Video: Eric Bellinger – “Black Beatles” (Rae Sremmurd Cover)
The Honey-Voiced Singer/Songwriter Provides His Take on the Country’s Number One Song From a Perch Atop the Hollywood Hills
12.19.2016
Critical Praise for Eric Bellinger:
“Sharing the genetic pool with his grandfather, Bobby Day – R&B singer, and songwriter for groups like the Jackson 5 – Eric is R&B’s most gifted songwriter.” – The Lunch Table
“Eric Bellinger is an up-and-coming R&B singer who has tons of talent and could make some waves very soon.” – Complex
“Eric Bellinger—the Los Angeles singer/songwriter whose single with Problem, “I Don’t Want Her,” made waves last year—fits somewhere between Ty Dolla $ign’s of-the-moment snap and Ne-Yo’s oh-so-earnest mid-’00s R&B.” – FADER
“If you’re single or trying to find signs of love in the world, Eric Bellinger will make you believe in love again.” – Singersroom
The Video:
It’s a small world and all your friends know Eric Bellinger, one of the most respected young R&B singer/songwriters in the music industry. Like clockwork, Eric Bellinger returns with another signature cover, or “E-Mix,” this time lending his pipes to Rae Sremmurd‘s megahit “Black Beatles.” Posting up atop Lookout Mountain overlooking the city of Los Angeles and Laurel Canyon at sunset in the Cam Fairfax and Zach Burnett directed video, Eric provides his twist on Swae Lee’s infectious melody, adding impressive vocal runs and ad-libbing over SoufWest’s warmer interpretation of Mike Will Made It‘s beat. Premiered today by The FADER, Eric’s take on “Black Beatles” demonstrates his superior skills as an arranger, turning the rap banger into a smooth trap-soul ballad. Last month, Eric put his stamp on another rap hit, converting Drake‘s “Fake Love” into an acoustic slow jam.
“When I heard this joint, I knew it had potential to be a bonafide R&B hit as well. I’m pretty crazy at formatting songs, I’d say I’ve mastered the basics and know the 101 behind making a song be the best it can be. With lyrics like Swae’s ‘cream seats in the Regal / Rockin John Lennon lenses’ line, I was super hype to take this song to the next level, at least in my opinion, by highlighting their words and simply adding passion, pain, & clarity to each bar. I look at doing covers like that old MTV show ‘Pimp My Ride’ where they would lace someone’s car – this is like ‘Pimp My Song.’ I’m adding all kinds of stuff and messing around with the tempo, the beat, and melodies etc. I really enjoy giving people a different version of a song that they already love.”
Born and raised in Compton, Eric Bellinger turned down an athletic scholarship in USC to pursue a career in music. Over the past six years, Eric grew into a respected hitmaker for himself and others, writing for people such as Usher, Justin Bieber, and Selena Gomez, culminating in a Grammy Award win for his work on Chris Brown‘s F.A.M.E. With over 10 million YouTube views on his solo tracks, Eric scored several radio hits including 2015’s “Valet“ featuring 2 Chainz and Fetty Wap. Last week, he released “Sex For Christmas,” a new naughty Christmas carol. In September, Eric released Eric B. For President: Term 1, a 9-track EP with a title inspired by Eric B. and Rakim. Featuring standout tracks such as “G.O.A.T.” and “In My Prime,” which Eric packaged together into a two-for-one music video, the VIBE-premiered Eric B. For President: Term 1 is currently available for purchase on iTunes and to stream on Soundcloud and Spotify.
Watch “Black Beatles”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrrKiFeRR1g
Read The FADER’s premiere here: http://www.thefader.com/2016/12/19/eric-bellinger-rae-sremmurd-black-beatles-music-video-premiere
Check Out More E-Mixes:
Fake Love – https://youtu.be/DuhwDoE0uNg
Don’t Mind – https://soundcloud.com/yfsmusic/dontmind
Black Iverson – https://soundcloud.com/ericbellinger/eric-bellinger-black-iverson
Plastic Bag – https://soundcloud.com/ericbellinger/plasticbag
Buy Eric B. For President Term 1: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/eric-b-for-president-term-1/id1145029175
Please contact Michelle or Dharmic if interested in talking with Eric Bellinger.
Eric Bellinger Background:
Over the last 6 years, Eric Bellinger has become one of the music industry’s most sought after songwriters while also proving himself to be equally talented as a singer and a rapper. Seamlessly fusing smooth and retro R&B melodies with edgy hip-hop, Bellinger, the grandson of “Rockin Robin” songwriter Bobby Day, has earned the reputation as quick yet intuitive songwriter. Having collaborated with Grammy-winning songwriter/producers J.R. Rotem and Rodney Jerkins, the Compton, California native has quickly racked up more than 80 song placements just in the last two years alone, writing for Justin Bieber, Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, Usher, Trey Songz, Jennifer Hudson, The Game, and Janelle Monae. He has scored hits with his songwriting for Justin Bieber (“Right Here,”) Usher (“Lemme See,”) and Chris Brown (“Fine China.”) His work with Brown, specifically his contributions to Brown’s album F.A.M.E., also earned him a Grammy award. Following 10 years of being in singing groups, the former church boy singer formally stepped out as a solo artist in 2013, steadily churning out a series of well-regarded mixtapes. Working with artists including 2 Chainz, Kid Ink, Mya, Ty Dolla $ign, and Sage the Gemini, Bellinger quickly found success as a solo artist, selling out his U.K. tour, getting his independent label YFS distributed by Lyor Cohen’s 300 Entertainment, and amassing over 10 million views on YouTube. Bellinger has come full circle as a triple-threat talent, simultaneously forging a burgeoning solo career while further cementing his reputation as one of R&B and pop music’s top go-to writers.
Links:
official site | twitter | facebook | youtube | instagram | soundcloud | spotify
“Black Beatles”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrrKiFeRR1g
“Sex For Christmas”: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/sex-for-christmas-single/id1186009993?ls=1?at=1001l3Iq&app=itunes // https://open.spotify.com/album/0FJrXGtd8DY7k
“G.O.A.T./In My Prime”: https://youtu.be/1j6e1tx8L_w
“Fake Love”: https://youtu.be/DuhwDoE0uNg
Eric B. For President: Term 1: iTunes // SoundCloud // Spotify
“In My Prime”: https://soundcloud.
“Valet” ft. 2 Chainz & Fetty Wap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkAm_BUF3wQ
“I Don’t Want Her” ft. Problem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcI56Q00yp8
“Focused On You” ft. 2 Chainz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BXSVCNJ9oI
Cuffing Season Pt. 2: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/cuffing-season-pt.-2/id1060704988
Cuffing Season: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/cuffing-season/id1018590532