![]() ![]() “There wouldn’t have been a lane, there wouldn’t have been context, there wouldn’t have been a reference, there wouldn’t have been the interest if he wasn’t a thing… There wouldn’t have been somebody saying, ‘Maybe, let’s take a chance on this kid from Philly that’s doing this whole neo-soul thing.’” In that same Vibe interview, he singles out D’Angelo’s impact as a huge reason for his own success. Musiq Soulchild’s smooth, yet rugged, technique, always stood out amongst his peers. So much gray that no one likes to talk about.” I’ve never really been interested in the extremes. Most people like to do the black or the white, like to do the up or the down, or the good or the bad. In a 2021 interview for Vibe, Soulchild reflected on this style of songwriting: “That’s the space that I like to work in. ![]() The song works so well because it never quite gives a clear resolution. Hit single, “Halfcrazy” led the way, sampling a 1960s French soundtrack for its delicate guitar. It was a melting pot of musical genres, with R&B, hip hop, funk, and gospel all thrown into the mix. ![]() ![]() Released at a moment when the “gangsta” lifestyle was heavily glorified and the sounds of The South were beginning to make noise, Juslisen had something for everyone. Listen to Musiq Soulchild’s Juslisen on Apple Music or Spotify. Decades on, fans still connect to these tunes that took him to the top of the Billboard 200 and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album. The LP not only solidified Soulchild’s popularity, it also showcased just how versatile and timeless neo-soul could be. A stunning double album released in 2017, Feel the Real shows the full range of his ability and imagination, leaving no doubt that this proud child of soul has become a master himself.Only two years after captivating listeners with his debut album, Aijuswanaseing, Philadelphia native Musiq Soulchild returned with a masterpiece in 2002’s Juslisten. Collaborations with The Roots on 2002’s “Break You Off” and Swizz Beatz on 2011’s “Anything” prove he’s just as polished when it comes to bangers and club jams. On his further albums with Def Jam and Atlantic, Johnson maintained that close connection to soul’s golden age while skillfully incorporating elements of hip-hop, funk, and reggae. He’s kept that torch burning strongly ever since he scored immediate success with 2000’s Aijuswanaseing(I Just Want To Sing), a deftly handled debut that established him as a leading light of neo-soul. He added Soulchild to honor the many ‘60s and ‘70s heroes that have always inspired him: giants like Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, and Marvin Gaye. Pronounced “music,” the first part of Taalib Johnson’s distinctive moniker grew out of Music Boy, a nickname Johnson gained as a teen who was keen to show off his gifts whether he was performing at open mic nights or beatboxing for local MCs in Philadelphia, where he was born in 1977. ![]()
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