Saul Williams

  • Newburgh, NY
    hometown
  • Dance/Electronic
    genre
  • 1972
    started
  • Bio
    full story
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About Saul Williams


First establishing himself as an influential poet, and then as an award-winning screenwriter/actor, Saul Williams then went on to establish himself as an MC. His approach to MC'ing, though, wasn't exactly in line with the traditional school of hip-hop. His rhymes weren't really rhymes but rather his poetry delivered in a frenzied spoken word manner that was more rhythmic than alliterative. His first major recording was a collaboration with KRS-One, "Ocean Within," which appeared on the soundtrack to Slam, the award-winning film he not only co-wrote but also starred in. Around this same time in the late '90s, he began collaborating with other musicians, one of the more notable and impressive being the title track to drum'n'bass producer Krust's Coded Language album. These one-off performances, along with the attention that Williams garnered thanks to Slam, led to a deal with Rick Rubin's American Recordings. In late 2001, the long-awaited and much-hyped Williams solo debut album, Amethyst Rock Star, hit the streets. The album featured a full-scale band and Rubin's production, with Williams' manic vocals taking the fore. It wasn't a straight-ahead rap album, more rock-rap in the style of Rage Against the Machine than anything. Critical opinion wavered, though Williams indeed seemed to impress many; he was not only invited to the 2001 Detroit Electronic Music Festival but also found himself to be a popular concert draw in Europe. The 2003 release of Not in My Name on Synchronic found Williams being remixed by Coldcut and DJ Spooky. His 2004 self-titled release appeared on the Fader label. Three years later he would return with The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust, an album recorded with Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor and initially offered as a free download from Reznor's website. The album was released on CD in 2008. Williams continued to tour and collaborate with artists from all over the globe. He eventually signed to Sony's Columbia imprint in 2010. He recorded Volcanic Sunlight -- his debut for the label -- in Paris with renowned producer Renaud Letang and engineer Thomas Moulin. The album was released in November of 2011. ~ Jason Birchmeier, Rovi

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Music

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  • Dance
    saul-williams
    Video
    Dance
  • List Of Demands(Reparations)
    saul-williams
    Video
    List Of Demands(Reparations)
  • Sunday Bloody Sunday
    saul-williams
    Video
    Sunday Bloody Sunday
  • Black Stacey
    saul-williams
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    Black Stacey
  • List of Demands (Reparation)
    saul-williams
    Video
    List of Demands (Reparation)
  • 10157
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    • List of Demands (Reparations)
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/6/0/5/2/5/107752506.mp3
    • List Of Demands (Reparations)
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/3/4/4/6/9/143496443.mp3
    • Banged And Blown Through
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/0/5/3/5/9/143495350.mp3
    • Skin Of a Drum
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/0/6/1/6/9/143496160.mp3
    • Sunday Bloody Sunday
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/5/4/6/5/9/143495645.mp3
    • Black Stacey
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/9/8/2/5/0/107705289.mp3

Interviews & Exclusives

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  • Saul Williams - MLK Jr. Boulevard
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    Saul Williams - MLK Jr. Boulevard
  • Saul Williams on "Telegram" (2005)
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    Saul Williams on "Telegram" (2005)
  • Saul Williams on friends Zack de la Rocha and Serj Tankian (2005)
    saul-williams
    video
    Saul Williams on friends Zack de la Rocha and Serj Tankian (2005)
  • Saul Williams on "Black Stacey" (2005)
    saul-williams
    video
    Saul Williams on "Black Stacey" (2005)
  • Saul Williams: Two Rappers Slain (2005)
    saul-williams
    video
    Saul Williams: Two Rappers Slain (2005)
  • Saul Williams: We Are Not Afraid (2005)
    saul-williams
    video
    Saul Williams: We Are Not Afraid (2005)
  • Saul Williams: Black Stacey (2005)
    saul-williams
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    Saul Williams: Black Stacey (2005)
  • Saul Williams: Freestyle (2005)
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    Saul Williams: Freestyle (2005)
  • Saul Williams: Light Years (2005)
    saul-williams
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    Saul Williams: Light Years (2005)

Photos

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  • Saul Williams
    Keba Konte

News

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  • Saul Williams
    Saul Williams talks Niggy Tardust’s sales and impact
    prefixmag.com
    't talked to anyone — or any labels — yet. It's still open-ended. I'm more interested in developing the sound of the new album. I didn't have to have ...
    Read More
  • Saul Williams
    Of Montreal, Big Boi, Saul Williams Guest on Janelle Monáe's Debut Album
    www.pitchfork.com
    her blitzing live show and epic ArchAndroid single "Tightrope", Monáe doesn't do anything halfway, and her album should be no exception. None other th...
    Read More
  • Saul Williams
    Saul Williams KEXP Doc
    prefixmag.com
    Been a minute since we've heard form Saul Williams, so we're glad to see the poet and vocalist receive some shine through KEXP'sDocumentariesseries. T...
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  • Saul Williams
    Standon Calling join in festival goodness with Battles, Saul Williams + more
    www.drownedinsound.com
    The first bunch of bands, acts and artists to play the 2011 edition of Standon Calling Festival have just been announced. Well, like yesterday, which ...
    Read More
  • Saul Williams
    Standon Calling join in festival goodness with Battles, Saul Williams + more
    www.drownedinsound.com
    The first bunch of bands, acts and artists to play the 2011 edition of Standon Calling Festival have just been announced. Well, like yesterday, which ...
    Read More
  • Saul Williams
    Stream: New Albums From Sepalcure, Chris Cornell, Saul Williams | Prefix
    www.prefixmag.com
    full-length debut. Thee Oh Sees: Carrion Crawler/The Dream at 3VOOR12 Release date: 11.15.11 Label: In The Red Garage rockers Thee Oh Sees wasted no t...
    Read More

Tour Dates

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  • Jun 13 Thursday
    Washington, DC, US Black Cat
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 15 Saturday
    Boston, MA, US Red Room, Cafe 939, Berklee College of Music
    Buy Ticket
  • Sep 13 Friday
    Chicago, IL, US Humboldt Park
    Buy Ticket
  • Sep 20 Friday
    Lexington, KY, US Unknown venue
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Discography

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  • Volcanic Sunlight (2011)
    Saul Williams
    Volcanic Sunlight (2011)
    Sony Music
  • The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust (2007)
    Saul Williams
    The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust (2007)
    Fader Label
  • Saul Williams (2004)
    Saul Williams
    Saul Williams (2004)
    V2
  • Amethyst Rock Star (2001)
    Saul Williams
    Amethyst Rock Star (2001)
    American Recordings
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