| Miguel | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Miguel Jontel Pimentel |
| Born | October 23, 1986 |
| Origin | San Pedro, Los Angeles, California |
| Genres | R&B |
| 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, Blu |
| 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.
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Miguel Jontel Pimentel was born in Los Angeles.[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]
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]
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.
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]
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | ||
| 2010 | All I Want Is You
|
37 | 9 |
| Song | Year | Chart positions |
Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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" | — | 62 | ||
| Title | Year | Album | Artist(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| "The Many Times | 2006 | Esthero | |
| "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 |
|
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