Written by | Ray Cornelius
It’s no secret that 11-time Grammy-nominee Musiq SoulChild is going through a musical metamorphosis right now. The R&B singer-songwriter, who emerged in the early 2000s as one of the leading male vocalist of the neo-soul era, has been experimenting with quite a few musical genres over the last two years. (Remember the 2013 Reggae album with Syleena Johnson?) Now the singer, who is best known for such hit records as “Buddy” and “Love” is traded them in for auto-tuned trap music that he is now performing under the moniker, “The Husel.” While the new look and sound has a few of his die-hard fans scratching their heads The Husel admits, changing his stage name and appearance was the only way to get this “new” sound out.
“Don’t think of what I’m doing as what everybody else is doing or you’ll miss the whole shit. I am going out of my way to do something that I don’t see or don’t hear. Not because I just want to be different but because I want to fill the void. Everyone is using all of these snaps and bass lines and talking about what they’re talking about. Cool! I’m going to use the same thing but talk about what I want to talk about.”
He went on to say that his new look, which ay the present time consist of different variations of black and his fitted crown, is indicative of how he views himself these days.
“The all-black thing is just where I am right now,” says The Husel. He claims that the black fitted crown adorns his head is a reflection of who he is now. “It just looked like something fly and you always have to present yourself as you think of yourself and I see of myself as royalty. Not that I reign over anyone but I do reign over my own kingdom and I’m comfortable within myself. I’m not competing with anyone or checking for anyone and I have time for everyone. I am doing something new that I’ve never done before.”
Check out more photos below from his recent album release party that took place at Atlanta’s Suite Food Lounge. The event included an exclusive performance from The Husel and appearances by R&B Diva, Meelah Williams; jazz musician, Reggie Hines, and hip-hop star, Bone Crusher, who appears on The Husel album. Attendees also walked away with a free copy of the album which is now available on iTunes.
Check out exclusive black and white photos of The Husel in action along with his band and dancers.
The Husel on stage at Suite Food Lounge – Atlanta
Husel Music album cover
Bone Crusher and his wife
R&B Diva Meelah Williams
The Husel performing on stage
“YEAUH”
Don’t drop the mic…
“Legends never die”
Photo Credits: Ray Cornelius
