Feel the Real

Musiq Soulchild has something to get off his chest. *Feel the Real* is a double-length set that follows 2016’s *Life on Earth*, a beautifully mellow album that served to put some distance between the singer and an ill-received foray into rapping. This go-round, Musiq’s left the rapping to frequent collaborator Willie Hyn—along with a little poetry courtesy of scientist celeb Neil deGrasse Tyson—to focus on hummable melodies that detail the most familiar stages of a relationship, from crushing to going steady, breakups to makeups, and, maybe most relatable, yearning for love once taken for granted.

Increased song quantity and credits length aren't the only details that differentiate Feel the Real from the preceding album.