Musiq's 'Soulstar'

With a nod to Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye, Musiq has a soul sound all his own.

The Philadelphia-based crooner is the eldest of nine children, raised by devout Christian parents, who later became Muslim.

Musiq, who's real name is Taalib Johnson, has had his share of rebellion and revelation, and all of his experiences make their way into his music.

His fans love him for it. His first two albums have sold millions of copies, and his latest CD, "Soulstar," is already zooming up the charts.

Musiq, stopped by The Saturday Early Show's Second Cup Café to perform a few singles from his new album.

The new album is his third in four years. The album's lead single, "Forthenight," has earned a Grammy nomination for Best Urban/Alternative Performance. Musiq has said, "I'm sort of in celebration mode with this album, so I want people to feel good when they listen. I'm celebrating the soul stars of the past, which is really why the name of the album is 'Soulstar.' Also, I'd like to consider myself to be a modern day soul star."

The singer's first album, "Aijuswanaseing," was one of many projects by young artists who put their own stamp on R&B music, which became known as neo-soul.

His second album, "Juslisen," continued his tribute to '70s soul era music that blended a little of a modern sound. As with all his albums, Musiq tells stories that accompany the grooves.

USA Today describes the songs as "paint detailed scenarios that are anything but simple."