Üܲ²ßßßß²Ü ÜÜÜÜÜ ÛÛ²Ý ßÛÜÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛßßß²ÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ßßÛÜÜ ßÛÛÛÜÜÜ Ü ÛÛÛÛß ß²Ü ÜÜÜܲ²²ÛßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²Ü ÜÜþßßß ßÛÛÛÛ²²ß ßÛÛÝ ÞÝß²ÛÛÛÛÛÛßßßÜÜÜÛßßß ßÛ²²Ü ܲ²²²Ü ÛÛÝ ÜÜÛÛÜÜßÛÛÛÝ ß²Ü Üß ßßÛÜÜÜßß²ßß ÜÜÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÝ ßß²²ÜÛÛ ÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛ²ÛÛÛÜÜ ßßß ßß ÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛß ÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßþÜ ßß ÜÜÛÜÞÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ ßßß²ÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÜÜÛÛÛ²²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÜÛÛÛÛÛÛßßÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛßßÛܲ Üܲ²²ßßÛÛÛ²²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÜ ßß²ÛÛÛßßß ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛß ÞÛ²Û²ßßÜÜÛÛÛÛß Ü²²²ßßÜܲ²ÛÛÛÝ ßß²²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝÞÛÛÛÛÛÛ Þ²ÛÜÜÛÛßßß ÜÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ß²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÞÛÛÛÛÛÛ² ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ Ü²Ûßßß ÜÜÜÜ ²ÛÛÛÛÝ ÞÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÞÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²ÝÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ Üܲ²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÞÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÞÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßÞ²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ² ßÛÛÛÛ²Ü ÞÛÛÛÛÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛÛß Þ²ÛÛÛÛ°ÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßßßß ÜÜ ßÛÛÛÛÛÛ² ßÛÛÛ²²ÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÜÛ²²²ßß ²²ÛÛÛÛÝ ßÛ²²ÛÜ ²ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÜÜÛÛß ÞÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²ÜÜÜ ÜÛ²ÛÛÛÛÝ ßÛÛÛÛÜÞÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÜÜÜÛÛÛß ÞÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²ÜÜÜ ßßßÛÛ ßßÛÛ²ÛÛÛÛÛÝÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÛ ÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÜÜ ßßÛ²ÛÛÛÜßÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛ²² ÜÛÛßß ßßß²²²ÜÜ ßßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÜÜ ßßß²ÜÜßßÛ²²ÜÜÜÛÛÛÛ²ÛÛ²² ²ÛÛÝ ß²Ü ßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛܱ²ÛÛÛßßß ß²²Ü ÞÛÛÜ ÜÜÛÛ²ß þÜÜ ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ²ßß ßßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÜ ßÛÛ²ÜÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÝÛ²ÛÛÛÝ ß²²Ü ÞÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßß ± ÜÜþ ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ Ü²²²ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛÛ²²ßß ° ÜÜÜܲ²²Ý ÞÛÛÛÛÛß ß Ü²ßßßܲßÛÛ²ßßßßß ßßßßÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛßßß ßß²Ü Ü²²²ßß ÜÛÛß ²ÛÛÛÛÜ ßßßßßßßßßßßßßßß ÜÜÜÜÜÜÜ ßßÜÜÜ ÛÛÛÝ ÞÛÛÝß²ÛÜ Ü²²²²ß Üܲ²Ûßßß²ßßÛÛÛÛÜÜ ßßÛÛÛÜÜ ÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÜÛÛß ßß²ÜÜ Üܲ²²ßß ÜÜܲ۲ßß°° ß²ÛÛÛÛÜ ßÛÛÛÛÜ ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ÜÜÜÜ ßßßÜÜÛÛÛÛßßÜÜÜÜÛÛÛ²ßß ßÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÜÛ²ÛÛÛ²²Ü²ß²ß ÜÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßß ß ßÜßÛÛܲÛÛßß Ü²ßß ßÛÛÛÛ²ÜÛ²²²ÛÛÛ²Û²ßßß TEAM RNS PRESENTS Üþ ÞÛܲÛÛ ß ßÛÛ°ÞÛÛßß ÞÛÜ ÜÛÛÝ ÜÛÛÝ°ÛÝ ß ÜÜ ßÛÜßÛÛÜÜÛÛÛÛÝARTIST: Musiq ÞÛÛÛÛÜÛÛÛßÜÛß ÜÜ ÜÛÛÝ ß²ÜßÛÛÜßßß ßßßÜÛÛßÜ²ß ÞÛÛÜ ÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÝÞÛÛÛÜ TITLE: Soulstar ÜÛÛÛÝÞÛÝ ÜÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜÜܲ° ²ÛÛÛÛÛ ÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ°²ÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛ²ÜÜÜÛÞ²ÛÛÛÛÛÝ LABEL: Def Soul ÞÛÛÛÛÛ²ÝÛÜÜܲÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛßßÜÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÜßßÛÛÛÛßß ÜÜßß ÜÛÛÛÛÛÛß RIPPER: Team RNS ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ Ü ß ÜÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛ²ß ÜÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÛÛÝ ÞÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÞÛÛÛÛÛÛÝ ßÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛÛ 192kbps - R&B Þ²ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ßÛÛÜ ßÛÛÛÛÛÝ 1hr 11min total-102.7mb ÛÛÛÛÛÛß ÜÜßßÛÛÛÜÜßßÛÛÛÜ ÛÛÛ²ßß Û² ßßÛÛÜ ßÛÛÜ RELEASE DATE: 2003-12-09 ÛÛß ß²Ü ÞÛÛÝ ÞÛÛ²Ü RIP DATE: 2003-11-25 ÜÛÛÝ ßßÜÜÜÜÛÛÛß Ü²²Û²ÛÛÜ Üܲ²Û²²Ü ßßß ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛßÜ ßßßÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÜÜ ÜÜÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßßßß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ÛÜ ßßßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛßßßßß ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ Þ²Û ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÜÛ²Û ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ Ü²ÛÛ² ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß track list ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß²ÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ ßßÛÛÜ ---------- ÜÛÛßßþ ßÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛßßßÜ ÞÛÛ² 01 Soulstar (Feat. DJ Aktive & 3:02 ²ÛÛÝ ÞÝ ÞÛÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÝ Üܲ²Û²Ý Carol Riddick) Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÜÜÜÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß 02 Youloveme 3:50 ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß ßßÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛß 03 Womanopoly 4:55 ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ 04 Forthenight (Feat. Aaries) 3:50 ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² 05 Infatueighties 4:36 ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ 06 Whoknows 4:55 ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² 07 Babymother 4:43 ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß 08 Missyou 4:00 ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßßÛÛÜ 09 Momentinlife (Feat. Kindred 4:43 ÜÛÛßßÛÛÛ ß Ü ÜÜÜÜÜ ÞÛÛ² The Family Soul & Cee-Lo) ²ÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÝ ß ßßÛÛÛÜ Ü²²Û²Ý 10 Thereason 5:29 Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ÞÛÛÛÝÜÛÛÛÛÛß 11 Dontstop (Feat. Bilal) 8:08 ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß Ü ÜÛÛÛÜÛÛÛÛÛß 12 Whereareyougoing 4:28 ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßÛÛÛßÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ 13 Romancipation 4:10 ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² 14 Interlude 0:38 ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ 15 Givemorelove / Leavemessage 9:46 ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß²ÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ ßßÛÛÜ release notes ÜÛÛßßþ ßÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛßßßÜ ÞÛÛ² ²ÛÛÝ ÞÝ ÞÛÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÝ Üܲ²Û²Ý Another Day Another Pre and another Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÜÜÜÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß shitty group with fakes, Stop defending ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß ßßÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛß them because no matter what they will just ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ make you look stupid in the end when ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² they keep faking and reencoding and ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ releasing nukes. Enjoy this nice early ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² retail. ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßßÛÛÜ MUSIQ ÜÛÛßßÛÛÛ ß Ü ÜÜÜÜÜ ÞÛÛ² ²ÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÝ ß ßßÛÛÛÜ Ü²²Û²Ý SOULSTAR Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ÞÛÛÛÝÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß Ü ÜÛÛÛÜÛÛÛÛÛß How does one bend tradition without making ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßÛÛÛßÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ it break? How can you travel through ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² space without leaving home? How can a ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ multi-platinum artist, after only two ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² albums, turn his third into an ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß exploration of futuristic funk without ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß²ÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ ßßÛÛÜ forgetting his roots in homegrown soul ÜÛÛßßþ ßÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛßßßÜ ÞÛÛ² and old school hip hop? ²ÛÛÝ ÞÝ ÞÛÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÝ Üܲ²Û²Ý Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÜÜÜÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß Singer/songwriter/producer Musiq has the ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß ßßÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛß answers to those questions on SOULSTAR; a ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ collection of fifteen memorable moments ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² of soulsong, familiar and freakishly ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ surreal. ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß Recording as usual, in his hometown of ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßßÛÛÜ Philadelphia, Musiq and Writing/producing ÜÛÛßßÛÛÛ ß Ü ÜÜÜÜÜ ÞÛÛ² partners Carvin Haggins and Ivan Barias ²ÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÝ ß ßßÛÛÛÜ Ü²²Û²Ý have gone so far beyond the tag Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ÞÛÛÛÝÜÛÛÛÛÛß "neo-soul" on SOULSTAR, you almost ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß Ü ÜÛÛÛÜÛÛÛÛÛß forget their previous collaborations, ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßÛÛÛßÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ 2000's Aijuswanaseing and 2002's ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² Juslisen defined that genre. ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² Musiqs desire to make his singularly, ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß iconoclastic vision known gave ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß²ÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ ßßÛÛÜ Aijuswanaseing a hushed but rushed ÜÛÛßßþ ßÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛßßßÜ ÞÛÛ² quality to its caramel-coated grooves; a ²ÛÛÝ ÞÝ ÞÛÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÝ Üܲ²Û²Ý rawness that made his love songs Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÜÜÜÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß tougher and his tough songs lovelier. ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß ßßÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛß For Juslisen, Musiq learned the value of ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ teamwork; how to hip hop jump start even ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² the smokiest, subtle groove. "I allowed ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ other people's ideas to filter through ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² more, to let other people's talent ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß shine on". ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßßÛÛÜ ÜÛÛßßÛÛÛ ß Ü ÜÜÜÜÜ ÞÛÛ² Those albums, influenced by Musiqs ²ÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÝ ß ßßÛÛÛÜ Ü²²Û²Ý heroes, Stevie Wonder and Donny Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ÞÛÛÛÝÜÛÛÛÛÛß Hathaway, are benchmarks of modern soul ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß Ü ÜÛÛÛÜÛÛÛÛÛß based. But on SOULSTAR, Musiq has added ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßÛÛÛßÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ new colors to his palette of inspiration ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² - James Brown, David Bowie, Fela Kuti, ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ Sly Stone - while maintaining a style ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² uniquely his own, finding even newer ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß nuances throughout. ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß²ÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ ßßÛÛÜ ÜÛÛßßþ ßÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛßßßÜ ÞÛÛ² "With the changes on SOULSTAR, I'm ²ÛÛÝ ÞÝ ÞÛÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÝ Üܲ²Û²Ý trying to warm people to the idea that Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÜÜÜÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß there's more to me than whatever "neo ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß ßßÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛß soul" is", says Musiq, letting audiences ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ of all stripes know theres life beyond ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² R&B, beyond Philly, beyond rational ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ thought. SOULSTAR is a mix of album ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² one's raw qualities and the dignity of ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß number two's professionalism, with a new ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßßÛÛÜ creativity that sees the Musiq sound ÜÛÛßßÛÛÛ ß Ü ÜÜÜÜÜ ÞÛÛ² soaring into the future with his sensual ²ÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÝ ß ßßÛÛÛÜ Ü²²Û²Ý soul-slinging voice and its lyrical Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ÞÛÛÛÝÜÛÛÛÛÛß demands intact. ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß Ü ÜÛÛÛÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßÛÛÛßÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ "I'm not necessarily going in a ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² different direction than the last two ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ records says Musiq, of the retro-fit ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² R&B of Aijuswanaseing and Juslisen. ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß "I'm just going about things in a ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß²ÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ ßßÛÛÜ different way. It's the same road. I'm ÜÛÛßßþ ßÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛßßßÜ ÞÛÛ² just in a newer car." ²ÛÛÝ ÞÝ ÞÛÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÝ Üܲ²Û²Ý Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÜÜÜÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß Like its predecessors, SOULSTAR had its ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß ßßÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛß start after a long bout of touring. This ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ gave the sessions between Musiq and the ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² Mama's Boys production team of Barias ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ and Haggins a looseness at one with ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² the live vibe of the road. ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßßÛÛÜ The first song written was the ÜÛÛßßÛÛÛ ß Ü ÜÜÜÜÜ ÞÛÛ² game-playing analogy of "Womanopoly". ²ÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÝ ß ßßÛÛÛÜ Ü²²Û²Ý "Yeah, that's Carvin", laughs Musiq of Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ÞÛÛÛÝÜÛÛÛÛÛß his partner's wordplay; a story about an ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß Ü ÜÛÛÛÜÛÛÛÛÛß unhappy, ambitious girl moving up to Park ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßÛÛÛßÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ Place to snag her share of the Community ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² Chest. ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² If Carvin works the words with Musiq, ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß it's Ivan who takes responsibility, with ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß²ÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ ßßÛÛÜ Musiq, for the music and production. ÜÛÛßßþ ßÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛßßßÜ ÞÛÛ² ²ÛÛÝ ÞÝ ÞÛÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÝ Üܲ²Û²Ý "Though I play singer, we're one unit Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÜÜÜÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß says Musiq of the trios Car Mu I name. I ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß ßßÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛß translate what they do my own way." ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² "It's that feel-good vibe" says Musiq ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ of the title track's lush introduction ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² soulstar. After that, Musiq leaves his ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß city of brotherly love for points south ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßßÛÛÜ (the dirty, "romanicipation"), north (the ÜÛÛßßÛÛÛ ß Ü ÜÜÜÜÜ ÞÛÛ² chilled ballad "whoknows"), and ²ÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÝ ß ßßÛÛÛÜ Ü²²Û²Ý off-the-planet (the future-funked Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ÞÛÛÛÝÜÛÛÛÛÛß forthenight"). ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß Ü ÜÛÛÛÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßÛÛÛßÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ SOULSTAR's first single, "Forthenight" ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² is a slapped-hard rhythmic track with a ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ bridge thats a catchy, quirky switch ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² up from its tuneful melody; dedicated ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß as much to the 80s as it is the romance ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß²ÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ ßßÛÛÜ of commitment-phobia. So too does ÜÛÛßßþ ßÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛßßßÜ ÞÛÛ² "infatueighties" sell its soul to the ²ÛÛÝ ÞÝ ÞÛÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÝ Üܲ²Û²Ý hedonistic decade, with its rat-tat-tat Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÜÜÜÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß rhythm and tit-for-tat sexuality. ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß ßßÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛß "That's my B-Boy song" says Musiq. ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² The same thing can be said of his cover ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ of the Rolling Stones' "missyou, a ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² rocker Musiq took further than Jagger ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß himself. "If he's mad. I'm more like.... ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßßÛÛÜ Damn; not anger or sadness, but the space ÜÛÛßßÛÛÛ ß Ü ÜÜÜÜÜ ÞÛÛ² in between." ²ÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÝ ß ßßÛÛÛÜ Ü²²Û²Ý Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ÞÛÛÛÝÜÛÛÛÛÛß In between SOULSTARs new ideas is an old ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß Ü ÜÛÛÛÜÛÛÛÛÛß soul - Musiqs voice; the very thing that ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßÛÛÛßÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ made him a legend before he hit 25. The ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² growth that signaled new ways of ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ writing and production on SOULSTAR ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² affects too Musiqs satiny, simmering ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß vocals. The angelic highs of youloveme, ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß²ÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ ßßÛÛÜ the weariness of her, the confidently ÜÛÛßßþ ßÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛßßßÜ ÞÛÛ² cocky romancipation; all are ²ÛÛÝ ÞÝ ÞÛÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÝ Üܲ²Û²Ý proclamations of Musiqs soul-slinging Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÜÜÜÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß maturation. ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß ßßÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ SOULSTAR approaches the buoyant balladry ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² of "whoknows" and the stammering funk ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ of "romanicipation" with slinky ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² production innovations courtesy Musiq ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß himself. Like his co-production credits ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßßÛÛÜ throughout SOULSTAR, the warm brass and ÜÛÛßßÛÛÛ ß Ü ÜÜÜÜÜ ÞÛÛ² reed arrangement of "whoknows" and the ²ÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÝ ß ßßÛÛÛÜ Ü²²Û²Ý baritone-sax bass line of Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ÞÛÛÛÝÜÛÛÛÛÛß "romancipation reveal an artist ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß Ü ÜÛÛÛÜÛÛÛÛÛß experimenting with his love of sound. ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßÛÛÛßÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² "That Earth ,Wind & Fire vibe, that ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ Fela sax line? Those were part of my ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² growing up. That's the point behind the ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß name "Soulchild". ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß²ÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ ßßÛÛÜ ÜÛÛßßþ ßÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛßßßÜ ÞÛÛ² On the wack side, the twisted Muzak of ²ÛÛÝ ÞÝ ÞÛÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÝ Üܲ²Û²Ý "youloveme, with its lullaby melody and Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÜÜÜÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ping-pong vocals, is as close to an ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß ßßÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛß early 60s TV theme as he's likely to get; ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ "my Dick Van Dyke for the BET ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² generation" jokes Musiq. Sometimes, hes ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ not joking. The tough, live ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² "leaveamessage" - with its oscillating ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß organs and fatback bass - was necessary ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßßÛÛÜ to Musiq. "I wanted to explain to people ÜÛÛßßÛÛÛ ß Ü ÜÜÜÜÜ ÞÛÛ² trying to reach me, I'm not trying to be ²ÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÝ ß ßßÛÛÛÜ Ü²²Û²Ý an ass. My life is so filled with junk Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ÞÛÛÛÝÜÛÛÛÛÛß - I just can't call you. But I'm ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß Ü ÜÛÛÛÜÛÛÛÛÛß thinking of you." ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßÛÛÛßÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² Musiq approaches "reasons" with the ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ same blunt clarity, a song dedicated ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² to music itself - the healing life ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß force that's guided him when he's needed ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß²ÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ ßßÛÛÜ light, saved him when he's needed ÜÛÛßßþ ßÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛßßßÜ ÞÛÛ² salvation, embraced him when no one else ²ÛÛÝ ÞÝ ÞÛÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÝ Üܲ²Û²Ý could. "It's my ode, my thank you to Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÜÜÜÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÜÜÜÜÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß what music's meant to me." ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß ßßÛÛÛßÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ For fans of Aijuswanaseing and Juslisen, ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² Musiq wants them to know he's the same ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ guy from a town filled with musical ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² history, looking to maintain that ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß heritage while stretching as an artist. ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛÛ ßßÛÛÜ "And for people who never heard my last ÜÛÛßßÛÛÛ ß Ü ÜÜÜÜÜ ÞÛÛ² two records, SOULSTAR is a journey into ²ÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÜ ÜÛÝ ß ßßÛÛÛÜ Ü²²Û²Ý sound thats familiar and freaky. Þ²Û²²Ü ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß ÞÛÛÛÝÜÛÛÛÛÛß SOULSTARs a futuristic throwback that's ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßß Ü ÜÛÛÛÜÛÛÛÛÛß just a little bit out there" says Musiq. ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ßßÛÛÛßÛÛÛÛÛÛß ßÜÜ Its a play on the idea of being a star. ÜÜß ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ÞÛ² But its also something, like my last ²ÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÛÛÝ ÛÛÛÝ name, that carries responsibility. I'm ÞÛÛÛ ÞÛÛÛÛÛ ßÛÛÛÛÛÜ ²ÛÛ² growing into the name Soulchild more ²ÛÛ² ÜÛÛÛÛÛß ßßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß every day. It's one I have to live up ßÛÛÛÛÛÛÛß²ÜÜÜ ÜÜÜ ßßÛÛÜ to. 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