Musiq - Girl Next Door ft. Ayana

What this video is

Released as the third and final single from Musiq Soulchild's debut album Aijuswanaseing (November 14, 2000, Def Soul/Island Def Jam), 'Girl Next Door' arrived during the peak flourishing of the Philadelphia neo-soul scene, alongside artists such as Jill Scott and Bilal. Musiq, born Taalib Johnson in Philadelphia, had built his reputation performing on street corners before signing to Def Soul in 1998. The video's…

Why it matters

The video is a primary document of the neo-soul/hip-hop soul crossover moment at the turn of the millennium — a genre Musiq himself resisted being exclusively labelled under, preferring the term 'hip-hop soul.' Its nostalgic, neighborhood-realist aesthetic and warm early-digital palette…