Taalib Hassan Johnson (born September 16, 1977), better known by his stage name Musiq Soulchild (or simply Musiq; pronounced "music") is an American singer-songwriter. His music blends R&B, funk, blues, jazz, and gospel influences fused with hip hop.
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.
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 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.[ Billboard: Musiq Soulchild] He dropped out of high school to pursue a career in music.
Career
1998–2004: Def Soul 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. The singles were "Halfcrazy" and "Dontchange", which were top ten hits.
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. 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.
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". 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. According to Hutson, the two planned 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, 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 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. 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 "Beautiful Contradiction" on British soul singer Beverley Knight's 2002 studio album Who I Am. 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?" in 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 titled "People Everyday (Metamorphosis Mix)".
Television and books Musiq 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, titled 143 – Love According To Musiq.
Personal life When Musiq was a young child, he developed a lazy eye from an accident that occurred while being fed by his uncle.
In 2009, he had a son with 702 singer Kameelah Williams. He also has a daughter named Satori, born in 2017, with Ashley "Tiyumba" Wright. Musiq resides in Atlanta, Georgia.
Discography
Studio albums + List of studio albums, with selected details, chart positions and certifications Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications(sales threshold) US US R&B/HH US R&B US Ind. Aijuswanaseing Released: November 14, 2000 Label: Def Soul, Def Jam Formats: CD, LP, cassette, digital download 24 4 — — RIAA: Platinum Juslisen Released: May 7, 2002 Label: Def Soul, Def Jam Formats: CD, LP, cassette, digital download 1 1 — — RIAA: Platinum Soulstar Released: December 9, 2003 Label: Def Soul, Def Jam Formats: CD, LP, cassette, digital download 13 3 — — RIAA: Gold Luvanmusiq Released: March 13, 2007 Label: Atlantic Formats: CD, LP, digital download 1 1 — — RIAA: Gold OnMyRadio Released: December 9, 2008 Label: Atlantic Formats: CD, digital download 11 1 — — MusiqInTheMagiq Released: May 3, 2011 Label: Atlantic Formats: CD, digital download 8 3 — — Husel Music Released: May 5, 2015 Label: Soulstar Music Company Formats: Digital download — — — — Life on Earth Released: April 15, 2016 Label: My Block, E1 Music Formats: CD, digital download 27 3 2 5 Feel the Real Released: September 15, 2017 Label: eOne, SoulStar Music Company Formats: CD, digital download 126 — 16 11
Collaboration albums + List of collaboration albums, with selected details and chart positions Title Details Peak chartpositions US R&B/HH 9ine(with Syleena Johnson) Released: September 24, 2013 Label: Shanachie Formats: CD, download 54 Victims and Villains(with Hit-Boy) Released: March 10, 2023 Label: SoulStar Music Company Formats: Download —
EPs + List of EPs, with selected details and chart positions Title Details Peak chart positions US US R&B/HH US Holiday A Philly Soul Christmas / Christmas Musiq Released: 2008 (physical)October 30, 2009 (digital) Label: Atlantic Formats: CD, download 88 20 9 The Pre-Up – EP Released: July 30, 2014 Label: Soulstar Music Company Formats: Download — — — The EternaL Peace EP Released: June 18, 2015 Label: Soulstar Music Company Formats: Download — — —
Singles + List of singles, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions AlbumUSUS R&B/HH"Just Friends (Sunny)"2000 31 6Aijuswanaseing"Love" 24 2"Girl Next Door" (featuring Ayana)2001 85 28"Halfcrazy"2002 16 2Juslisen"Dontchange" 17 3"Forthenight"2003 53 18Soulstar"Whoknows"2004 65 23 "B.U.D.D.Y."2007 36 2 Luvanmusiq"Teachme" 42 2"Makeyouhappy" — 61"Radio"2008 — 55 OnMyRadio"IfULeave" 71 6"SoBeautiful"2009 84 8"Silky Soul"2010 — — Silky Soul Music – An All-Star Tribute to Maze & Frankie Beverly"Anything"2011 — 31 MusiqInTheMagiq"Yes" — 24"Feel the Fire"2013 — — 9ine"I Do"2016 — 11 Life on Earth"Simple Things"2017 — — Feel the Real"Start Over" — 11
As featured artist + List of singles as featured artist, with selected chart positions Title Year Peak chart positions AlbumUSUS R&BUK "Break You Off" 2002 99 55 59 Phrenology "Nothing at All" 2003 — — — Shaman "Takeyatime" 2006 — — — The Death of Willie Lynch "Why Me" 2008 — — — Raw Footage "Chocolate High" 114 19 — Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics "Forever" 2010 — — — Floetic Soul "Hope for Haiti" — — — Charity single "Ah Yeah" 2012 — 86 — Black Radio "Still Believe in Love" 2013 — — — rowspan="2" "Give It to You" 2015 — — — "Footsteps" 2019 — — — While We Wait "Your Turn" 2020 — — — Featuring Ty Dolla Sign
Accolades Soulchild has two platinum as well as two gold albums altogether.
He has also received awards from BET and the ASCAP among others.
Soulchild has also received 13 Grammy nominations, including three for his 2007 album Luvanmusiq.
ASCAP Awards
| align="center" | 2002 ASCAP Awards | Musiq Soulchild | Best Male R&B Artist
BET Awards
| align="center" | 2001 | Musiq Soulchild | Best Male R&B Artist
| align="center" | 2001 | Musiq Soulchild | Best New Artist
| align="center" | 2003 | Musiq Soulchild | Best Male R&B Artist
| align="center" | 2007 | Musiq Soulchild | BET Centric Award
| align="center" | 2009 | Musiq Soulchild | BET J Award
American Music Awards
| align="center" | 2002 | Musiq Soulchild | Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist
Grammy Awards
| align="center" | 2002 | "Love" | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
| align="center" rowspan="2"| 2003 | "Halfcrazy" | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
| Juslisen | Best R&B Album
| align="center" | 2004 | "Forthenight" | Best Urban/Alternative Performance
| align="center" | 2005 | "Are You Experienced?" | Best Urban/Alternative Performance
| align="center" rowspan="2"| 2008 | "B.U.D.D.Y." | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
| Luvanmusiq | Best R&B Album
| align="center" rowspan="3"| 2010 | "SoBeautiful" | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
| "IfULeave" (feat. Mary J. Blige) | rowspan="2"| Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals
| "Chocolate High" (with India.Arie)
| align="center" | 2011 | "We're Still Friends" | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
| align="center" | 2017 | "I Do" | Best R&B Performance
| align="center" rowspan="1"| 2018 | Feel the Real | Best R&B Album
References
External links Official website [ Musiq Soulchild's AllMusic page]