Ranking The Top 10 Best Musiq Soulchild Songs: Best of R&B, Neo-Soul Hits, and Timeless Ballads
The legendary Musiq Soulchild is clearly one of the standout artists of his generation. With many timeless hits and countless impactful songs over the past two plus decades, putting together this list is not an easy task.
Musiq Soulchild is a cornerstone of the Neo-Soul movement, celebrated for his rich vocals, distinctive lyrical style, and ability to craft timeless R&B classics across nearly two decades. Emerging from the Philadelphia open mic scene, Musiq quickly established himself as a singer-songwriter with an appreciation for the sounds of Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles.
His debut album, Aijuswanaseing (2000), went Platinum, introducing the world to his unique talent via hits like “Just Friends (Sunny)” and “Love.” His sophomore album, Juslisen, repeated that success with further major singles like “Halfcrazy” and “Dontchange.” Musiq’s catalog is deep, consistent, and full of great album cuts that easily rival his hits, solidifying his status among the greats of his generation.
We look to identify the singles and album cuts that were the most impactful and still stand the test of time. We also made sure to include a ton of honorable mention picks since it’s really not fair to end it as just ten. As you’ll see from our list, there are so many songs in this discography that deserve recognition.
As we’ve done with artists in our Top 10 Best Lists before, we really study the catalog of an artist to draw a conclusion on the best they have to offer. As always, let us know where you agree or disagree!
Click Here to check out all of our Top 10 Lists. Click any of the song titles to hear that song.
Click here to check out our most recent interview with Musiq Soulchild.
We also recently made a case for why you should start calling Musiq Soulchild a legend.
Without further ado, here are the songs that define the incredible career of Musiq Soulchild, presented in chronological order:
Just Friends (Sunny) (from the “Aijuswanaseing” album)
The single that started it all for Musiq Soulchild. Included on the Nutty Professor II: The Klumps soundtrack and his debut album, this song’s unique blend of classic soul and contemporary rhythm immediately grabbed attention, becoming a true Neo-Soul classic.
Love (from the “Aijuswanaseing” album)
This Dre & Vidal produced song has become one of Musiq’s most successful and memorable tracks. Lyrically, it is praised for its universal and eloquent description of the concept of love. It remains an essential R&B slow jam.
143 (from the “Aijuswanaseing” album)
A true standout album cut from his debut. The song is lauded for the clever, slow build-up to the emotional admission of “I love you” (1-4-3), showcasing his distinctive songwriting.
Don’t Change (from the “Juslisen” album)
Another timeless Neo-Soul ballad with a touching music video. This track was the second single from the Juslisen album and is cherished for its melodic complexity and beautiful simplicity.
HalfCrazy (from the “Juslisen” album)
Chosen as the first single from the chart-topping Juslisen album, “Halfcrazy” became one of Musiq’s most successful tracks, peaking at No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s an infectious hit that still sounds amazing today.
Womanopoly (from the “Soulstar” album)
Musiq’s original collaboration partners Carvin & Ivan helped craft this unique jam. It’s a creative, smooth cut that was a standout from the Soulstar album for its clever concept and execution.
B.U.D.D.Y. (from the “Luvanmusiq” album)
Musiq showed off his hip-hop roots with this uptempo “friend” anthem, featuring a distinctive De La Soul sample. It’s a unique track that proves his versatility in delivering danceable grooves.
TeachMe (from the “Luvanmusiq” album)
This touching ballad was one of Musiq’s most successful and enduring singles from his fourth album. It’s a beautifully written song focused on learning the deeper complexities of a relationship.
SoBeautiful (from the “OnMyRadio” album)
Another of Musiq’s signature timeless ballads. As the second single from his fifth album, “SoBeautiful” is celebrated for its warm, universal melody and sincere lyrical delivery.
I Do (from the “Life on Earth” album)
Over 15 years into his career, Musiq is still delivering timeless R&B classics. The production on “I Do” is simplistic, but the song’s structure and melodic flow are unique and powerful, proving his enduring influence.
Musiq’s catalog is incredibly deep. Don’t miss these other iconic tracks and fan-favorite deep cuts:
-Girl Next Door (from the “Aijuswanaseing” album)
-Speechless (from the “Aijuswanaseing” album)
-PreviousCats (from the “Juslisen” album)
-Newness (from the “Juslisen” album)
-RealLove (from the “Juslisen” album)
-WhoKnows (from the “Soulstar” album)
-Givemorelove (from the “Soulstar” album)
-Ms.Philadelphia (from the “Luvanmusiq” album)
-Lullaby (from the “Luvanmusiq” album)
-IfULeave (featuring Mary J. Blige) (from the “OnMyRadio” album)
-BackAgain (from the “OnMyRadio” album)
-Yes (from the “MusiqInTheMagiq” album)
-WaitingStill (from the “MusiqInTheMagiq” album)
-Walk Away (from the “Life on Earth” album)
-Simple Things (from the “Feel the Real” album)
-Start Over (from the “Feel the Real” album)
-Benefits (from the “Feel the Real” album)
-Between Love & War (from the “Victims & Villains” album with Hit-Boy)
-Your Love is Life (from the “Victims & Villains” album with Hit-Boy)
