''Soulstar'' is the third studio album by American singer

Musiq Soulchild Taalib Hassan Johnson (born September 16, 1977), better known by the stage name Musiq Soulchild or simply Musiq (pronounced "music") is an American singer and songwriter whose style blends R&B, funk, blues, jazz, and Gospel music, gospel influ ...

. It was released on December 9, 2003. It debuted on the ''Billboard'' 200 at number thirteen, spending 23 weeks on the chart and exiting on May 29, 2004; on the

Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a music chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales in the United States and is compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The chart debuted as Hot R&B LPs in the issue dated J ...

chart where it peaked at number three, it spent 37 weeks, falling off on September 9, 2004. This would be Musiq's final album for

Def Jam Def Jam Recordings (also simply known as Def Jam) is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop. The ...

's Def Soul subsidiary, before he transitioned to

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

in a ''de facto'' trade for his next album ''

Luvanmusiq ''Luvanmusiq'' (Lovin' Musiq) is the fourth release by the singer-songwriter Musiq Soulchild, the first under his contract with Atlantic Records. The lead single, "B.U.D.D.Y.", was released to U.S. radio in late November 2006; it reached number t ...

'' (2007). The vinyl release of ''Soulstar'' has a different track listing from the CD. The songs "whereareyougoing" and "leaveamessage" do not appear on the vinyl version of the album.

Critical reception

''Soulstar'' garnered positive reviews from

music critic ''The Oxford Companion to Music'' defines music criticism as "the intellectual activity of formulating judgments on the value and degree of excellence of individual works of music, or whole groups or genres". In this sense, it is a branch of mus ...

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

editor Andy Kellman said that despite the length of the record, he praised Musiq's growing musicianship to craft modern R&B tracks that don't carry gimmicks or personas that give his performances on them "a sense of intimacy that many of his contemporaries lack." He concluded by calling it "one of the finest contemporary R&B releases of 2003, with both style and substance in good supply." Raymond Fiore from ''

Entertainment Weekly ''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...

'' said of Musiq being able to transcend his "humble-pie persona" amongst the other neo soul artists throughout the album: "But while the former ”Soulchild” is maddeningly predictable, the grooves on ''Soulstar'' prove surprisingly rewarding. Just when you think Musiq’s songs remain the same, he unleashes a series of harmonically lush chords that elevate him way above average." Steve Jones of ''

USA Today ''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgini ...

'' said, "Although he often wears his

Wonder Wonder most commonly refers to: * Wonder (emotion), an emotion comparable to surprise that people feel when perceiving something rare or unexpected Wonder may also refer to: Arts and media Fictional entities * The Wonders, a fictional band ...

- Hathaway influences on his sleeve, his ever-improving songwriting and vocal phrasings set him apart. Love themes predominate, but his songs often paint detailed scenarios and are anything but simple." In a mixed review for the ''

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

'', Jon Pareles praised Musiq's lyricism for being reminiscent of '70s Stevie Wonder but was off-put by Ivan Barias' production causing said lyrics in the tracks to "ramble until they begin to sound like

recitative Recitative (, also known by its Italian name "''recitativo''" ()) is a style of delivery (much used in operas, oratorios, and cantatas) in which a singer is allowed to adopt the rhythms and delivery of ordinary speech. Recitative does not repea ...

s." He later called ''Soulstar'' "an album of dense, fascinating textures and articulate lyrics that ends up pleasant but prosy."

Track listing

* Credits adapted from liner notes and

Samples

* "soulstar" contains a sample of "I Found Love (When I Found You)", as performed by The Spinners * "youloveme" contains a sample of "Soft Touch", as performed by

Henry Mancini Henry Mancini ( ; born Enrico Nicola Mancini, ; April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994) was an American composer, conductor, arranger, pianist and flautist. Often cited as one of the greatest composers in the history of film, he won four Academy Award ...

* "babymother" contains a sample of "Shadows", as performed by Tom Scott * "romancipation" contains a sample of "The Jam", as performed by

Graham Central Station Graham Central Station was an American funk band named after founder Larry Graham (formerly of Sly and the Family Stone). The name is a pun on New York City's Grand Central Terminal, often colloquially called Grand Central Station. History O ...

* "givemorelove" contains a sample of "Getaway Day", as performed by Tom Scott

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes and AllMusic. *88-Keys - Producer *AAries - Guest Artist, Primary Artist, Vocals (Background) *Andre - Voices, Performer *Ivan "Orthodox" Barias - Arranger, Composer, Engineer, Executive Producer, Instrumentation, Multi Instruments, Producer, Programming, Tracking *Junius Bervine - Composer, Instrumentation, Multi Instruments, Producer * Algebra Blessett - Performer, Telephone Voice, Voices *Jeff Bradshaw - Trombone *Leesa Brunson - A&R Assistance *Matt Cappy - Trumpet *Chad - Performer, Telephone Voice, Voices *Charnee - Performer, Telephone Voice, Voices *Bootsy Collins Performer, Telephone Voice, Voices *Troy Corbin - Vocals (Background) *Andre Dandridge - Engineer, Telephone Voice, Tracking *Tina Davis - A&R *Maurice "DJ Aktive" "The Scratchologist" Deloach - Guest Artist, Primary Artist, Scratching *Dox - Performer, Telephone Voice, Voices *

Vikter Duplaix Vikter Duplaix (born October 14, 1969), is an American singer-songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and DJ. Duplaix has traditional soul singer's beginnings – being raised in both Philadelphia and Augusta, Georgia singing in church ch ...

- Percussion, Producer *Erickache - Performer, Telephone Voice, Voices *Roger Erickson - Photography *Chris Gehringer - Mastering *Serban Ghenea - Mixing *Theodore Gilbert - Bass *Deidre Graham - Marketing *

Larry Graham Larry Graham Jr. (born August 14, 1946) is an American bassist and baritone singer, both with the psychedelic soul/funk band Sly and the Family Stone and as the founder and frontman of Graham Central Station. In 1980, he released the single "O ...

- Composer *Cee Lo Green - Guest Artist, Vocal Arrangement, Vocals, Vocals (Background), Composer, Primary Artist *Akisia Grigsby - Art Direction, Design *Nicole Guiland - Vocals (Background) *Gutta Fam - Producer, Vocal Arrangement *Carvin "Ransum" Haggins - Composer, Engineer, Executive Producer, Performer, Producer, Telephone Voice, Tracking, Vocal Arrangement, Vocal Producer, Vocals (Background), Voices *John Hanes - Digital Editing *Heather - Performer, Telephone Voice, Voices *Heiku - Producer *Timothy Hicks - Vocals (Background) *Jerome Hipps - Executive Producer *

Mick Jagger Sir Michael Philip Jagger (born 26 July 1943) is an English singer and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the lead vocalist and one of the founder members of the rock band the Rolling Stones. His ongoing songwriting partnershi ...

- Composer *Terese Joseph - Recording Director *Kindred the Family Soul - Vocals, Vocals (Background), Guest Artist, Primary Artist, Vocals, Vocals (Background) *

Kenny Lattimore Kenny Lattimore (born April 10, 1970) is an American R&B singer. Early life Lattimore first developed his interest for music in the high school band program at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Maryland. He often acknowledges Dr ...

- Vocals (Background) *John Lawson - Drums *

Kevin Liles Kevin Liles (born February 27, 1968) is an American record executive and co-founder and CEO of 300 Entertainment. In 2020, Kevin was recognized by Billboard Magazine as R&B/Hip-Hop Executive of the Year for both his efforts in activism and the c ...

- Executive Producer *M.A.D. - Composer, Producer *

- Composer *Michael McArthur - Executive Producer *Moms - Performer, Telephone Voice, Voices *Muriyd - Performer, Telephone Voice, Voices *Musiq (Soulchild) - Composer, Primary Artist, Producer, Vocal Arrangement, Vocal Producer, Vocals, Vocals (Background) *UE Nastasi - Mastering *Olezski - Fender Rhodes *Bilal Oliver - Composer, Guest Artist, Performer, Telephone Voice, Vocal Arrangement, Vocal Producer, Vocals, Vocals (Background), Voices *Ben "Benanas" O'Neill - Guitar *Ora - Performer, Telephone Voice, Voices *Tara Podolsky - A&R *Pops - Performer, Telephone Voice, Voices *

Keith Richards Keith Richards (born 18 December 1943), often referred to during the 1960s and 1970s as "Keith Richard", is an English musician and songwriter who has achieved international fame as the co-founder, guitarist, secondary vocalist, and co-princi ...

- Composer *Carol Riddick - Guest Artist, Primary Artist, Vocals, Vocals (Background) *John Roberts - Drums, Percussion *Tim Roberts - Assistant *

Dawn Robinson Dawn Sherrese Robinson (born November 24, 1966 or 1968) is an American singer best known as a founding member of the R&B/pop group En Vogue, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. Following her departure from En Vogue, Robinso ...

- Vocals (Background) * Franky "Vegas" Romano - Composer, Arranger, Bass, Guitar, Performer, Sitar, Telephone Voice, Voices * Tom Scott - Composer *James "Jayshawn" Smith - Vocals (Background) *Johnnie "Smurf" Smith - Arranger, Instrumentation, Keyboards, Organ, Producer *Dexter Story - Marketing *Frank "Mumbles" Sullen - Engineer, Tracking *Rick Tate Jr. - Saxophone *Torrie - Performer, Telephone Voice, Voices *Thaddeus T. Tribbett - Bass *Eric Weissman - Sample Clearance *April Williams - Vocals (Background) *Levar "Lil' Tone" Wilson - Vocals (Background)

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Certifications

Year-end charts

References

{{Authority control 2003 albums Albums produced by 88-Keys Musiq Soulchild albums Def Jam Recordings albums