- Musiq Soulchild
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Musiq Soulchild 
Music Soulchild at WGCI Coca Cola LoungeBackground information Birth name Taalib Johnson Also known as Musiq Soulchild Born September 16, 1977
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United StatesGenres Contemporary R&B
Neo soulOccupations Singer-songwriter Years active 2000–present Labels Def Soul (2000–2005)
Atlantic (2006–present)Website www.musiqsoulchild.com Musiq Soulchild or Musiq (
/ˈmjuːsɪk/; born Taalib Johnson on September 16, 1977) is a US R&B/soul singer-songwriter whose style blends contemporary R&B, soul, funk, alternative, blues, jazz, some gospel influences and hip hop.Contents
Biography
Musiq was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is the oldest of nine children. At an early age, Musiq decided he would discontinue his high school education, and left home at 17. It was during that time Musiq started to build a reputation for being musically gifted, beat boxing for MC's, free styling on the open mic circuit, scatting at a jazz club, or just performing a cappella in the streets of Philadelphia, which is where he got the name "Musiq" and later added "Soulchild", which is intended to respect and represent the legacy and traditions of past soul artists. He cites as his inspiration such icons as Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Patti LaBelle, Billie Holiday, Sly & the Family Stone and Ray Charles.[1][2]
Musiq has also earned award nominations from Moard, BET, ASCAP, BMI, and Soul Train.[1] Musiq Soulchild has had 2 platinum albums, 2 gold albums and 7 hit singles. He has received awards from BillbMTV, American Music Awards, NAACP, and 11 Grammy nominations, including 3 for his 2007 album Luvanmusiq.
Name origin
"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."[1] The nickname Soulchild came from two ideas. Musiq quotes it as, "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."[1]
Career
Musiq Soulchild 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 Charts and went platinum. The singles were "Halfcrazy" and "Dontchange".
In 2003, Musiq released his 3rd album, Soulstar. 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.
In March 2007, Musiq's released his fourth album Luvanmusiq. Its singles were "B.U.D.D.Y.", "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 soul and R&B 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.[3] According to Hutson, the two plan to work together again.[3]
In May 2010, he changed management to Victor Grieg.[3]
His latest album Musiqinthemajiq was released on May 3, 2011, available on CDs and also as a digital download. The first single is Anything featuring Swizz Beatz.[4]
Guest appearances
Musiq Soulchild has featured on Nothing At All from Carlos Santana's album, Shaman. He has also made guest appearances on rapper Lloyd Banks's album Rotten Apple, Talib Kweli's Eardrum, The Roots's Phrenology, Black Ice's The Death of Willie Lynch and pays tribute to soul music legends Earth Wind and Fire on the tribute album Interpretations: Celebrating the Music of Earth, Wind & Fire. Soulchild has also appeared on the soundtrack to Tyler Perry's movie Daddy's Little Girls and Ice Cube announced that Musiq will appear on his upcoming album, Raw Footage. He also lent a song from his latest album Luvanmusiq to the soundtrack for Perry's later movie Why Did I Get Married?. He then recorded a remake of Arrested Development's song "People Everyday" with British rapper/singer Estelle for the soundtrack to Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns entitled "People Everyday (Metamorphosis Mix)".
Other interests
Outside of music, he has been featured in television and print ads for McDonald's, Nike, Inc., Coca-Cola, Levi Strauss & Co. and The Gap. He made a special appearance on The CW's #1 comedy The Game on Monday, October 29, 2007, as well as the UPN sitcom All of Us.
Awards and recognition
He has received awards from Billboard, BET, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, BMI, and Soul Train. Musiq has also been nominated for awards by MTV, The American Music Awards, the NAACP, and has had 11 Grammy nominations.
Discography
Studio albums
Title Details Peak chart
positionsCertifications
(sales threshold)US
[5]US R&B
[6]Aijuswanaseing - Released: November 14, 2000
- Label: Def Soul Recordings
- Formats: CD
24 2 Juslisen - Released: May 7, 2002
- Label: Def Soul/Def Jam Recordings
- Formats: CD
1 1 - US: Platinum[8]
Soulstar - Released: December 9, 2003
- Label: Def Jam Recordings
- Formats: CD
13 3 - US: Gold[9]
Luvanmusiq - Released: March 13, 2007
- Label: Atlantic Records
- Formats: CD, music download
1 1 - US: Gold[10]
OnMyRadio - Released: December 9, 2008
- Label: Atlantic Records
- Formats: CD, music download
11 1 MusiqInTheMagiq - Released: May 3, 2011
- Label: Atlantic Records
- Formats: CD, music download
8 3 Singles
Year Song U.S. Hot 100[2] U.S. R&B[2] Album 2000 "Just Friends (Sunny)" 31 6 Aijuswanaseing "Love" 24 2 2001 "Girl Next Door" (featuring Ayana) 85 28 2002 "Halfcrazy" 16 2 Juslisen "Dontchange" 17 3 2003 "Forthenight" 53 18 Soulstar 2004 "Whoknows" 65 23 2007 "B.U.D.D.Y." 36 2 Luvanmusiq "Teachme" 42 2 "Makeyouhappy" - 68 2008 "Radio" - 55 OnMyRadio "IfULeave" (featuring Mary J. Blige) 71 6 2009 "SoBeautiful" 81 8 2010 "Silky Soul" - - Silky Soul Music 2011 "Anything" (featuring Swizz Beatz) - 31 MusiqInTheMagiq "Yes" - 24 Featured singles
Year Song U.S.
[2]U.S. R&B
[2]UK
[1]Album 2002 "Break You Off" (The Roots featuring Musiq Soulchild) 99 55 59 Phrenology 2008 "Why Me" (Ice Cube featuring Musiq Soulchild) - - - Raw Footage "Chocolate High" (India.Arie featuring Musiq Soulchild) 114 19 - Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics 2010 "Forever" (The Floacist featuring Musiq Soulchild) - - - Floetic Soul References
- ^ a b c d http://www.atlanticrecords.com/musiqsoulchild
- ^ a b c d e Billboard: Musiq Soulchild
- ^ a b c "Interview With JR Hutson". HitQuarters. 10 May 2010. http://www.hitquarters.com/index.php3?page=intrview/opar/intrview_JR_Hutson_Interview.html. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ http://musiqsoulchild.com/
- ^ "Musiq Soulchild Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/musiq-soulchild/chart-history/408180?f=305&g=Albums. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ^ "Musiq Soulchild Album & Song Chart History - R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/#/artist/musiq-soulchild/chart-history/408180?f=333&g=Albums. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - February 13, 2011: Aijuswanaseing certified awards". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Musiq&title=Aijuswanaseing&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - February 13, 2011: Juslisen certified awards". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Musiq&title=Juslisen&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - February 13, 2011: Soulstar certified awards". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Musiq&title=Soulstar&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
- ^ "RIAA - Gold & Platinum - February 13, 2011: Luvanmusiq certified awards". Recording Industry Association of America. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Musiq&title=Luvanmusiq&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
External links
- Official Website
- Musiq Soulchild on Myspace
- Antigua Music Festival
- Musiq Soulchild Black Planet page
- Musiq Preps Atlantic Records Debut
- Musiq at rnbkings.net
- Musiq Soulchild's AllMusic page
- Exclusive Musiq Soulchild Interview
- Luvanmusiq Album Review
Singles "Just Friends (Sunny)" · "Love" · "Girl Next Door" · "Halfcrazy" · "Dontchange" · "Nothing at All" · "Forthenight" · "Whoknows" · "B.U.D.D.Y." · "Teachme" · "Makeyouhappy" · "Radio" · "IfULeave" · "SoBeautiful"Featured Singles "Why Me?"Labels Categories:- 1977 births
- Living people
- African American singers
- American rhythm and blues singers
- American soul singers
- Neo soul singers
- Musicians from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- American Christians
- Atlantic Records artists
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