- Miguel (singer)
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Miguel Birth name Miguel Jontel Pimentel Born October 23, 1986 (age 25) Origin Los Angeles, California Genres R&B, funk, hip hop, rock, electronic Occupations Singer, songwriter, record producer, guitarist dancer Instruments Vocals, guitar Years active 2000–present Labels Jive, Bystorm Entertainment, Black ice records RCA Records Associated acts J. Cole, Major, DJ Curv, Blu, Lloyd Banks, Far East Movement Website www.miguelunlimited.com Miguel Jontel Pimentel, (born October 23, 1986) who performs under the mononym Miguel, is an American recording artist, songwriter and producer. Signed to Jive Records in 2007, Miguel released his debut album, All I Want Is You, in November 2010. The album was preceded by the release of the single "All I Want Is You", featuring rapper J. Cole.
Contents
Life and career
Early life
Miguel Jontel Pimentel was born in California[1][2] He is one of two sons born to a Mexican father and an African American mother.[2] Miguel's parents divorced when he was eight years old.[3] At a young age, Miguel listened to classic rock, hip hop, funk and rhythm and blues.[2] At the age of 5, Miguel originally wanted to become a dancer, inspired by Michael Jackson. At age 13, he began pursuing a career in music.[2]
Career beginnings
Miguel worked with a local production duo Drop Squad in 2000, before being signed with independent record label Black Ice in 2004. During this period, Miguel worked with Kirven "DJ Curv " Arrington to make music similar to that of Usher. Black Ice began to release the single "Getcha Hands Up" with a video debut on 106 and park. Miguel decided to change his sound / image and walked away from Black Ice records.[4] For nearly a year, Miguel's manager at the time submitted several songs to music mogul Mark Pitts; after receiving a song titled "Sure Thing"—which Miguel described as a "highly personal...record that no one was ever supposed to hear"—Pitts scheduled a meeting with Miguel in October 2007. The following month, Miguel signed a recording contract with Jive Records.[3][4] Miguel recalled that the signing his contract took place in a "very small room in a very small office in a small corner of the building at Jive".[5] Miguel was subsequently sued by Black Ice for breach of contract.[6] For the following three years, he contributed to Usher's Here I Stand and Raymond v. Raymond, as well as Asher Roth's Asleep in the Bread Aisle and Musiq Soulchild's "IfULeave".[7][8] Miguel also released Mischief: The Mixtape; he explained that the title referred to his attempt to "[tell] people that there is an alternative to getting sort of the same thing".[8] The lawsuit was settled in 2010.[6]
All I Want Is You
After making his contribution to Usher's Raymond v. Raymond, a song named "Let's Just Be" written by Ne-Yo, in 2010, Miguel released his debut single titled "All I Want Is You", which features J. Cole and was produced by Salaam Remi. It is the lead single from his debut album of the same title. He released the next single "Sure Thing" which reached number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Musical style
Miguel cites musicians Prince, David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, Freddie Mercury, Phil Collins, Donny Hathaway, The Notorious B.I.G. and Kanye West,[9] as well as the band Queen as his influences,[10][11][12] in addition to expressing his admiration for Stevie Wonder, John Lennon and Diane Warren.[8] Miguel revealed his desire to have worked with James Brown, whom he considers the "last innovator for me when it comes to soul".[5] In addition to singing, Miguel also plays the guitar.[5] He incorporates R&B, funk, hip hop, rock and electronic into his music.[4][7][12] Miguel described his sound as "nostalgic in a sense that it's familiar... it's shocking, edgy, energizing".[7] In an interview with Paper magazine, he regarded his music as "fly, funkadelic, intergalactic-hip-hop-meets-sexy-orgasmic crazy, dope shit". Miguel is often compared to Jon B. and Ritchie Valens.[5]
Discography
Studio albums
Year Title Peak chart
positionsUS US R&B 2010 All I Want Is You - Released: November 30, 2010
- Label: Jive, Bystorm
- Formats: CD, music download
37 9 Mixtapes
- 2008: Mischief: The Mixtape
Singles
Song Year Chart
positionsAlbum US
[13]US
R&B
[13]"All I Want Is You"
(featuring J. Cole)2010 58 7 All I Want Is You "Sure Thing" 2011 36 1 "Quickie" 62 3 "Girls Like You" - 81 Guest Appearances
List of songs with guest appearances by Miguel Title Year Album Artist(s) "First Things First" 2007 Below the Heavens Blu & Exile "Cold Hearted" "You Are Now in the Clouds with ... (The Koochie Monstas')" "His Dream" 2009 Asleep in the Bread Aisle Asher Roth "Raise Your Hands" 2011 Paul Oakenfold "Hoe" .sailing soul(s). Jhené Aiko "Lotus Flower Bomb" Ambition Wale Awards and nominations
- Grammy Awards
- 2011, Best R&B Song: "Finding My Way Back" – Songwriter (Nominated)[14]
- BET Awards
- 2011, Best New Artist (Nominated)[15]
- American Music Awards
- 2011, Sprint New Artist of the Year (Nominated)
- Soul Train Music Awards
- 2011, Best New Artist (Nominated)
- 2011, Best Male R&B/ Soul Artist (Won)
- 2011, Song of the Year: "Sure Thing" (Nominated)
References
- ^ Garraud, Tracy. "R&B Rude Boy". Vibe. Vibe Media Group. http://www.vibe.com/posts/miguel-rb-rude-boy. Retrieved August 33, 2010.
- ^ a b c d Kwateng, Danielle (June 24, 2010). "Interviews: Miguel Makes Beautiful Music". Madame Noire. pp. 1–3. http://madamenoire.com/6929/miguel-makes-beautiful-music/. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
- ^ a b Horne, Adam (Jun 7, 2010). "Miguel Builds Industry Buzz with Genre-Defying Sound". The Boombox. http://www.theboombox.com/2010/06/07/miguel-builds-industry-buzz-with-genre-defying-sound/. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
- ^ a b c San Miguel, Celia. "Show & Prove". XXL. Harris Publications. http://www.officialmiguel.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/miguel_xxl_julyaug2010.jpeg. Retrieved August 27, 2010.[dead link]
- ^ a b c d Catarinella, Alex (August 19, 2010). "Less Is More". Paper. Paper Publishing Company. http://www.papermag.com/arts_and_style/2010/08/less-is-more.php. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
- ^ a b Concepcion, Mariel (September 17, 2010). "Miguel Calls Playing Eminem & Jay-Z's Stadium Show 'Unbelievable'". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/news/miguel-calls-playing-eminem-jay-z-s-stadium-1004115332.story#/news/miguel-calls-playing-eminem-jay-z-s-stadium-1004115332.story. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
- ^ a b c "Miguel (The Eclectric)". Right On!. http://www.officialmiguel.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/right-on-feature8.jpg. Retrieved August 27, 2010.[dead link]
- ^ a b c Perry, Clayton (July 2, 2010). "Miguel Jontel: Singer, Songwriter and Producer". AllHipHop. http://allhiphop.com/stories/alternatives/archive/2010/07/02/22284709.aspx. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
- ^ Janneti, Cola (November 9, 2010). "Miguel: Evolving into Greatness". Singersroom. http://www.singersroom.com/interview/248/Miguel-Evolving-into-Greatness. Retrieved November 21, 2010.
- ^ Reid, Shaheem. "Miguel Hopes to Get on 'All I Want Is You' Partner J. Cole's Album". MTV News. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1645593/20100811/jcole.jhtml. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
- ^ Muhammad, Latifah (October 28, 2010). "Miguel Inspired by Kanye West's Honesty". The Boombox. http://www.theboombox.com/2010/10/28/miguel-inspired-by-kanye-wests-honesty/. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ a b Kennedy, Gerrick D. (November 16, 2010). "Newcomer Miguel ready for the spotlight with his 'eclec-tric' hybrid of R&B". Los Angeles Times. Tribune Company. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2010/11/newcomer-miguel-ready-for-the-spotlight-with-his-eclec-tric-hybrid-of-rb.html. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
- ^ a b "All I Want Is You". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. http://www.billboard.com/song/miguel-featuring-j-cole/all-i-want-is-you/23008981#/song/miguel-featuring-j-cole/all-i-want-is-you/23008981. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
- ^ "Nominees". The Recording Academy. 2010. http://www.grammy.com/nominees?year=2010&genre=27. Retrieved December 26, 2010.
- ^ "Best New Artist | BET Awards". BET. http://www.bet.com/shows/bet-awards/2011/nominees/best-new-artist.html. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
External links
Mixtapes Mischief: The MixtapeSingles "All I Want Is You" · "Sure Thing" · "Quickie" · "Girls Like You"Categories:- American electronic musicians
- American funk singers
- American guitarists
- American hip hop musicians
- American musicians of Mexican descent
- American people of African descent
- American rock musicians
- American record producers
- American rhythm and blues singers
- Jive Records artists
- Living people
- Musicians from Los Angeles, California
- People from San Pedro, Los Angeles
- Singers from California
- Songwriters from California
- 1986 births
- Mexican people of Black African descent
- Hip hop singers
- African American singer-songwriters
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