Musiq Soulchild was born and raised in Philadelphia and grew up with his family--including eight brothers and sister]. As a teenager, he began plans for a career in music. He released his debut album, ''Aijuswanaseing'' (read: "I Just Want to Sing"), in 2000, which was well-received by critics and audiences. Musiq did much of his own songwriting, and most of the record was produced and co-written by Ivan "Orthodox" Barias and Carvin "Ransum" Haggins, then of the A Touch of Jazz production company headed by Jazzy Jeff, now of Karma Productions. The singles "Just Friends (Sunny)", "Love", and "Girl Next Door" received exposure in America mainly on the more underground music video network, MTV2, as well as on BET. His singles also received a good amount of airplay on urban and urban contemporary radio stations.
In 2002, he released his sophomore album, ''Juslisen'' (read: "Just Listen"), as simply ''Musiq''. He had continued urban and MTV2 success with its singles, "halfcrazy" and "dontchange", the former of which was one of the most played music videos on MTV2 in the summer of 2002 and during the year overall. Both videos also got substantial play during the year on VH1 Soul. The singles had heavily amounts of airplay on both urban and urban contemporary radio sations in 2002. He also gained exposure during that year by opening concerts for Alicia Keys.
In late 2002, Musiq contributed guest vocals to "Break You Off", the first single from The Roots' ''Phrenology'' album. Once again, its video got heavy play on MTV2 and VH1 Soul, as well as on MTV Jams. He also appeared in Santana's song "Nothing at All" which is featured in his 2002 album ''Shaman''.
In 2003, the singles and videos "forthenight" and "whoknows" from his third LP, ''Soulstar''. "forthenight" was one of VH1 Soul's most played videos of 2004, and also had a very successful run on American urban radio stations.
Recently, Musiq Soulchild (who has added the "Soulchild" to his moniker again) has parted ways with Def Soul and has signed with Atlantic Records. A new Musiq Soulchild album is slated for a spring 2007 release. He will be making guest appearances on rapper Lloyd Banks's ''Rotten Apple'', Talib Kweli "Eardrum", Black Ice "The Death of Willie Lynch", pay tribute to Soul music legends Earth Wind and Fire and appear on the soundtrack "Daddy's Little Girls".
Musiq Soulchild released his debut album, Aijuswanaseing (I Just Want to Sing), in 2000, which included the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop single, "Just Friends (Sunny)". Musiq's second single, "Love", spent 22 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Musiq’s sophomore album, 2002's Juslisen (Just Listen), debuted at number 1 on the Billboard Charts and went platinum; "Halfcrazy" and "Dontchange". In 2003, Musiq released his 3rd album, Soulstar. It included the singles "Forthenight" and "Whoknows".
After a four year break and changing his management to Solqi Management and his record label to Atlantic Records, in 2007, Musiq's released his fourth album Luvanmusiq (Love and Music) which included the singles "B.U.D.D.Y.", "Teachme", and "Makeyouhappy". His fifth album OnMyRadio was released on December 2, 2008. The lead single, "Radio" has posted on both Musiq's MySpace page and official website.
Musiq Soulchild has had 2 platinum albums, 2 gold albums and 7 hit singles. He has received awards from Billboard, BET, ASCAP, BMI, and Soul Train. Musiq has also earned award nominations from MTV, American Music Awards, NAACP, and 9 Grammy nominations, including 3 for his 2007 album Luvanmusiq. Besides being a successful recording artist, Musiq is notable for his creative and unique way of titling his albums and songs by ignoring the rules of capitalization, punctuation and spelling.
He recently performed at the Antigua & Barbuda first Romantic Rhythms Music Festival in the Caribbean which was held from June 12-15,2008 which features legendary artists such as Kenny Rogers, Brian McKnight, Lionel Richie, Keyshia Cole, Maxi Priest, Destra, Heather Headly, Shaggy and many other local artist from the island including The Burning Flames.
He has also made guest appearances on rapper Lloyd Banks's album Rotten Apple, Talib Kweli's Eardrum, The Roots's Phrenology (album), Black Ice's The Death of Willie Lynch and pays tribute to soul music legends Earth Wind and Fire, appearing on the soundtrack to Tyler Perry's movie Daddy's Little Girls. And Ice Cube announced that Musiq will appear on his upcoming album, Raw Footage. He also lent a song from his latest album Luvanmusiq to the soundtrack for Perry's later movie Why Did I Get Married?. He then recorded a remake of Arrested Development's song "People Everyday" with British rapper Estelle for the soundtrack to Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns entitled "People Everyday (Metamorphosis Mix)".
Outside of music, he has been featured in television and print ads for McDonald's, Nike, Inc., Coca-Cola, Levi Strauss & Co. and The Gap. He also made a special appearance in The CW's #1 comedy The Game on Monday, October 29, 2007.
Seventeen
Musiq Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Five foot seven with light green eyes
Body built like a woman over twenty-five
Plus she push the whip that the average women couldn't get
Less she worked about two nine to five's
Girly played the game just a little too mature
She damn near had everything I was looking for
But things seemed shady
She had trouble at the door
That's when I found out that
(Ohh)
She was only seventeen years old
And I couldn't see her no more
(Ohh)
(Chorus):
I ain't tryin to see myself locked up
For knockin up some young joan
(Ohh)
How could I explain this situation to my family
And all of my boys
(Ohh)
I'm sorry shorty
But you've got to get gone
Yeah
(Verse 2)
I tried to cut her off
But she wasn't having it
She kept telling me her age didn't mean sh--
And that's when she started to cry
Baby I need you in my life
And without you I just couldn't handle it
So what's a brother to do
(Ohh)
Either way I lose
(So)
I could just say my piece
Or piss off her peace
And talk it out with the boys in blue
Cause when it comes down to it
(Ohh)
She was just seventeen years old
And I was dead wrong from the door
(Ohh)
(Chorus)
(Dial tone)
(Keypad being dialed)
(Line rings)
(Automated voice)
--Welcome to your voice messaging service.
To enter your mailbox, press *. (Beep) First message --
(Female voice)
Yo, how you doin'? Call me when you get this.
(Beep) --Mess...-- (Beep)
(Female voice)
Yo, what's goin' on? I called you earlier.
I guess you ain't get my message.
But when you get this, hit me back, aiight? Bye.
--To repeat..-- (Beep) --Mess..-- (Beep)
(Female voice)
Hey! What got some bitch over there or sump'in?
Can't pick up your phone. I been calling you and
tryin' to speak to you and you still don't answer the phone.
--To repeat...-- (Beep) (Beep)
(Female voice)
See, you trying to play somebody.
As though I won't have to bring my n*ggas over there,
to kick ya ass! Ya think somebody playin' with ya ass.
Ya don't...ya don't return my calls. This is it.
--To repeat this...-- (Beep) --Mess...-- (Beep)
(Fade out)
In Musiq's song Seventeen, the singer tells a story about his encounter with a young girl who he thought was of legal age, but later realized she was only seventeen. He described her as having a body that looked like a woman over twenty-five, and she even drove a car that most young women her age couldn't afford. He was initially interested in her until he found out her real age when she had trouble getting into a club they planned to meet at. He faced a dilemma because he wanted to end things with her because of the obvious legal and moral implications of a man his age dating a minor, but she wasn't making it easy for him. She begged him to stay in her life, and he felt torn between abandoning her or risking a statutory rape charge.
The song portrays a common issue of age differences in relationships and how it can be problematic if not considered carefully. The singer shows responsibility by wanting to discontinue seeing the seventeen-year-old girl because he did not want to end up in jail for breaking the law. The song also highlights the struggle of sticking to morals and values despite the pressure from societal norms. The use of the answering machine in the song illustrates the girl's persistence in trying to make the relationship work regardless of the situation's negativity, as noted in her angry voice message.
Line by Line Meaning
Five foot seven with light green eyes
She was tall with green eyes.
Body built like a woman over twenty-five
She had a mature physique.
Plus she push the whip that the average women couldn't get
She drove an expensive car.
Less she worked about two nine to five's
She didn't have to work too hard.
Girly played the game just a little too mature
She acted more mature than her age.
She damn near had everything I was looking for
She was almost perfect.
But things seemed shady
Something felt suspicious.
When I asked my lady to meet at the club
When I invited her to the club.
She had trouble at the door
She had problems getting in.
That's when I found out that (Ohh)
Then I discovered that.
She was only seventeen years old
She was underage.
And I couldn't see her no more (Ohh)
I couldn't continue to see her.
I ain't tryin to see myself locked up
I didn't want to go to jail.
For knockin up some young joan (Ohh)
For getting a young girl pregnant.
How could I explain this situation to my family
It would be difficult to explain this to my relatives.
And all of my boys (Ohh)
And to my friends.
I'm sorry shorty
I apologize, young lady.
But you've got to get gone
But you have to leave.
I tried to cut her off
I tried to end our relationship.
But she wasn't having it
But she didn't accept it.
She kept telling me her age didn't mean sh--
She said her age didn't matter.
And that's when she started to cry
And that's when she began to cry.
Baby I need you in my life
I need you in my life.
And without you I just couldn't handle it
I can't live without you.
So what's a brother to do
What should I do?
Either way I lose
I'm going to lose either way.
I could just say my piece
I could just tell her the truth.
Or piss off her peace
Or ruin her peace of mind.
And talk it out with the boys in blue
And talk to the police about it.
Cause when it comes down to it (Ohh)
Because ultimately,
She was just seventeen years old
She was only seventeen.
And I was dead wrong from the door (Ohh)
I made a mistake from the beginning.
Yo, how you doin'? Call me when you get this.
A woman left a voicemail message for the singer to call her back.
Yo, what's goin' on? I called you earlier.
The same woman left another voicemail message for the singer.
I guess you ain't get my message.
She thinks he didn't receive her message.
But when you get this, hit me back, aiight? Bye.
She wants him to call her back.
Hey! What got some bitch over there or sump'in?
She is angry and accusing the singer of being with another woman.
Can't pick up your phone.
He is not answering her calls.
I been calling you and tryin' to speak to you and you still don't answer the phone.
She has been trying to reach him and he is not answering her calls.
See, you trying to play somebody.
She thinks he is trying to trick her.
As though I won't have to bring my n*ggas over there, to kick ya ass!
She is threatening to bring her friends to beat him up.
Ya think somebody playin' with ya ass.
She thinks he is not taking her seriously.
Ya don't...ya don't return my calls.
He is not returning her calls.
This is it.
This is the final message.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Carvin Haggins, Andre Harris, Taalib Johnson, George Winston
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind