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Novel (musician)

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Novel
Birth nameAlonzo Mario Stevenson
BornLos Angeles, California
GenresHip hop
Occupation(s)Rapper, producer, singer, songwriter
Years active2000–present
LabelsRowdy, Capitol, Rawkus

Alonzo Mario Stevenson, (born September 3, 1981) professionally known as Novel, is an American hip-hop/soul artist based in Los Angeles, California. He is a Grammy Award winning songwriter, singer, rapper and producer with also 5 Grammy nominations. He is the son of Motown's William "Mickey" Stevenson and the grandson of soul pioneer Solomon Burke.

Novel has collaborated with artists such as Lauryn Hill and Talib Kweli, and worked with other musicians including Royce Da 5'9', Joss Stone, David Guetta, India.Arie, Tweet, Stacie Orrico and Smokey Robinson and others. He has received over 5 Grammy nominations and 1 win in all different categories and is considered very versatile for writing & producing in the Pop genre, Alternative, Rock, Hiphop, R&B, even Jazz, Dance, Electronic, Including gospel, and currently working on country.

Biography

Alonzo Mario Stevenson was born in Los Angeles, California, son of William "Mickey" Stevenson, Motown singer/songwriter/producer and the label's first A&R executive, and Melanie Burke, a background singer for Chaka Khan. Stevenson, also the grandson of soul music pioneer Solomon Burke, grew up with his mother in Atlanta, Philadelphia, and North Carolina, sometimes staying in shelters because they had no money. A friend of Stevenson's in Philadelphia nicknamed him "Novel" because he always carried a notebook. After running away from home at age 14, Novel returned to California where his father set up a recording studio for him.[1][2] He released a single, "Peach", on Rawkus Records in 2003. The video for the song features Smokey Robinson, a longtime family friend and Novel's godfather.[3][4] Vibe called the song's melody "infectious" and Novel's vocals "seductive", but Novel almost didn't release the single because he "felt it was bubble gum".[3] His debut album The Word was set to be released in 2003 but was ultimately cancelled when Rawkus split from MCA Records, which folded that year.[1][2]

Novel spent the next several years writing and producing for other artists, including Alicia Keys, Beyoncé Knowles, India.Arie, Joss Stone, Kelis, and Leona Lewis.[5][6] He signed to Dallas Austin's Rowdy Records in 2007 and released an EP, I Am... (Future Black President), the following year.[1] The single "I Am", featuring Talib Kweli and Spree Wilson, contains a sample of the 2001 Ben Folds song "The Luckiest".[2] Folds also provides pianos and vocals on the track.[6] Novel's debut full-length album, The Audiobiography, was announced in early 2009.[1][2] Spin wrote that Novel's "innate talents ooze" on the album and that it contains a "series of slinky funk jams", but it also "sounds a little too well-oiled at times".[7] Novel wrote and featured on the David Guetta song, "Missing You", from Guetta's 2009 album One Love. The song peaked at number 85 on the French singles chart.[8] Novel and rapper Joell Ortiz released a collaborative album, Defying the Predictable, in 2010.[9]

Discography

Albums and EPs

  • "Quality" Talib Kweli
  • "Sound Bombing III"
  • "Mr. Jones" Tom Jones
  • "Diary Of A Mad Black Woman" Soundtrack
  • "A Beautiful Awakening" Stacie Orrico
  • "Change" SugaBabes
  • "Kelis Was Here" Kelis
  • "Introducing Joss Stone" Joss Stone
  • "Sammie" Sammie
  • "8 Days A Weekend" Dallas Austin
  • "Testimony Vol.2" India Arie
  • "Love, Tweet" Tweet (Unreleased)
  • "Spirit" Leona Lewis
  • "I Am" Alicia Keys
  • "The Hits" Lemar
  • "Eyes For You" Esmee Denters & Justin Timberlake
  • "Echo" Leona Lewis
  • "One Love" David Guetta
  • "Back To Me" Fantasia
  • "For True" Trombone Shorty
  • "Slaughter House" Slaughter House
  • "BraveHeart" Ashanti
  • The Word (Cancelled) (2002, Rawkus/MCA)
  • I Am (Future Black President) The EP (2008, Rowdy/Capitol)
  • Calligraphy (TBA/2012, Lost Poets Music) [10][11]
  • Under Water, Overwhelmed (Currently on iTunes) (2012–13, Unsigned/Lost Poet) Entire Project Produced by Justin Kahler except for (A song For River Produced By Novel & Alex Naylor)
  • Documentary 2 The Game (2015)
  • Black In America (2016)
  • Unreligious (2016, Independently)
  • Goodbye August (2016, Independently)
  • Dedication (2017,Independently)
  • No Dope On Sundays Cyhi Da Prince

Mixtapes

  • Chapter One (2008)
  • 808's and Mixtapes (2009)
  • Suspended Animation (2009)
  • Defying the Predictable (with Joell Ortiz) (2010)
  • Legato Blues Summer (2010)
  • Grant Me Serenity (2011)
  • Red Wine & Ambien (2012)
  • Red Wine & Ambien ii (2014)

Production and writing

Title Artist Label Year Contribution
Stand to the Side feat. Novel Talib Kweli MCA 2002 writer/& Feature
Peach Remix feat. G Unit, LLoyd Banks Novel Rawkus 2002 writer/producer
Purify Me India.Arie Motown 2005 writer
Bossy Kelis LaFace/Zomba 2005 writer
Sick & Tired Monica Motown 2005 writer/ co-producer
Roll with Me Sammie Rowdy/Universal 2006 producer/writer
Slow Sammie Rowdy/Universal 2006 producer/writer
Addiction Stacie Orrico EMI/Virgin 2006 Producer/Writer
Frustrated Stacie Orrico EMI/Virgin 2006 Producer/Writer
Baby Girl Stacie Orrico EMI/Virgin 2006 Producer/Writer
Brush Em Off feat. Novel Stacie Orrico EMI/Virgin 2006 Producer/Writer
Dream You Stacie Orrico EMI/Virgin 2006 Producer/Writer
Easy to Love You Stacie Orrico EMI/Virgin 2006 Producer/Writer
Wait Stacie Orrico EMI/Virgin 2006 Producer/Writer
Tell You Something Alicia Keys J Records 2007 Writer
What We're Gonna Do Joss Stone Emi/Virgin 2007 Writer/ Co-Producer
Music feat. Lauryn Hill Joss Stone & Lauryn Hill Emi/Virgin 2007 Writer/Co-Producer
Whatever It Takes Leona Lewis SONYBMG UK 2007 Producer/Writer
Myself feat. Novel Leona Lewis SONYBMG UK 2007 Writer
Back Down Sugababes Island UK 2007 Producer/Writer
With You Tweet Bugsby Group 2007 Producer/Writer
Anymore Tweet Bugsby Group 2007 Producer/Writer
Alright, Soundtrack & Score Knivez Out Sony Pictures 2008 Producer/Writer
I Can't Be Without You Nikki Flores Epic/Sony 2008 Producer/Writer
Love feat. Novel Nikki Flores Epic/Sony 2008 Producer/Writer
Call Me feat. Novel Joell Ortiz E1 Music 2009 Producer/Writer
We Don't Believe You feat. Novel Joell Ortiz E1 Music 2010 Writer
Raindrops feat. Novel Slaughterhouse E1 Music 2009 Writer
Missing You Feat. Novel David Guetta & Novel Virgin Fra (EMI) 2009 Writer
Therapy India Arie UMG 2009 Writer
Broken Leona Lewis Sony BMG UK 2009 Writer
Eyes For You Esmee Denters Justin Timberlake Tennman 2009 Producer/Writer
Hero David Guetta Virgin Fra (EMI) 2010 Writer
Coming Home Lemar Epic Sony BMG 2010 Producer/Writer
Trust Him Fantasia J Records 2010 Producer/Writer
Ms. Orleans feat. Kid Rock Trombone Shorty Jazz 2011 Writer
Walk with Me feat. Novel Lecrae Reach 2012 Writer/ Feature
Under Water, Overwhelmed EP Novel Unsigned/Lost Poets 2012-2013 Writer/ Co-Producer
The Woman You Love feat. Busta Rhymes Ashanti Unknown 2012/2013 Writer
BlackStreet Teddy Riley N/A 2013/2014 Writer
Detox Album/Untitled feat. Novel Dr. Dre Interscope Unknown Writer
If I Die Tonight feat. Novel Lecrae Reach 2013 Writer
Fire & Brimstone Trombone Shorty Jazz 2014 Writer
Nothing Is Impossible Smokey Norful Motown Gospel 2014 Writer/ Co-Producer
He loves me Smokey Norful Motown Gospel 2014 Writer/ Co-Producer
Hey Mama (feat. Nicki Minaj) David Guetta unknown 2015 Vocalist/Sample Re-imagine for Film and Commercial versions only
Made In America The Game The Documentary 2 2015 co-Writer
Joy (NBA Theme Song) Coby Odonis Sony 2015 co-Writer/ Co-Producer
Lifes Pretty Sweet (Georgia Tourism Theme) Novel unknown 2016 co-Writer/ Producer
Can't Keep Me Caged (Netflix Commercial) Novel Lost Poet Indie 2016 Writer/ Producer
Key To The Streets feat. Migos (Remix) YFN LUCCI T.I.G. 2016 co-Writer/Producer
No Dope On Sundays (feat. Pusha T) Cyhi Da Prynce Sony 2017 co-Writer/ Co-Producer
Get Yo Money Cyhi Da Prynce Sony 2017 co-Writer/ Co-Producer
Don't Know Why (feat. Jagged Edge) Cyhi Da Prynce Sony 2017 co-Writer/ Co-Producer
Leave With You (feat. Novel) Dallas Austin Rowdy 2017-2018 co-Writer/Vocal Producer
Not A Rich Man (feat. Royce Da 59) Summer Of 96 Unknown 2017 Writer/Producer
Sunflower Seeds (feat. Novel) PRhyme2 (DJ Premier & ROyce) N/A 2018 co-Writer/Performer
Misunderstood (feat. Novel) Father Figures Movie Soundtrack/ Film Score 2018 Producer/Writer/Performer
Red Light (feat. Dej Loaf) Jacquees 4275 2018 Co-Writer
Bossy Ocean's 8 Movie Scene Film Score 2018 Writer
Hell Fire (RetroValley) HBO Trailer unsigned 2019 Producer/Co-writer/Performer

References

  1. ^ a b c d Jeffries, David. "Novel - Biography". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d Gerstenzang, Peter (March 2009). "Motown scion writes for Alicia Keys, raps over Ben Folds, and gets a second chance at stardom". Spin. 25 (3). SPIN Media LLC: 36. ISSN 0886-3032.
  3. ^ a b Lemon, Damien (August 2003). "It Was Written". Vibe. 11 (8). Vibe Media Group: 92. ISSN 1070-4701.
  4. ^ Jones, Steve (April 3, 2003). "Bravo for rapper Novel's perseverance". USA Today. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  5. ^ "SOHH Exclusive From Capitol artist Novel: 'Hold On' Plus Soul Rebel Q&A". SOHH. March 4, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  6. ^ a b "Novel, Open Book". XXL. March 9, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  7. ^ Peisner, David (March 2009). "Reviews - Albums". Spin. 25 (4). SPIN Media LLC: 82. ISSN 0886-3032.
  8. ^ "David Guetta feat. Novel - 'Missing You'". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  9. ^ "Review: Joell Ortiz & Novel, Defying the Predictable". XXL. February 16, 2010. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  10. ^ "Novel – Hood Chick (feat. Rapper Pooh) | OnSMASH". Freeonsmash.com. 2011-02-11. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
  11. ^ "Direct quote; "With a slight delay, Novel finally brings us the offering for Legato Blues Summer, the official mixtape before his Calligraphy album."". Freeonsmash.com. 2010-09-24. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
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