Novel

American hip-hop artist
The basics

Quick Facts

IntroAmerican hip-hop artist
A.K.A.Alonzo Mario Stevenson
A.K.A.Alonzo Mario Stevenson
PlacesUnited States of America
isMusician Singer Songwriter Record producer Artist
Work fieldBusiness Music
Gender
Male
Genres:Hip hop music
Instruments:Voice
Birth3 September 1981, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, USA
Age43 years
Star signVirgo
The details

Biography

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. 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. 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". 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.

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. He signed to Dallas Austin's Rowdy Records in 2007 and released an EP, I Am... (Future Black President), the following year. The single "I Am", featuring Talib Kweli and Spree Wilson, contains a sample of the 2001 Ben Folds song "The Luckiest". Folds also provides pianos and vocals on the track. Novel's debut full-length album, The Audiobiography, was announced in early 2009. 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". 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. Novel and rapper Joell Ortiz released a collaborative album, Defying the Predictable, in 2010.

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)
  • 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

TitleArtistLabelYearContribution
Stand to the Side feat. NovelTalib KweliMCA2002writer/& Feature
Peach Remix feat. G Unit, LLoyd BanksNovelRawkus2002writer/producer
Purify MeIndia.ArieMotown2005writer
BossyKelisLaFace/Zomba2005writer
Sick & TiredMonicaMotown2005writer/ co-producer
Roll with MeSammieRowdy/Universal2006producer/writer
SlowSammieRowdy/Universal2006producer/writer
AddictionStacie OrricoEMI/Virgin2006Producer/Writer
FrustratedStacie OrricoEMI/Virgin2006Producer/Writer
Baby GirlStacie OrricoEMI/Virgin2006Producer/Writer
Brush Em Off feat. NovelStacie OrricoEMI/Virgin2006Producer/Writer
Dream YouStacie OrricoEMI/Virgin2006Producer/Writer
Easy to Love YouStacie OrricoEMI/Virgin2006Producer/Writer
WaitStacie OrricoEMI/Virgin2006Producer/Writer
Tell You SomethingAlicia KeysJ Records2007Writer
What We're Gonna DoJoss StoneEmi/Virgin2007Writer/ Co-Producer
Music feat. Lauryn HillJoss Stone & Lauryn HillEmi/Virgin2007Writer/Co-Producer
Whatever It TakesLeona LewisSONYBMG UK2007Producer/Writer
Myself feat. NovelLeona LewisSONYBMG UK2007Writer
Back DownSugababesIsland UK2007Producer/Writer
With YouTweetBugsby Group2007Producer/Writer
AnymoreTweetBugsby Group2007Producer/Writer
Alright, Soundtrack & ScoreKnivez OutSony Pictures2008Producer/Writer
I Can't Be Without YouNikki FloresEpic/Sony2008Producer/Writer
Love feat. NovelNikki FloresEpic/Sony2008Producer/Writer
Call Me feat. NovelJoell OrtizE1 Music2009Producer/Writer
We Don't Believe You feat. NovelJoell OrtizE1 Music2010Writer
Raindrops feat. NovelSlaughterhouseE1 Music2009Writer
Missing You Feat. NovelDavid Guetta & NovelVirgin Fra (EMI)2009Writer
TherapyIndia ArieUMG2009Writer
BrokenLeona LewisSony BMG UK2009Writer
Eyes For YouEsmee Denters Justin TimberlakeTennman2009Producer/Writer
HeroDavid GuettaVirgin Fra (EMI)2010Writer
Coming HomeLemarEpic Sony BMG2010Producer/Writer
Trust HimFantasiaJ Records2010Producer/Writer
Ms. Orleans feat. Kid RockTrombone ShortyJazz2011Writer
Walk with Me feat. NovelLecraeReach2012Writer/ Feature
Under Water, Overwhelmed EPNovelUnsigned/Lost Poets2012-2013Writer/ Co-Producer
The Woman You Love feat. Busta RhymesAshantiUnknown2012/2013Writer
BlackStreetTeddy RileyN/A2013/2014Writer
Detox Album/Untitled feat. NovelDr. DreInterscopeUnknownWriter
If I Die Tonight feat. NovelLecraeReach2013Writer
Fire & BrimstoneTrombone ShortyJazz2014Writer
Nothing Is ImpossibleSmokey NorfulMotown Gospel2014Writer/ Co-Producer
He loves meSmokey NorfulMotown Gospel2014Writer/ Co-Producer
Hey Mama (feat. Nicki Minaj)David Guettaunknown2015Vocalist/Sample Re-imagine for Film and Commercial versions only
Made In AmericaThe GameThe Documentary 22015co-Writer
Joy (NBA Theme Song)Coby OdonisSony2015co-Writer/ Co-Producer
Lifes Pretty Sweet (Georgia Tourism Theme)Novelunknown2016co-Writer/ Producer
Can't Keep Me Caged (Netflix Commercial)NovelLost Poet Indie2016Writer/ Producer
Key To The Streets feat. Migos (Remix)YFN LUCCIT.I.G.2016co-Writer/Producer
No Dope On Sundays (feat. Pusha T)Cyhi Da PrynceSony2017co-Writer/ Co-Producer
Get Yo MoneyCyhi Da PrynceSony2017co-Writer/ Co-Producer
Don't Know Why (feat. Jagged Edge)Cyhi Da PrynceSony2017co-Writer/ Co-Producer
Leave With You (feat. Novel)Dallas AustinRowdy2017-2018co-Writer/Vocal Producer
Not A Rich Man (feat. Royce Da 59)Summer Of 96Unknown2017Writer/Producer
Sunflower Seeds (feat. Novel)PRhyme2 (DJ Premier & ROyce)N/A2018co-Writer/Performer
Misunderstood (feat. Novel)Father Figures MovieSoundtrack/ Film Score2018Producer/Writer/Performer
Red Light (feat. Dej Loaf)Jacquees42752018Co-Writer
BossyOcean's 8 Movie SceneFilm Score2018Writer
Hell Fire (RetroValley)HBO Trailerunsigned2019Producer/Co-writer/Performer
The contents of this page are sourced from Wikipedia article on 06 Jun 2020. The contents are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license.