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 | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Alonzo Mario Stevenson |
| Born | Los Angeles, California |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Rapper, producer, singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | Rowdy, Capitol, Rawkus |
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[citation needed] 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 edit
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 edit
Albums and EPs edit
- "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 edit
- 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 edit
| 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 | Smokie Norful | Motown Gospel | 2014 | Writer/ Co-Producer |
| He Loves Me | Smokie 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 5′9″) | 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 |
| Monster feat. Afro | BET TV Synch | Cop Watch: Reality Docu Series | 2019 | Artist/Writer/Singer/producer |
| Can't Keep Me Caged | BET TV Synch | Cop Watch: Reality Docu Series | 2019 | Artist/Writer/Singer/producer |
| The Old Groove | Griselda - Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, Benny The Butcher | Shady Records | 2020 | Featured Artist/Writer/Rapper/Singer |
| Can't Keep Me Caged | Netflix Trailer/Commercial | 13Th Documentary | 2021 | Artist/Writer/Singer/producer |
| A Sickness | Netflix Film Score | Monster | 2021 | Artist/Writer/Singer |
| Rise | STARZ | Power II: Book Of Ghost Season 1 Finale | 2021 | Artist/Writer/rapper/Producer |
| Wild Chapter Conway The Machine feat. T.I. | God Don't Make Mistakes | Shady Records | 2021-2022 | Featured Artist/Rapper/Singer |
References edit
- ^ a b c d Jeffries, David. "Novel - Biography". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved June 24, 2013.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Lemon, Damien (August 2003). "It Was Written". Vibe. 11 (8). Vibe Media Group: 92. ISSN 1070-4701.
- ^ Jones, Steve (April 3, 2003). "Bravo for rapper Novel's perseverance". USA Today. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
- ^ "SOHH Exclusive From Capitol artist Novel: 'Hold On' Plus Soul Rebel Q&A". SOHH. March 4, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
- ^ a b "Novel, Open Book". XXL. March 9, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
- ^ Peisner, David (March 2009). "Reviews - Albums". Spin. 25 (4). SPIN Media LLC: 82. ISSN 0886-3032.
- ^ "David Guetta feat. Novel - 'Missing You'". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
- ^ "Review: Joell Ortiz & Novel, Defying the Predictable". XXL. February 16, 2010. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
- ^ "Novel – Hood Chick (feat. Rapper Pooh) | OnSMASH". Freeonsmash.com. 2011-02-11. Retrieved 2012-03-17.
- ^ "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.