IntroAmerican singer
IsMusician 
Singer 
FromUnited States of America 
TypeMusic 
Gendermale
Birth16 September 1977, Philadelphia, USA
Age:42 years
Star signVirgo
Genre:
Soul music
Instruments:
Voice

Taalib Johnson, professionally known as Musiq Soulchild or simply Musiq (/ˈmjuːsɪk/; born September 16, 1977) is an American singer and songwriter whose style blends R&B, funk, blues, jazz, gospel influences fused with hip hop.

Early life

Musiq was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and raised in a strict Muslim household. During his teenage years he built a reputation for being musically gifted, beat boxing for MCs free styling on the open mic circuit, scatting at jazz clubs or just performing an a cappella for strangers on the streets, which is where he got the name “Musiq” and later added “Soulchild”. He cites as his inspiration such icons as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Donny Hathaway as his most influential musical icons. He dropped out of high school to pursue a career in music.

“There were people who knew of me but they didn’t really know me; they just knew me as ‘that music dude.’ So after getting that so much, I was like ‘Just call me Musiq.’ It was so fresh to me because if I had to be called anything, I would have wanted to be called Music. That’s how much I dug it; when you see me, I want you to automatically think of music. The stage name “Musiq Soulchild” is technically two ideas. ‘Musiq’ is the front man and ‘Soulchild’ is the idea behind it. It’s basically me as an artist in this generation, representing the traditions and the legacies of the past soul stars.”

Career

2000–2004: Def Soul Recordings

Musiq Soulchild signed with Def Soul Records in late 1999, and released his debut album, Aijuswanaseing, in 2000. Its lead single was “Just Friends (Sunny)”. Musiq’s second single “Love” spent 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.

Musiq’s second album, 2002’s Juslisen, debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 and went platinum; it also debuted number one on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and all-genre Billboard 200 charts. The singles were “Halfcrazy” and “Dontchange”, which were top tens.

In 2003, Musiq released his third album, Soulstar, which went gold. It included the singles “Forthenight” and “Whoknows”.

Musiq took a four-year break and changed his management to Solqi Management, as well as his record label from Def Soul to Atlantic Records.

2006–2012: Atlantic Records

In March 2007, Musiq’s released his fourth album Luvanmusiq. Its singles were “B.U.D.D.Y.”. an uptempo track, “Teachme”, and “Makeyouhappy”.

His fifth album OnMyRadio was released on December 2, 2008. The lead single “Radio” was a complete contrast to the usual smooth neo soul Musiq fans were accustomed to. The following singles were the duet IfULeave featuring Mary J. Blige; and the ballad SoBeautiful. “SoBeautiful” marked the first collaboration between Musiq and the producer JR Hutson, after Hutson had spent “about eight months” trying to get Musiq to come by his studio. According to Hutson, the two plan to work together again.

In May 2010, he changed management to Victor Grieg.

His last album for Atlantic MusiqInTheMagiq was released on May 3, 2011, available on CDs and also as a digital download. The first single was “Anything” featuring Swizz Beatz, followed by “Yes”.

2013–present My Block Records, Soulstar Music Company, eOne Records

In September 2013, he released a duet album with Syleena Johnson entitled 9ine. This album was a compilation of nine reggae songs recorded in nine days on the independent Shanachie label.

Also in September 2013, Musiq Soulchild announced his departure from Atlantic Records and becoming an independent artist. He revealed he is now signed to record producer Warryn Campbell’s label My Block Records. Musiq previously worked with Campbell on his first two albums on Atlantic – 2007’s Luvanmusiq and 2008’s OnMyRadio.

He released an EP titled The Husel through DatPiff on July 30, 2014.

In April 2016, he released his first independent solo album through My Block/E1 Music, Life on Earth. The lead single is “I Do”. Shortly after, he moved to a new label, with eOne/SoulStar Music Company.

In 2017, he released two new singles “Simple Things” and “Start Over” set for a new album titled Feel the Real due on September 15, 2017. He premiered music videos for the tracks in April 2017.

Other music

Musiq Soulchild has featured on

  • the song “Nothing at All” from Carlos Santana’s October 2002 album Shaman;
  • The Roots’s November 2002 Phrenology on the song “Break You Off”;
  • rapper Skillz’s December 2002 I Ain’t Mad No More on the song “Wave Ya Hands!”;
  • “Are You Experienced?” on March 2004’s Power of Soul: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix album;
  • Black Ice’s September 2006 The Death of Willie Lynch on the song “Takeyatime”;
  • rapper Lloyd Banks’s October 2006 album Rotten Apple on the song Addicted;
  • “Reasons” on the March 2007 tribute album Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire;
  • on Talib Kweli’s August 2007 album Eardrum on the song “Oh My Stars”;
  • Ice Cube’s August 2008 album Raw Footage on the song “Why Me?”;
  • Rapsody’s November 2017 album Laila’s Wisdom on the song “A Rollercoaster Jam Called Love”;
  • Kehlani’s February 2019 mixtape While We Wait on the song “Footsteps”;
  • Smif-N-Wessun’s March 2019 album The All on the song “Ocean Drive.

Soundtrack songs

Soulchild has also appeared on the soundtrack to Tyler Perry’s February 2007 movie Daddy’s Little Girls.

He also lent a song from his March 2007 album Luvanmusiq to the soundtrack for Perry’s later movie Why Did I Get Married?, released October 2007.

He then recorded a remake of Arrested Development’s song “People Everyday” with British rapper and singer Estelle for the soundtrack to Tyler Perry’s March 2008 Meet the Browns entitled “People Everyday (Metamorphosis Mix)”.

Television and books

He’s guest starred as himself in the UPN sitcom Half and Half in May 2004 and The CW comedy The Game in October 2007.

On June 25, 2012, Musiq released a book on love and relationships entitled “143 – Love According To Musiq”. The book’s title is inspired by the favorite number of television host Fred Rogers, since the phrase “I love you” has 8 characters: 1 in “I”, 4 in “love” and 3 in “you”. Rogers stopped production of his television series a year before Dontchange was released.

Personal life

Since 2009, he has been in a relationship with 702 singer Kameelah Williams. In August 2009, their son Zac was born. In October 2017 his daughter Satori Solaris with influencer Ashley Wright was born.

Discography

Studio albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart
positions
Certifications
USUS R&B/Hip-HopUS R&BUS Ind
Aijuswanaseing
  • Released: November 14, 2000
  • Label: Def Soul Recordings
  • Formats: CD, LP
244
  • RIAA: Platinum
Juslisen
  • Released: May 7, 2002
  • Label: Def Soul, Def Jam Recordings
  • Formats: CD, LP
11
  • RIAA: Platinum
Soulstar
  • Released: December 9, 2003
  • Label: Def Jam Recordings
  • Formats: CD, LP
133
  • RIAA: Gold
Luvanmusiq
  • Released: March 13, 2007
  • Label: Atlantic Records
  • Formats: CD, LP, music download
11
  • RIAA: Gold
OnMyRadio
  • Released: December 9, 2008
  • Label: Atlantic Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
111
MusiqInTheMagiq
  • Released: May 3, 2011
  • Label: Atlantic Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
83
Husel Music (as The Husel)
  • Released: May 5, 2015
  • Label: Soulstar Music Company
  • Formats: Music download
Life on Earth
  • Released: April 15, 2016
  • Label: My Block, E1 Music
  • Formats: CD, music download
27325
Feel the Real
  • Released: September 15, 2017
  • Label: eOne, SoulStar Music Company
  • Formats: CD, music download
1261611

Collaboration albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart
positions
Certifications
USUS R&B
9ine (with Syleena Johnson)
  • Released: September 24, 2013
  • Label: Shanachie Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
54

EPs

TitleDetailsPeak chart
positions
Certifications
USUS Holiday
A Philly Soul Christmas / Christmas Musiq
  • Released: 2008 (Physical)
    October 30, 2009 (Digital)
  • Label: Atlantic Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
889
The Pre-Up – EP
  • Released: July 30, 2014
  • Label: Soulstar Music Company
  • Formats: music download
The eTeRnAL pEaCe EP
  • Released: June 18, 2015
  • Label: Soulstar Music Company
  • Formats: music download

Singles

YearSongAlbum
2000“Just Friends (Sunny)”316Aijuswanaseing
“Love”242
2001“Girl Next Door”8528
2002“Halfcrazy”162Juslisen
“Dontchange”173
2003“Forthenight”5318Soulstar
2004“Whoknows”6523
2007“B.U.D.D.Y.”362Luvanmusiq
“Teachme”422
“Makeyouhappy”68
2008“Radio”55OnMyRadio
“IfULeave”716
2009“SoBeautiful”818
2010“Silky Soul”Silky Soul Music – An All-Star Tribute To Maze & Frankie Beverly
2011“Anything”31MusiqInTheMagiq
“Yes”24
2013“Feel the Fire”9ine
2016“I Do”11Life on Earth
2017“Simple Things”Feel The Real
“Start Over”11

As featured artist

YearSongAlbum
2002“Break You Off”995559Phrenology
2003“Nothing at All”Shaman
2006“Takeyatime”The Death of Willie Lynch
2008“Why Me”Raw Footage
“Chocolate High”11419Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics
2010“Forever”Floetic Soul
“Hope for Haiti”Charity single
2012“Ah Yeah”86Black Radio
2013“Still Believe in Love”Non-album single
2015“Give It To You”TBA
2019“Footsteps” ( Kehlani feat. Musiq Soulchild)___While We Wait

Accolades

Soulchild has two platinum as well as two gold albums altogether.

He’s as well been bestowed with awards from BET and the ASCAP among others.

Soulchild has also received 13 Grammy nominations, including 3 for his 2007 album Luvanmusiq.

ASCAP Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2002 ASCAP AwardsMusiq SoulchildBest Male R&B ArtistWon

BET Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2001Musiq SoulchildBest Male R&B ArtistWon
2001Musiq SoulchildBest New ArtistNominated
2003Musiq SoulchildBest Male R&B ArtistNominated
2007Musiq SoulchildBET Centric AwardNominated
2009Musiq SoulchildBET J AwardNominated

American Music Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2002Musiq SoulchildFavorite Soul/R&B New ArtistNominated

Grammy Awards

YearNominee / workAwardResult
2002“Love”Best Male R&B Vocal PerformanceNominated
2003“Halfcrazy”Best Male R&B Vocal PerformanceNominated
JuslisenBest R&B AlbumNominated
2004“Forthenight”Best Urban/Alternative PerformanceNominated
2005“Are You Experienced?”Best Urban/Alternative PerformanceNominated
2008“B.U.D.D.Y.”Best Male R&B Vocal PerformanceNominated
LuvanmusiqBest R&B AlbumNominated
2010“SoBeautiful”Best Male R&B Vocal PerformanceNominated
“IfULeave”Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with VocalsNominated
“Chocolate High”Nominated
2011“We’re Still Friends”Best Male R&B Vocal PerformanceNominated
2017“I Do”Best R&B PerformanceNominated
2018Feel the RealBest R&B AlbumNominated

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