b. Talib Johnson, 16 September 1977, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. This Philadelphia-based singer was one of several new artists to emerge in the neo-soul renaissance prompted by the success of artists such as D’Angelo and Lauryn Hill. Raised in a music-loving family, Johnson first made an impression at Philadelphia showcases such as The Five Spot and Wilhemina’s. He adopted his unusual name by combining music and IQ, while ‘soulchild’ reflects growing up surrounded by the sounds of classic 70s soul. Teaming up with songwriter Carvin Haggins, Johnson signed a contract with Def Soul and recorded his debut at Touch Of Jazz studios with D’Angelo producer James Poyser. The track ‘Just Friends (Sunny)’ gained widespread recognition during summer 2000 when it was featured on the soundtrack to Nutty Professor II: The Klumps. The album’s smooth fusion of funk, soul and hip-hop drew a mixed critical response, but proved to be a notable commercial success. The singer adopted a new moniker, Musiq, on his second album, Juslisen. Following one further release on Def Soul, 2003’s Soulstar, the singer left the label and signed a new recording contract with Atlantic Records.
