• 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:

DiamondsRihanna

Rihanna's 2012 hit "Diamonds" was written by Sia Furler, who two years later had a huge hit on her own with "Chandelier." Sia also wrote the David Guetta hit "Titanium."

I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)Michael McDonald

Michael McDonald's "I Keep Forgettin'" is based on a '60s song with the same title written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

Don't ChaThe Pussycat Dolls

Sir Mix-A-Lot is credited as a writer on The Pussycat Dolls' biggest hit, "Don't Cha," because it interpolates his 1988 song "Swass," where he goes, "Don't you wish your boyfriend was swass like me?"

Hash PipeWeezer

MTV wanted Weezer to record a version of their song "Hash Pipe" as "Half Pipe" to appeal to the skateboarding crowd. The band refused, and MTV listed the song as "H*** Pipe."

(Don't Fear) The ReaperBlue Öyster Cult

Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult wrote "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" after he was diagnosed with a heart condition and started thinking about his own mortality.

Sweet Baby JamesJames Taylor

James Taylor wrote "Sweet Baby James" during a road trip to Virginia in honor of his brother’s new baby, also named James, whom he was about to meet for the first time.

Editor's Picks

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Brenda RussellSongwriter Interviews

Brenda talks about the inspiration that drove her to write hit songs like "Get Here" and "Piano in the Dark," and why a lack of formal music training can be a songwriter's best asset.

Keith Reid of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

As Procol Harum's lyricist, Keith wrote the words to "A Whiter Shade Of Pale." We delve into that song and find out how you can form a band when you don't sing or play an instrument.

Phone Booth SongsSong Writing

Phone booths are nearly extinct, but they provided storylines for some of the most profound songs of the pre-cell phone era.

Joan ArmatradingSongwriter Interviews

The revered singer-songwriter talks inspiration and explains why she put a mahout in "Drop the Pilot."

Kerry Livgren of KansasSongwriter Interviews

In this talk from the '80s, the Kansas frontman talks turning to God and writing "Dust In The Wind."