Album after album, Musiq Soulchild never fails to deliver. And with the release of his sixth album, musiqinthemagiq, the world has been reminded that there is quite a bit of “magic in the [music].” His latest release pays homage to the traditional elements of R&B, while incorporating contemporary elements of urban music. During a promotional campaign for musiqinthemagiq, Music Soulchild managed to squeeze some time out his schedule and settle down for his second interview with AllHipHop.com – reflecting on a decade of recording, stepping outside the R&B box, and embracing fatherhood. AllHipHop.com:  During our last conversation, in promotion of onmyradio, you were in the midst of a move to Atlanta. How have you enjoyed the transition? Musiq Soulchild:  Although I live in Atlanta, I have not spent that much time in the city – especially within the last year. I’ve been all over the place – New York, Atlanta, and I was out in L.A. for a little while. But Atlanta has a real calm pace, which allows me to see things from one perspective, compared to New York, which has a different pace and sense of urgency. AllHipHop.com:  Since you are constantly on the road, traveling and performing, how does that wear and tear on you as an artist? How do you keep yourself grounded? Musiq Soulchild:  Being on the road is a challenging thing. I wouldn’t necessarily say that it always wears and tears on me. But there is some wear and tear. I just don’t wear it like that. Like life itself, anytime you’re up and you’re moving around and you’re doing stuff, it’s going to be taxing on you. I try to relax as much as possible. I try to get as much rest as I can. Whenever I’m out, I try not to stress myself out or allow myself to be stressed out. A lot of people question sometimes about how come I don’t like to go party. Because I don’t really have the energy for all of that after I get done doing what I’m doing. So I just try to maintain myself and stay focused on what’s important. And whenever I can, any time the opportunity allows, I really like to do nothing. If I’m not at home and I’m staying at a hotel, then I just try to go to my hotel and get me something to eat and just chill. AllHipHop.com:  With age comes wisdom. With over a decade of experience in the music industry, do you find it challenging to stay true to your roots while remaining competitive in this current music landscape? Musiq Soulchild:  My whole career has been a mix of very challenging things but also some very inspiring things, as well, and I’m grateful for them; even the things that were a bit of a hassle. You’re not going to like everything about everything, but it do help you to appreciate it all. If everything was all good all the time, you wouldn’t really appreciate it because you would just take it for granted, you would take it as a given. So besides that, I do have those otherwise moments to contrast the good moments. It’s helped me to appreciate the good moments that much more. But overall, the fact that I’m where I am ten years removed and I’ve accomplished the things that I’ve accomplished. I’m nothing less than grateful and honored, even to the fact that people still care about me for my albums; that they still are looking to go get them and spend money on them and still come to the shows and still asking for me; not just recognizing that I’m still here or whatever, but they’re still asking for me. That’s really dope for me. AllHipHop.com:  Your latest project is entitled musiqinthemagiq. Going off of what you just said, I’m going to flip the title around a little bit: “magic in the music.” As a long-time listener of your work, I have always found magic in your music. When you look back at this recording experience, what does this particular album mean to you on a personal level? At this point in your career, do you feel like you have to prove anything? Musiq Soulchild:  I guess it’s just that it gives credit to my credibility. I never felt like I had anything to prove, but I do recognize that because there’s so many people out there doing it and there’s a lot of competition; at least in the beginning, nobody really knew who I was. You’ve got to give people a reason to care. That’s just the basic laws of business. You’ve got to give them a reason to want to invest in what it is that you do. I mean, anybody doesn’t just spend money on anything just because you say so. You might think that you’re dope but the rest of the world is not obligated to, unless you give them a reason to remember that. When you’re consistent in what you do, that generates confidence, with your audience and within yourself. People don’t like that unstable state of mind when they go to invest in something. Is it going to be good? Is it going to be in a way that I like it? When you can reassure them every time you come out that whatever you do they’re going to like it and they’re going to enjoy it; that’s what motivates me as far as that’s concerned. As far as like the title of the album, you flipping it is actually what I did with that turn of phrase, “magic in the music”. I just flipped it because a lot of people say, “the magic in the music” but nobody’s ever really talked about what that magic is. And I started thinking about that saying and starting thinking about how it would apply to a whole lot of people in a lot of ways and I couldn’t really come up with anything. I mean, I came up with the idea as to why and what it was as […]