Imad Royal

Electronic R&B singer, songwriter, and producer Imad Royal first began issuing tracks in 2014. Born Imad-Roy El-Amine in Quebec City, he was raised in Washington, D.C., where he eventually began his music career. His genre-bending 2015 EP, Cycles, turned heads and soon netted him a deal with Atlantic affiliate Nice Life, which issued the 2016 single "Bad 4 U." Although Royal was initially identified as more of a producer, "Bad 4 U" was a hooky, vocal-heavy single with a melodic mash-up of hip-hop, bossa nova, and straight-ahead pop. Royal's second EP, Everything Happens, arrived in February 2017. The single "Love Is Dead," featuring FRND, followed in April 2018. ~ Timothy Monger