Album Review: Musiq Soulchild & Hit-Boy, Victims and Villains

Musiq Soulchild & Hit-Boy

Victims and Villains (released March 10, 2023)

If you ask me, Hit-Boy should change his name to Konami. I think he’s become rap & hip-hop’s most powerful cheat code.

Just ask Nasty Nas. His partnership with Hit-Boy produced one of the most acclaimed comeback runs in hip-hop history. Nas’ King’s Disease series (and don’t forget about Magic!) rivals some of Esco’s best albums – and with a catalog as legendary as his, that says a lot.

While most producers create beats and try to wedge every artist into their sound – even when it’s a square peg being shoved into a round hole – Hit-Boy knows better. His true strength is tapping into what makes an artist great and finding new sounds to accentuate those strengths.

So when I heard that Musiq Soulchild was next up to share the studio with Hit-Boy, success was certain.

Make no mistake, Musiq is no charity case. Though his output is often understated today, Musiq has spent the past two decades amassing one of the most consistent catalogs in R&B.

You can check out my previous Musiq album rankings for yourself – the man has an incredible batting average.

His new album, Victims & Villains, proves that he hasn’t lost a step. In fact, with Hit-Boy’s guiding hand, he’s moonwalking over the competition.

Album opener “Will I Touch the Sky” had me a bit worried for a second. It begins with the now-typical atmospheric production than 7 out of 10 R&B artists sleepwalk through these days. But once the beat drops and Musiq glides in, things kick off in the best of ways. He sounds absolutely rejuvenated as he contemplates the highs and lows of life. “There ain’t no going back,” he states, “so just let go … get closer and closer to life on the other side.” It’s clear he’s looking to take us along on this new path of self-discovery.

As you’d probably guess, Hit-Boy doesn’t model this album in the vein of Musiq’s previous hits. If you’re looking for Juslisten 2023, you’re bound to be disappointed. Instead, he blends heavy rap influences into Musiq’s soul template to give us something new. “I Remember You My Ex” is a powerful blend of both those worlds and a perfect home for Musiq’s signature croon.

Admittedly, the growling hook of “ImReallyTrynaF*ckWichu” threw me off at first, but the production is so intriguing – simultaneously glistening while undeniably gutter – that it didn’t take long to win me over. The airy warmth of “Your Love is Life” is more textbook Musiq and it doesn’t disappoint. But the best production by far goes to the title track. Beautifully bouncy keys, hyperactive licks – it’s perpetual motion on wax and becomes the backdrop for one of the best Musiq songs I’ve heard in years. When we put together our Best R&B songs of 2023 in December, it’s a safe bet that “Victims & Villains” will be in one of those top spots. You heard it hear first.

I’ve given Hit-Boy a lot of love for this album’s production, but worry not, Musiq fans. Your boy gives you everything you’ve loved about his music and more. Musiq unleashes the falsetto on “Is It Love, Is It Lies,” hitting the listener with his usual brand of harsh truths: “You arguing for exercise/who are you performing for? All you do is fantasize.”  

And we all know much Musiq loves his analogies. The man who compared his woman to a board game on “Womanopoly” closes things out with “We Were Just Binging,” a tongue-in-cheek track that compares the end of a relationship to wrapping up a limited-edition Hulu series. In his eyes, the experience was fun but it’s over now – time to move on with life. Like “Womanopoly” it sounds like a goofy concept on paper but there’s actually a lot of maturity in the message and makes for a strong song. And besides, it’s the perfect way to close the album:  “Ain’t no victims or villains, we were just binging.”

At just 10 tracks, Victims & Villains is a very fun, breezy listen that doesn’t overstay its welcome. Even the lesser tracks (“Beat of a Slow Dance,” “Between Love and War”) aren’t bad, they’re just the type of tracks Musiq can crank out in his sleep. They lack the imagination and spark of the superior songs.

As I mentioned earlier, you have to look pretty hard to find a bad Musiq album. Not only is Victims & Villains a fitting addition to his strong discography, I’d argue that it resides in the top half of that list. It’s that good.

Victims & Villains is a true testament to producer/artist partnership. A producer’s vision + an artist’s talent = victory every time.

And just call Hit-Boy Mr. Up-Up-Down-Down-Left-Right-Left-Right-B-A-Start.  The living cheat code.

Best tracks: “Victims and Villains,” “Will I Touch the Sky,” “Is It Love, Is It Lies”

4 stars out of 5