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Musiq Soulchild wasn't thinking about making his tenth album when Hit-Boy -- producer of Grammy-winning recordings by Jay-Z and Kanye West, Nas, and Beyoncé -- sent him a batch of instrumentals. The singer picked out some of the beats he received and with songwriting partner Alexander "A-Lex" Lloyd developed ideas simply to stay limber. The informal exercise turned into Victims & Villains, Musiq's first full-length since the Grammy-nominated Feel the Real. Unlike that album, this is more like the preceding Life on Earth in that it's produced almost strictly by one person. (Jansport J assists on one track.) Victims & Villains consequently is one of Musiq's most cohesive LPs, and due to Hit-Boy's refined blend of grit and grace, the compact set affirms that Musiq's self-categorization as a hip-hop soul artist is as true as ever. Victims & Villains largely examines perspectives within relationships that are in some way faltering, unresolved or, in some cases, one-dimensional affairs. Moments of self-critique carry as much weight as those of confrontation. Few vocalists could make a mouthful like "Can't wait on no rescue or for a savior -- there's only you" sound so fluid and full of conflicting emotions. For all the turmoil, the album also includes a couple of Musiq's purest and most appealing ballads. "Beat of a Slow Dance," sweetened by flute and strings, stimulates beatific swaying. "Your Love Is Life" utilizes Musiq's upper register like nothing else in the singer's catalog. The penultimate latter track would have ended the album on a high note, but Musiq opts to conclude with a ballad that likens a depleted relationship to binge watching -- something more in tune with the prevailing themes, replete with a subtly dazzling vocal arrangement and a reference to the album title.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
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Musiq Soulchild, MainArtist - Hit-Boy, MainArtist - Alexander "A-Lex" Lloyd, Writer - Taalib Hassan Johnson, Writer - Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr., Composer, Writer
© 2023 LuvanMusiq Publishing ℗ 2023 SoulStar Music Company
Musiq Soulchild, MainArtist - Hit-Boy, MainArtist - Alexander "A-Lex" Lloyd, Writer - Taalib Hassan Johnson, Writer - Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr., Composer, Writer
© 2023 LuvanMusiq Publishing ℗ 2023 SoulStar Music Company
Musiq Soulchild, MainArtist - Hit-Boy, MainArtist - Alexander "A-Lex" Lloyd, Writer - The Husel, FeaturedArtist - Taalib Hassan Johnson, Writer - Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr., Composer, Writer
© 2023 LuvanMusiq Publishing ℗ 2023 SoulStar Music Company
Musiq Soulchild, MainArtist - Hit-Boy, MainArtist - Alexander "A-Lex" Lloyd, Writer - Taalib Hassan Johnson, Writer - Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr., Composer, Writer
© 2023 LuvanMusiq Publishing ℗ 2023 SoulStar Music Company
Musiq Soulchild, MainArtist - Hit-Boy, MainArtist - Alexander "A-Lex" Lloyd, Writer - Taalib Hassan Johnson, Writer - Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr., Composer, Writer
© 2023 LuvanMusiq Publishing ℗ 2023 SoulStar Music Company
Musiq Soulchild, MainArtist - Hit-Boy, MainArtist - Alexander "A-Lex" Lloyd, Writer - Taalib Hassan Johnson, Writer - Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr., Composer, Writer
© 2023 LuvanMusiq Publishing ℗ 2023 SoulStar Music Company
Musiq Soulchild, MainArtist - Hit-Boy, MainArtist - Alexander "A-Lex" Lloyd, Writer - Taalib Hassan Johnson, Writer - Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr., Composer, Writer
© 2023 LuvanMusiq Publishing ℗ 2023 SoulStar Music Company
Musiq Soulchild, MainArtist - Hit-Boy, MainArtist - Alexander "A-Lex" Lloyd, Writer - Taalib Hassan Johnson, Writer - Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr., Composer, Writer
© 2023 LuvanMusiq Publishing ℗ 2023 SoulStar Music Company
Musiq Soulchild, MainArtist - Hit-Boy, MainArtist - Alexander "A-Lex" Lloyd, Writer - Taalib Hassan Johnson, Writer - Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr., Composer, Writer
© 2023 LuvanMusiq Publishing ℗ 2023 SoulStar Music Company
Musiq Soulchild, MainArtist - Hit-Boy, MainArtist - Alexander "A-Lex" Lloyd, Writer - Taalib Hassan Johnson, Writer - Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr., Composer, Writer
© 2023 LuvanMusiq Publishing ℗ 2023 SoulStar Music Company
Album review
Musiq Soulchild wasn't thinking about making his tenth album when Hit-Boy -- producer of Grammy-winning recordings by Jay-Z and Kanye West, Nas, and Beyoncé -- sent him a batch of instrumentals. The singer picked out some of the beats he received and with songwriting partner Alexander "A-Lex" Lloyd developed ideas simply to stay limber. The informal exercise turned into Victims & Villains, Musiq's first full-length since the Grammy-nominated Feel the Real. Unlike that album, this is more like the preceding Life on Earth in that it's produced almost strictly by one person. (Jansport J assists on one track.) Victims & Villains consequently is one of Musiq's most cohesive LPs, and due to Hit-Boy's refined blend of grit and grace, the compact set affirms that Musiq's self-categorization as a hip-hop soul artist is as true as ever. Victims & Villains largely examines perspectives within relationships that are in some way faltering, unresolved or, in some cases, one-dimensional affairs. Moments of self-critique carry as much weight as those of confrontation. Few vocalists could make a mouthful like "Can't wait on no rescue or for a savior -- there's only you" sound so fluid and full of conflicting emotions. For all the turmoil, the album also includes a couple of Musiq's purest and most appealing ballads. "Beat of a Slow Dance," sweetened by flute and strings, stimulates beatific swaying. "Your Love Is Life" utilizes Musiq's upper register like nothing else in the singer's catalog. The penultimate latter track would have ended the album on a high note, but Musiq opts to conclude with a ballad that likens a depleted relationship to binge watching -- something more in tune with the prevailing themes, replete with a subtly dazzling vocal arrangement and a reference to the album title.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:37:27
- Main artists: Musiq Soulchild Hit-Boy
- Composer: Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr.
- Label: Varick St
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B Soul
© 2023 LuvanMusiq Publishing ℗ 2023 SoulStar Music Company
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