Atlanta plays part in Philadelphia soul for Musiq Soulchild

A year ago he decided to make Gwinnett County his official home. So the first question before this evening's appearance at the Fox Theatre was obvious:

Q: Why the Atlanta area?

A: "I really just wanted a change, and the first place I thought of was Atlanta. I'd been to Atlanta plenty of times. Even worked at the Waffle House — does it get more Atlanta than that? And you know, I just thought it had a similar vibe to Philly's as far as being a hub for creative people."

Q: How has the tour been going?

A: "It's real beautiful to share the same stage with two great, great artists. ... And I'm mostly proud, in like a big brother way, of Jazmine Sullivan. Just watching her grow and come into her own in this industry as a young black girl — and for the industry to be really excited for her — is cool. ... We all kind of represent soul music from back in the day. And to be appreciated by our generation in our own time is a blessing."

Q: Is that why you think you've been around for five albums now (the latest being "OnMyRadio") and a lot of your peers when you started out are ...

A: "Like poof?! [Laughs] Yeah, you know I think what's been working for me is the fact that I've always tried to be as realistic as possible in what I sing about. ... When I started Lauryn Hill and D'Angelo and Erykah Badu was coming through and people weren't really hearing anything else. Eric Benet was trying a little bit then, I think. Maxwell and Rahsaan Patterson. But we were like lumped all the way over there as the candles-and-incense people. Nah — I didn't see this at all."