-to-hip-hop-in-they-die-by-dawn-song-premiere-20130322
- 1 2 "They Die By Dawn & Other Short Stories – Album by The Bullitts". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
- ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Jeymes-Samuel-When-It-Rains/master/227981
- ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Jeymes-Samuel-Who-Write-The-Songs/release/336904
- ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Jeymes-Samuel-Baby-Dont-Cry-Winterfall/release/3647603
- ↑ "The Myspace Song – Single by Jeymes Samuel". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
- ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Bullitts-The-Bullitts-Theme/release/4529814
- ↑ "Close Your Eyes – EP by The Bullitts". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
- ↑ ""Landspeeder" – Single by The Bullitts". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
- ↑ "Supercool – EP by The Bullitts". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
- ↑ ""World Inside Your Rainbow" – Single by The Bullitts". iTunes Store. Apple. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
- ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/giant-step-records-sessions-vol-1-mw0000017008
- 1 2 http://www.discogs.com/Various-Fight-The-Power/release/1847808
- ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/in/album/yam-who-revue/id202064294
- ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/album/walk-tall-kick-ass-love-music-mw0001110510
- ↑ http://www.discogs.com/Various-Help-George-Tabb-Vol-1/release/4462634
- ↑ "Loss 4 Wordz by Scratch". iTunes. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
- ↑ "Kanye West, Jay-Z, Diddy to appear on Jay Electronica's long-awaited debut album". NME. 30 July 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
External links
- Official website
- The Bullitts at AllMusic
- Jeymes Samuel at AllMusic
- The Bullitts discography at Discogs
- Jeymes Samuel discography at Discogs
- The Bullitts on Facebook
- The Bullitts at the Internet Movie Database
- The Bullitts discography at MusicBrainz
- Jeymes Samuel discography at MusicBrainz
- The Bullitts on Twitter
- The Bullitts's channel on YouTube
- They Die By Dawn