Musiq SOULSTAR

This is a hybrid Super Audio CD playable on both regular and Super Audio CD players.
Personnel: Musiq, Bilal (vocals); Cee-Lo (rap vocals); Ivan Barias (various instruments, programming); Junius Bervine (various instruments); Frank Romano (guitar); Rick Tate (saxophone); Matt Cappy (trumpet); Jeff Bradshaw (trombone); Olezski (Fender Rhodes piano); Johnnie Smith (keyboards); Thaddaeus Tribbett (bass); John Roberts (drums, percussion); John Lawson, James Poyser (drums); Victor Duplaix (percussion); DJ Aktive (vinyl scratches); Carol Riddick, AAries, Kindred The Family (background vocals).
Producers: Musiq, Ivan Barias, Carvin Haggins, Junius Bervine, Victor Duplaix.
Recorded at Home Cookin' Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
"Forthenight" was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance.
Personnel: Musiq, Bilal (vocals); Cee-Lo (rap vocals); Ivan Barias (various instruments, programming); Junius Bervine (various instruments); Frank Romano (guitar); Rick Tate (saxophone); Matt Cappy (trumpet); Jeff Bradshaw (trombone); Olezski (Fender Rhodes piano); Johnnie Smith (keyboards); Thaddaeus Tribbett (bass); John Roberts (drums, percussion); John Lawson, James Poyser (drums); Victor Duplaix (percussion); DJ Aktive (vinyl scratches); Carol Riddick, AAries, Kindred The Family (background vocals).
Producers: Musiq, Ivan Barias, Carvin Haggins, Junius Bervine, Victor Duplaix.
Recorded at Home Cookin' Studio, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
"Forthenight" was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Urban/Alternative Performance.
Personnel: Musiq Soulchild (vocals, background vocals); Kindred , Bilal Oliver, Kindred the Family Soul, Cee Lo Green, Carol Riddick (vocals, background vocals); Franky "Vegas" Romano (guitar, sitar); Ben "Benanas" O'Neill, Ben ONeill (guitar); Rick Tate Jr. (saxophone); Matt Cappy (trumpet); Jeff Bradshaw (trombone); Olezski (Fender Rhodes piano); Johnnie "Smurf" Smith (organ, keyboards); John Roberts (drums, percussion); John Lawson, James Poyser (drums); Vikter Duplaix (percussion); Ivan "Orthodox" Barias (programming); DJ Aktive, Maurice "DJ Aktive" "The Scratchologist" Deloach (scratches); Dawn Robinson, James "Jayshawn" Smith, Troy Corbin, Levar "Lil' Tone" Wilson, Timothy Hicks, April Williams, Nicole Guiland, AAries, Kenny Lattimore, Carvin "Ransum" Haggins (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Serban Ghenea.
Recording information: Home Cookin' Studios, Philadelphia, PA; The Studio, Philadelphia, PA.
Photographer: Roger Erickson.
Arrangers: Franky "Vegas" Romano; Ivan "Orthodox" Barias; Johnnie "Smurf" Smith.
For Musiq, soul is everything. From his former professional surname, Soulchild, to his third record's title, SOULSTAR, and even an album photo that features him wearing a T-shirt reading "Soul Rebel," Musiq makes it abundantly clear that soul is his driving force. Not surprisingly, SOULSTAR lives up to its name, as Musiq locks into a series of tight grooves and lets his smooth voice carry the tunes.
The opening title track begins with some deft scratching and a delicate string backing that gives way to Musiq's velvety croon and Carol Riddick's old-school R&B vocal refrain. On "Womanopoly," Musiq's lyrics cleverly riff on the real estate board game and coast over a strolling beat. Perhaps most impressively, the vocalist pulls off an inventive cover of the Rolling Stones' "Miss You" that shuffles along to a dynamic arrangement. Producing albums this enjoyably consistent is proof positive of this SOULSTAR's staying power.

• Format: CD
• Genre: R&B