Musiq Soulchild | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Taalib Johnson |
Also known as |
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Born | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | September 16, 1977
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Occupations |
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Years active | 1998–present |
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Website | www.musiqsoulchild.com |
Taalib Johnson (born September 16, 1977), better known by his stage name Musiq Soulchild (or simply Musiq; pronounced "music") [1] is an American singer-songwriter. His music blends R&B, funk, blues, jazz, and gospel influences fused with hip hop. [2]
He signed with Def Soul to release his debut studio album, Aijuswanaseing (2000). It moderately entered the Billboard 200, while his second album, Juslisen (2002), peaked atop the chart and spawned the single "Halfcrazy", his highest entry—at number 16—on the Billboard Hot 100. He released third album, Soulstar (2003), before parting ways with the label in favor of Atlantic Records. The label released his fourth album, Luvanmusiq (2007), which peaked atop the Billboard 200 once more.
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 freestyling 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 inspirations such icons as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Donny Hathaway. [3] [4] 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." [3]
In 1998, Musiq Soulchild signed with Def Soul Records, the contemporary R&B division of Universal Music's Def Jam Recordings. He later released his debut album, Aijuswanaseing , in late 2000. Its lead single was "Just Friends (Sunny)". His second single "Love" spent 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
Musiq's second album, 2002's Juslisen , debuted at number one on both the Billboard 200 and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, reaching platinum-sales status. [5] The singles were "Halfcrazy" and "Dontchange", which were top ten hits.
In 2003, Musiq released his third album, Soulstar , which went gold. [5] It included the singles "Forthenight" and "Whoknows".
Musiq took a four-year break and changed his management to Solqi Management. In 2006, media outlets circulated that Musiq was involved in a de facto record label trade, transitioning from Def Soul's master label Def Jam Recordings to Atlantic Records, and sending rapper Fabolous from Atlantic to Def Jam. [6] [7] [8]
In March 2007, Musiq's released his fourth album Luvanmusiq . Its singles were "B.U.D.D.Y.", an uptempo track, [5] "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". The latter marked the first collaboration between Musiq and producer JR Hutson, after Hutson had spent "about eight months" trying to get Musiq to come by his studio. [9] According to Hutson, the two planned to work together again. [9]
In May 2010, he changed management to Victor Grieg. [9]
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, [10] followed by "Yes".
In September 2013, Musiq released a duet album with Syleena Johnson, titled 9ine. This album was a compilation of nine reggae songs recorded in nine days on the independent Shanachie [5] label.
Also in September 2013, Musiq 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. [11] [12] [13] 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. [14]
In April 2016, he released his first independent solo album through My Block/E1 Music, Life on Earth . [15] 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. [16] [17] He premiered music videos for the tracks in April 2017. [18]
Musiq Soulchild has featured on
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 titled "People Everyday (Metamorphosis Mix)".
Musiq guest starred as himself in the UPN sitcom Half and Half in May 2004 and The CW comedy The Game in October 2007. [20] [21]
On June 25, 2012, Musiq released a book on love and relationships, titled 143 – Love According To Musiq. [22]
When Musiq was a young child, he developed a lazy eye from an accident that occurred while being fed by his uncle. [23] [24] [25]
In 2009, he had a son with 702 singer Kameelah Williams. [26] He also has a daughter named Satori, born in 2017. Musiq resides in Atlanta, Georgia. [27] [28]
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | Certifications (sales threshold) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [29] | US R&B/HH [30] | US R&B [31] | US Ind. [32] | |||
Aijuswanaseing | 24 | 4 | — | — | ||
Juslisen |
| 1 | 1 | — | — |
|
Soulstar |
| 13 | 3 | — | — |
|
Luvanmusiq |
| 1 | 1 | — | — |
|
OnMyRadio |
| 11 | 1 | — | — | |
MusiqInTheMagiq |
| 8 | 3 | — | — | |
Husel Music (as The Husel) |
| — | — | — | — | |
Life on Earth |
| 27 | 3 | 2 | 5 | |
Feel the Real |
| 126 | — | 16 | 11 |
Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
---|---|---|
US R&B/HH [30] | ||
9ine (with Syleena Johnson) |
| 54 |
Victims and Villains (with Hit-Boy) |
| — |
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
US [29] | US R&B/HH [30] | US Holiday [34] | ||
A Philly Soul Christmas / Christmas Musiq |
| 88 | 20 | 9 |
The Pre-Up – EP |
| — | — | — |
The EternaL Peace EP |
| — | — | — |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
---|---|---|---|---|
US [35] | US R&B/HH [36] | |||
"Just Friends (Sunny)" | 2000 | 31 | 6 | Aijuswanaseing |
"Love" | 24 | 2 | ||
"Girl Next Door" (featuring Ayana) | 2001 | 85 | 28 | |
"Halfcrazy" | 2002 | 16 | 2 | Juslisen |
"Dontchange" | 17 | 3 | ||
"Forthenight" | 2003 | 53 | 18 | Soulstar |
"Whoknows" | 2004 | 65 | 23 | |
"B.U.D.D.Y." | 2007 | 36 | 2 | Luvanmusiq |
"Teachme" | 42 | 2 | ||
"Makeyouhappy" | — | 61 | ||
"Radio" | 2008 | — | 55 | OnMyRadio |
"IfULeave" (featuring Mary J. Blige) | 71 | 6 | ||
"SoBeautiful" | 2009 | 84 | 8 | |
"Silky Soul" | 2010 | — | — | Silky Soul Music – An All-Star Tribute to Maze & Frankie Beverly |
"Anything" (featuring Swizz Beatz) | 2011 | — | 31 | MusiqInTheMagiq |
"Yes" | — | 24 | ||
"Feel the Fire" (with Syleena Johnson) | 2013 | — | — | 9ine |
"I Do" | 2016 | — | 11 | Life on Earth |
"Simple Things" | 2017 | — | — | Feel the Real |
"Start Over" | — | 11 |
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [35] | US R&B [36] | UK [37] | |||
"Break You Off" (The Roots featuring Musiq Soulchild) | 2002 | 99 | 55 | 59 | Phrenology |
"Nothing at All" (Santana featuring Musiq Soulchild) | 2003 | — | — | — | Shaman |
"Takeyatime" (Black Ice featuring Musiq Soulchild) | 2006 | — | — | — | The Death of Willie Lynch |
"Why Me" (Ice Cube featuring Musiq Soulchild) | 2008 | — | — | — | Raw Footage |
"Chocolate High" (India.Arie featuring Musiq Soulchild) | 114 | 19 | — | Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics | |
"Forever" (The Floacist featuring Musiq Soulchild) | 2010 | — | — | — | Floetic Soul |
"Hope for Haiti" (Kim Burrell featuring Musiq Soulchild, Michelle Williams, Lil' Mo and Tye Tribbett) | — | — | — | Charity single | |
"Ah Yeah" (Robert Glasper Experiment featuring Chrisette Michele and Musiq Soulchild) | 2012 | — | 86 | — | Black Radio |
"Still Believe in Love" (Demetria McKinney featuring Musiq Soulchild) | 2013 | — | — | — | Non-album singles |
"Give It to You" (Meelah featuring Musiq Soulchild) | 2015 | — | — | — | |
"Footsteps" (Kehlani featuring Musiq Soulchild) | 2019 | — | — | — | While We Wait |
"Your Turn" Ty Dolla Sign featuring Musiq Soulchild, Tish Hyman and 6lack) | 2020 | — | — | — | Featuring Ty Dolla Sign |
Soulchild has two platinum as well as two gold albums altogether. [30]
He has also received awards from BET and the ASCAP among others. [3] [38]
Soulchild has also received 13 Grammy nominations, including three for his 2007 album Luvanmusiq . [39]
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2002 ASCAP Awards | Musiq Soulchild | Best Male R&B Artist | Won |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2001 | Musiq Soulchild | Best Male R&B Artist | Won |
2001 | Musiq Soulchild | Best New Artist | Nominated |
2003 | Musiq Soulchild | Best Male R&B Artist | Nominated |
2007 | Musiq Soulchild | BET Centric Award | Nominated |
2009 | Musiq Soulchild | BET J Award | Nominated |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Musiq Soulchild | Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist | Nominated |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | "Love" | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance | Nominated |
2003 | "Halfcrazy" | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance | Nominated |
Juslisen | Best R&B Album | Nominated | |
2004 | "Forthenight" | Best Urban/Alternative Performance | Nominated |
2005 | "Are You Experienced?" | Best Urban/Alternative Performance | Nominated |
2008 | "B.U.D.D.Y." | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance | Nominated |
Luvanmusiq | Best R&B Album | Nominated | |
2010 | "SoBeautiful" | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance | Nominated |
"IfULeave" (feat. Mary J. Blige) | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals | Nominated | |
"Chocolate High" (with India.Arie) | Nominated | ||
2011 | "We're Still Friends" | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance | Nominated |
2017 | "I Do" | Best R&B Performance | Nominated |
2018 | Feel the Real | Best R&B Album | Nominated |
John David Jackson, better known by his stage name Fabolous, is an American rapper. Raised in Brooklyn, he first gained recognition for his ability upon performing live on DJ Clue's Hot 97 radio show. Jackson then signed to Clue's record label Desert Storm Records, in a joint venture with Elektra Records. He rose to further prominence with his debut studio album Ghetto Fabolous (2001), which spawned the hit singles "Can't Deny It" and "Young'n ." Adopting a further commercially-oriented approach, his second album, Street Dreams (2003), was supported by the singles "Can't Let You Go" and "Into You" —both of which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.
Juslisen is the second studio album by American singer Musiq Soulchild, simply known at the time as Musiq. It was released on May 7, 2002, under the Def Soul subsidiary of Def Jam Recordings. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, where it spent 35 weeks before falling off on February 22, 2003. It was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 2003 Grammy Awards.
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Eric Roberson is an American singer, songwriter, former rapper and music producer. He is sometimes referred to simply as Erro, the name which he later used as part of his label Blue Erro Soul. His first single, "Represent", was released through Warner Bros. Records in 1994 and he recorded an album for that label which remains unreleased.
Aijuswanaseing is the debut studio album by American singer Musiq Soulchild. It was released on November 14, 2000, through Def Soul Recordings and Island Def Jam Music Group. The album debuted at number 32 on the US Billboard 200 chart on December 2, 2000. On the Billboard 200, it peaked at No. 24 on April 7, 2001, and after spending 41 weeks on the chart, exited on September 8, 2001; on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart, it spent 67 weeks, falling off on June 1, 2002.
Warryn Stafford Campbell, Jr. is an American record producer. He has worked with a number of gospel, hip hop and R&B artists. Campbell originally got his start as a session musician and producer under the tutelage of DJ Quik on his third album Safe + Sound.
Luvanmusiq is the fourth release by the singer-songwriter Musiq Soulchild, the first under his contract with Atlantic Records. The lead single, "B.U.D.D.Y.", was released to US radio in late November 2006; it reached number two on the R&B chart, and number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100. Following its release, it entered the US Billboard 200 at number 1, with 149,774 copies sold. During the same week, the second single, "Teachme", entered the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number 54, and rose to number five in its thirteenth week. "Teachme" also entered the Hot 100 at number 92 on the issue date, May 26, 2007.
"B.U.D.D.Y." is the first single from Musiq Soulchild's fourth album Luvanmusiq. It was released on January 30, 2007, after being given to radio stations in the US in late November 2006. It contains samples from De La Soul's "Buddy ", Taana Gardner's "Heartbeat" and interpolations from the composition "Heartbeat ". The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance at the 50th Grammy Awards but lost to "Future Baby Mama" by Prince. The lyrics are a man's attempts to persuade a girl he can be her "buddy".
Soulstar is the third studio album by American singer Musiq Soulchild. It was released on December 9, 2003. It debuted on the Billboard 200 at number thirteen, spending 23 weeks on the chart and exiting on May 29, 2004; on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart where it peaked at number three, it spent 37 weeks, falling off on September 9, 2004.
"Teachme" is the second single from Musiq Soulchild's fourth album Luvanmusiq.
"Halfcrazy" is a song performed by Musiq Soulchild, issued as the lead single from his second studio album Juslisen. The single was released only on vinyl; and it contains a sample of Charlie Byrd's cover of Francis Lai's "Vivre Pour Vivre." The song is Musiq's biggest hit to date on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 16 in 2002.
Raw Footage is the eighth studio album by American rapper Ice Cube. It was released on August 19, 2008, by his record label Lench Mob Records and EMI. The album features guest appearances from The Game, Butch Cassidy, Musiq Soulchild, Young Jeezy and WC. The album is his most political effort, since over a decade earlier with the release of his album The Predator (1992).
"SoBeautiful" is the third single from Musiq Soulchild's fifth studio album, OnMyRadio. It was sent to US radio stations for airplay consideration in January 2009. It was nominated for a Grammy Award in the category of Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
JR Hutson is an American record producer, executive producer, songwriter and talent developer. He has collaborated with several notable artists including Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, Stevie Wonder, George Duke, Trick Daddy, Anthony Hamilton, Robert Glasper, Lalah Hathaway, Earth Wind & Fire, Wayman Tisdale and Childish Gambino. Hutson has been awarded Gold and Platinum records. He has also been nominated for four Grammy Awards. He is currently producing and developing talent.
Dan August Rigo is a Filipino-Canadian recording artist, songwriter, producer and musician. August Rigo is signed to a publishing contract with Sony/ATV as a songwriter.
MusiqInTheMagiq is the sixth studio album by the R&B singer Musiq Soulchild. It was released on April 29, 2011, on Atlantic Records. The album entered the Billboard 200 chart at number eight, selling 34,000 copies in its first week. As of 2016, the album has sold over 111,000 copies.
Kemar McGregor, also known by his nicknames, DJ Flava and Flava McGregor, is a Jamaican-American pop reggae producer. He has recorded and produced music for the most renowned artists in the music industry, including Sinéad O'Connor, Musiq Soulchild, Syleena Johnson, Snoop Dogg/Snoop Lion, Jon Secada, Maxi Priest, Sizzla, Marcia Griffiths, Beenie Man, Wayne Wonder, Buju Banton, Capleton, Sanchez, Freddie McGregor, Luciano, Sugar Minott, Barrington Levy, Gregory Isaacs, Morgan Heritage, Half Pint, Tanya Stephens, Gyptian, Cas Haley, Beres Hammond, Glen Washington, Etana and Cocoa Tea, among many others. McGregor is the owner and chief executive officer of FM Records.
FM Records LLC is an American-based record label specializing pop-reggae and dubstep music. FM Records is currently considered the market leader in pop-reggae recordings, having released albums and singles with Sinéad O'Connor, Musiq Soulchild, Syleena Johnson, Jon Secada, Sean Paul, Maxi Priest, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Inner Circle, Sean Paul, Marcia Griffiths, Cas Haley, Gregory Isaacs, Barrington Levy, JC Lodge, Sizzla, Chaka Demus & Pliers, Sister Nancy, Nadine Sutherland, Patra, Luciano, Ce'Cile, Beres Hammond, Wayne Wonder and Gyptian, among many others. The company also is known for proliferating the pop-reggae genre within the British and Canadian music industries, releasing hit singles with Canadian pop/R&B celebrities Divine Brown, Jesse Giddings, Elaine Shepherd, Dru, Ammoye, and British recording stars Janet Kay, Carroll Thompson, Adele Harley, Maddy Carty, Peter Hunnigale, Savage and Peter Spence.
Life on Earth is the seventh studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Musiq Soulchild. It was released on April 15, 2016, by eOne Music. It is the first album to be released on an independent label, after previously recording several albums on Def Jam Recordings and Atlantic Records. The album entered the US Billboard 200 at number 27.