• September 16, 1977
• In explaining the origins of his name, Musiq said, "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 nickname Soulchild came from two ideas. He says 'Musiq' is the front man and 'Soulchild' is the idea behind it. He says it's "me as an artist in this generation, representing the traditions and the legacies of the past soul stars."
• In 2001, Musiq dropped the "Soulchild" part of his name because he was feeling uninspired, but brought the moniker back in 2007 because he felt that only using, "Musiq" was bad for the music market.
• Musiq has been featured in television and print ads for various businesses, including McDonald's, The Gap, Nike, Inc. and Levi Strauss & Co.
• Musiq contributed a remake of the Arrested Development song, "People Everyday" to the soundtrack of Tyler Perry's Meet The Browns. The song was a collaboration with the British rapper, Estelle. Musiq can also be heard on the soundtracks for the Tyler Perry films, Daddy's Little Girls and Why Did I Get Married.
• Between 2003 and 2007, Musiq took a four year break from music. During that time, he changed his management to Solqui Management and changed his record label from Def Soul to Atlantic Records.
• Musiq is noted for ignoring rules for spelling, grammar and capitalization in his song and album titles.

Comments

More Songfacts:

Mistress For ChristmasAC/DC

AC/DC's 1990 song "Mistress For Christmas" is about Donald Trump, who was in the news because of his affair with the model Marla Maples.

ParanoidBlack Sabbath

"Paranoid" reflects a feeling Black Sabbath bass player Geezer Butler often felt after using drugs.

Sloop John BThe Beach Boys

"Sloop John B" is a traditional West Indian folk song, and it was a huge hit for The Beach Boys in 1966. They tweaked the lyric, "This is the worst trip since I've been born" to "...I've ever been on" as a wink to acid culture.

Dance Hall DaysWang Chung

Wang Chung's '80s classic "Dance Hall Days" is about how things can start simple but end up complex. First you "take your baby by the hand," but by the end she has an amethyst in her mouth.

The Lion Sleeps TonightThe Tokens

"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" is an English version of a Zulu hunting song from the 1930s.

Won't Get Fooled AgainThe Who

"Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who is about a revolution, but it doesn't have a happy ending, since in the end the new regime becomes just like the old one. Pete Townshend thought that whoever was in power was destined to become corrupt.

Editor's Picks

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

Director Nick Morris ("The Final Countdown")Song Writing

Nick made some of the biggest videos on MTV, including "The Final Countdown," "Heaven" and "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)."

Grateful Dead CharactersMusic Quiz

Many unusual folks appear in Grateful Dead songs. Can you identify them?

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Holly Knight ("The Best," "Love Is A Battlefield")Songwriter Interviews

Holly Knight talks about some of the hit songs she wrote, including "The Warrior," "Never" and "The Best," and explains some songwriting philosophy, including how to think of a bridge.