Artist: Billy
Title: The Entertainer
Genre(s): Hip-Hop, R&B, Electropop
Length: 4:59
Writer(s): B.Khan
Producer(s): Deneil
Label: Five Pesky Kids
From The Album: BILAL
The Entertainer is a song by British singer-songwriter Bilal Khan-Holmes, known mononymously as Billy, released as the sixth single from his upcoming debut studio album, "BILAL". After being teased throughout the spring, the track was officially released on July 7th, 2023 through Five Pesky Kids Records. An early version of the track was written and recorded as far back as 2019 before being overhauled and reworked during studio sessions in early 2023. "The Entertainer" follows on from the dual single release of "Safe Passage" and "XXXHIBITION", both of which went on to become #1 singles in their own rights with the latter now standing as Khan's biggest selling single to date. The song has been dubbed by Billy as his "most personal to date". The hip-hop inspired track garnered media attention upon release due to the song's gritty nature and Khan's decision to rap on the verses, drawing comparisons to the work of younger brother Deneil, who coincidentally produced the song.
Writing & ProductionLyrically, "The Entertainer" is braggadocious and seemingly a response to the treatment he has received from others throughout his time in the music industry. He alludes to themes such as racism and classism, referring to several negative stereotypes associated with people from poverty-stricken areas and the South Asian community within London. "The Entertainer" sees Billy take charge of his own narrative; dismissing accusations, playing up to certain parts of his persona and relaying all of his achievements and ambitions in the face of adversity. The chorus repeatedly asks the listeners;
"Are you entertained yet?
" It could be said that Khan plays a caricature, placing himself in the role of an "entertainer", simply letting critics and audiences talk and spectate while he enjoys the theatrics, seemingly unaffected. He makes unapologetic nods towards his hyper sexuality;
"I'm in the booth with my cock out/Regular jester while I'm polishing my crown", as well as his previous assault accusations;
"You know my type, oh so prone to violence".
In past interviews, Billy has stated how he, alongside fellow Weekend band members, were mocked and ridiculed when they debuted back in 2012 only for people to retrospectively recognise the doors Khan opened. He has also claimed that many men in the 2010s began to mimic his look and that labels and contemporary bands "wanted their own Billy". He nods to this with the lines;
"I'm the daddy here and I ain't looking to foster/I know you got plenty of room on that dusty roster/Go ahead and sign another Billy imposter". Another scenario which many believe Billy refers to with the line
"Girl bosses yearning for my embryo" is the controversial 2012 fling between Khan and rapper Mykaylah Landers. Many branded the dalliance as "unprofessional" and have since retrospectively noted the power imbalance, due to Khan being 18 years of age at the time while Mykaylah was his boss, signing Weekend to Angel Music Records. Infamous naked pictures of Billy intended for Landers' viewing also leaked at the time.
Sonically, "The Entertainer" is a hip-hop and R&B song with elements of trip-hop and electropop woven throughout the track. It has been described as Billy's "darkest" sounding release yet. Opening with unnerving, siren-like synths, a "swaggering" hip-hop beat with booming drums soon kicks in as Billy begins to deliver his lines. The American inspired hip-hop sounds marrying with Billy's thick London accent provides a unique sonic experience. Production of the song builds throughout, growing more "intense" in sound with distorted vocal effects, sharp strings and glass-shattering sound effects all coming into play as the song reaches its crescendo, Khan going from a more subdued performance on earlier chorus, to belting out high notes and ad-libs through the latter parts. Khan's rapping has drawn praise in the past with his core fanbase knowing it as a "secret" skill of his, with the public experiencing it officially on the "Bad Boy Refix" of Suzie's "Bad Behavior" in 2021. His rap performance on "The Entertainer" has received acclaim, being compared favourably to Deneil, and noted for how confident and effortless it all comes across.
Background & ReleaseThe track was originally written and demoed in 2019. Khan initially planned for the song to be released as his second official single, but instead opted for "Gemini". Keeping hold of the track for several years, Billy grew less enamoured with parts of the production and numerous lines. Still a fan of the overall song, Khan maintained plans to rework and officially release the song one day. It wouldn't be until February 2023 when Billy and younger brother Deneil would work on the track once again. According to Billy, "The Entertainer" went from being a
"really good, 3 minute standard track" to an
"episodic, gritty 5 minute epic" after receiving its overhaul. The singer claims that the song is
"one of [his] most important to date" and that the initial release was postponed in order to get the track
"completely and utterly 100% right". "The Entertainer" was released over a year after his double-A side effort "Safe Passage" / "XXXHIBITION". Khan has stated multiple times that he
"moves at [his] own pace" and that he wants to give each single its own
"moment" before the entire album drops. Khan also held off from an initial June 2023 release as that month "XXXHIBITION" charted at #1 on Chart Heat once again following a viral TikTok trend. "The Entertainer" finally received an official release on July 7th.
Billy wrote:"I've been called many things in my time. Some complimentary, some not so much. There are people who get me, there are those who don't. I divide a lot of opinions. People struggle to box me in and it infuriates them. I know myself that I'm a bunch of things and a living, breathing exception to the "norm". When I set about to create an album opener, I wanted something that set the tone and really introduced myself, as well as the journey the listener was about to embark on. I struggled to narrow down a concept at first because I'm so many things to so many people. I then realised that, regardless of which side of the fence you sit on when it comes to your opinion of me, I'm still seen as an entertainer. The music, the stories, the posts. Whether it's out of love and support or hate-viewing to leave fucked up comments, I'm still providing engagement. I entertain your pleasures, pure and impure. I took that concept and started to think about all the ways I've had tongues wagging over the years. Sometimes it's intentional for the shits and giggles. Other times, I get essays written about me for merely existing."
"I'm not squeaky clean but I'm not the root of all evil, either. I'm a regular person whose life has been amplified. I'm not bred for this. I'm not media trained, wasn't born into wealth or some dynasty. Unlike a lot of robotic industry cash cows with nothing to say and no single original thought in their head, I'm actually human. It would really fucking piss me off how I used to treated just for who I am. A lot of elitist pricks and snobs in the industry and press turning their nose up at me because of where I was from, how I grew up, because I wasn't all prim and proper. Although it's from a personal perspective, I also want this track to mirror and connect with the average Joe as well. So what if you're a bit rough around the edges? So what if you like to shag around? So what if you're from a rundown housing estate? Embrace it. That's character. That's personality. I purposely embellish and magnify all my mischief on this track because it's ok to be a bit colourful. I think raw experience and human connection can often be lacking in music because a lot of artists try on false personas and aesthetics to market new "eras". This is a proper Billy song."
"Having said that, it did take some time to get the track sounding exactly how I wanted. If it was going to represent me and reflect where I came from and all my musical influences, it had to be just right and done with absolute precision. Neily and I went over it so many times. We'd get a "final" version done and then listening back, there'd be like 10 seconds in the second verse that just wasn't sitting right on my ears so we'd pull it apart again. Reworking a certain put would then offset the balance of a later section. It took a minute to reach that sweet spot but we got there. For me, "The Entertainer" is like a marriage between the steely streets of Hackney and the big American R&B stars of the 90s who inspired me to do better. I knew I had to rap on the track. I knew I had to get this lovely accent across and really mentally cement the listeners into picturing London at nightfall. I like to think it's a very visual track that takes you on a journey. The rapping is very homey, raw and grounded in a sense of fucked up reality while the big, dramatic beats feel like something big and life-changing is just around the corner."
"It's a big track and different to anything I've released before. Definitely the best representation of me as an artist and just as a person. I know the artistic choices and certain lines are going to have people talking but that's the point. Fuck with it or ridicule me. Do with it what you will. I'm just here to entertain."
Critical Reception"The Entertainer" received generally positive reviews upon release, with many critics calling it Billy's best release to date. Writing for
Clash, Philip McCormick stated that the song is
"brimming with beats and bravado but ultimately autobiographical and thought-provoking at its core". Juliet Gordon of
The Guardian dubbed it as
"100% Billy personified". Gordon further lamented;
"A seemingly untouchable and often comical figure, Billy never breaks character nor simply breaks in general. We'll never get a heart-breaking, woe is me piano ballad from Khan. Sharp beats and foul-mouthed one-liners, that is how Billy gets real and connects with his audience on a human level." Consequence's Amma Khorsandi claims that "The Entertainer" perfectly encapsulates the
"angst" of Billy and believes that several lines of the song will
"set social media alight". David Colbein of Pitchfork lauded the song, writing;
"with its ice cold beats, biting lyricism, dramatic escalation in production alongside Billy's IDGAF swagger, "The Entertainer" is a 5 minute thrill ride that sets the adrenaline rushing and hands trembling over the replay button." Lucy Harrison of
Dork praised the production, saying;
"that beat is just as filthy as some of the statements Billy makes." Khans rapping skills have also been highlighted and praised. Nicholas Rivera of
Gigwise compared him to a
"slightly softer sounding" Deneil before stating that Khan's pen must have been
"absolutely ablaze" as he wrote his
"sickening bars". Keisha Wyatt from Rolling Stone also opined;
"In this early foray into rap, Bilal sounds as if he's been doing this for a lifetime". Wyatt then concluded by stating that Khan can
"deliver pars with the best of them".
"THE ENTERTAINER""If I'm offbeat blame my white side!"It's time to take this all back to basics
Unplug the fluorescents, man, fuck the matrix
Take a breather from these mysterious places
Uppercut some of these mad quizzical faces
Dictated daily in the name of Christianity
Crucify and kill me with philosophies
Mere existence burns down all their ideologies
Wait 'til they learn that I'm the fucking prophecy
I feed the 5000 when I hop on the timeline
Gimme crumbs, still make sure you all dine
Pour me water and I'll turn it to fine wine
Parting of the waves? Yeah, I'm a proverbial landmine
Only break bread 'cause I rather enjoy a luncheon
Must be off my head, en route to Tower of London
It's alright, mate, I grew up in these dungeons
And I kinda get off on pain and punishin'
Testing thresholds, you know, it's kind of a hobby
No safe word but I still trust nobody
Ain't meeting no fucking suit in a lobby
Kinky boy but don't need screwed in a hurry
I'm the daddy here and I ain't looking to foster
I know you got plenty of room on that dusty roster
Go ahead and sign another Billy imposter
But as long as I'm around none shall ever prosper
See, I'm thee entertainer, whole world's my stage
And behind the scenes is the whole way I paved
Thanks to me, your entire life's been saved
Something to wag your tongue about besides the rain
Are you entertained yet?
Are you entertained yet?
I could always pull out another showstopper
Are you entertained yet?
Are you entertained yet?
Get your teeth around this fucking jaw-dropper
Are you entertained yet?
Are you entertained yet?
Are you entertained? Bet.You'd think my spectacle would be a work of fiction
Seen the mean streets and got lost in the system
Kids I shared snacks with have died of addiction
I picked up a pen, refused to become a victim
Hopped on the mic and I'm gonna spray now
Bleeding through with the ink, 'bout to get loud
But on a lighter note, I'm in the booth with my cock out
Regular jester while I'm polishing my crown
Bilal Khan MBE, my good sir
It's still fuck the Royals, I'm just a great actor
Smiling in the faces of all the clowns and wankers
Deserve another medal for subduing this anger
Channelling it all to spark some creativity
Used to turning pain to some productivity
Giving a little something back to my community
Hoping this big mouth leaves some kind of legacy
And if it's not for you, you can just move on
If it goes over your head, doesn't mean it's wrong
I know it's scary hearing a brown man spitting a rude song
Even worse when your daughters start singing along
Whoa there, Karen, I'm not wanting your chit-chat
Have a fucking break, here, gnaw on this Kit-Kat
Clutch your pearl necklace and you're lucky to have that
'Cause he only cums on your chest, terrified of that twat
So sorry, should I cue the violins?
You know my type, oh so prone to violence
Everywhere I go, I'm tailed by an ambulance
Surprised you could even hear me over the sirens
Are you entertained yet?
Are you entertained yet?
I could always pull out another showstopper
Are you entertained yet?
Are you entertained yet?
Get your teeth around this fucking jaw-dropper
Are you entertained yet?
Are you entertained yet?
Are you entertained? Bet.Out here can get real crazy
I've seen shadows move so shady
Death threats from overblown CEOs
Girl bosses yearning for my embryo
Gratification may be a sickness
It's compensation for what I've witnessed
I'll roll with the punches, take the hits
Learned to survive with my bag of tricks
'Cause I know some people like to say I'm trouble
But guess who was on the phone, offering me double...
Are you entertained yet?
Are you entertained yet?
I could always pull out another showstopper
Are you entertained yet?
Are you entertained yet?
Get your teeth around this fucking jaw-dropper
Are you entertained yet?
Are you entertained yet?
Are you entertained? Bet.Are you entertained yet?
Are you entertained yet?
I could always pull out another showstopper
Are you entertained yet?
Are you entertained yet?
Get your teeth around this fucking jaw-dropper
Are you entertained yet?
Are you entertained yet?
Are you entertained?
Fucking bet.Can Be Compared To:
