From:
http://www.mtv.com/news/a...lines=true

The Grammys are still more than a month away, but Raphael Saadiq says he already feels like he's won.

"Selling only 168,000 copies without a push from a record company, to be nominated five times, that was winning to me," the singer said Tuesday.

Saadiq got nods for his solo album, Instant Vintage (Best R&B Album), the single "Be Here" (Best R&B Song and Best Urban/Alternative Performance), and his writing and production on Erykah Badu's "Love of My Life (An Ode To Hip Hop)" (Best R&B Song and Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media).

"Just the Erykah shooting up the charts is like, 'Wow,' " he said. "We did it in a couple of days and she did some production on it too. It was just a cool collabo. Everything happened in the right pattern. It's amazing how everything could fall into place. She had some ideas she wanted to use. We came up with some chords, beats. I played the little funky bassline on it.

"She was like, 'I want to hear one of your flutes,' " he continued. "She took it to Dallas and put flutes on it. The lyrics, that was actually her too. You can never tell what's on Erykah's mind. With somebody like Erykah, you want to set a foundation for them, you don't want to paint a picture for them. I think it's better to collaborate."

Raph, who just parted ways with Universal Records, has been so busy writing and producing for other artists, he said he hasn't had time to secure another record deal, let alone begin work on his next album. He's planning to begin working on LPs by T-Boz and Erykah Badu in the next few months and has already been held up in the studio with Nappy Roots, Jaguar Wright and D'Angelo.

"We're like brothers," he said of D'Angelo, who also sings on "Be Here." "It's every day getting up and hanging. For somebody else it might be work, but me and him have been working together since Brown Sugar. It's like a day of playing ball for me."

He describes his fellow soul man's new album as "real meaty, real phat. A real nice piece. Everything he sings just sounds good. We're like kindred spirits. It sounds like D., classic D."

"I want to work with the Dres of the world — Dr. Dre and Outkast," he continued. "Mary J. and Stevie Wonder, that's just somebody you have to touch, even if it never comes out. I just got to hear it."

Although Saadiq said he'll always work with Joi, he ruled out reforming Lucy Pearl or Tony, Toni, Toné, but he promised that the public will be hearing him in another trio.

"I like groups," he explained. "It's fun to get people in a room and just create. It would be a whole new thing. It will probably be me, Mos Def and somebody else."

Thanks for this

thanks Essence.

Saadiq working with D and Jaguar Wright is great news! D needs to get back to form (no voodoo fan here) and Jag has the best voice in the business, she just needs the production and song writting to go with it. Raph will give her that 4 dayum sho! I'm so damn tired of seeing ?uest waste the talents of those around him. I see big things ahead for Saadiq and his future projects.

Saadiq does great work. His album was a sleeper... and I esp liked the joint with T-Boz so I'm looking forward to his collab with her.

Working with the Dre's of the world eh? so how come he ain't calle me yet?!

"Instant Vintage": Great Music, STUPID Lyrics. Think he was on the chronic a lot when he wrote this although "I Won't Cheat On U" or whatever it's called has a very Slave/Steve Arrington feel about it which :I: absolutely adore!!!

'dre

I think He has a longer Life as a Writer&Producer IMHO.kinda following that Babyface Mantle of Formula overall IMHO.as a Artist in His Own Right He is alright.

mistermaxxx said:

I agree. He has down outstanding work for Angie Stone, Bilal, D'Angelo, Erykah, and many more. He's keepin that Oakland thing alive bring that ol' 70s soul with the strings remin'in me of some of Isaac Hayes' best. He's carved out a nice sonic space for himself as a writer and producer and has a long life indeed there.

though i think he's an excellent producer, i'm not so fond of his solo work. and what he said about d's new album being "real meaty, real phat. A real nice piece". what's that supposed to mean!?

purpleone said:

U beat me to it LOL

Instant Vintage is the shit. I loved everything about it:

Be here
People
OPH
Whats Life Like,,,are the best.

I heard that he had problems with the company becoz he wanted to call his LP "Gospeldelic" 4 spiritual reasons and they refused that title and choosed Instant Vintage becoz they think its more of a commercial title,,,plus the broke ass promoting.

BTW is he muslim?? I've been wondering about that 4 a while
now.
[This message was edited Sat Jan 11 7:55:42 PST 2003 by Harlepolis]

Harlepolis said:

My understanding is that he is.

NuPwrSoul said:

He has Been since around late 95-96 for Sure.

Harlepolis said:

Add Still Ray and Tick Tock to that bad boy.

mistermaxxx said:

Has Been?? You mean he's no longer Muslim??? I can't believe this,,how do you know about that??
[This message was edited Sun Jan 12 7:51:41 PST 2003 by Harlepolis]

Harlepolis said:

He didn't say he was no longer muslim he's saying that Saadiq has been a muslim since the mid 90's.

classic77 said:

I just realized that now,,lol I'm sorry,,I feel stupid. I don't know why I always rush with a reply.

Sorry Mistermaxxx

I loved Raphael's "Get Involved" (off the PJ's soundtrack), but it didn't get that much airplay; not in my opinion, anyway.

Harlepolis said:

you know we are Cool Always.

UptownDeb said:

surprising considering he did that song with Q-Tip.

rdhull said:

Tick Tock was my jam. The last time I saw him live, he said that was his favorite song. That got me pumped after waiting the whole night to hear that song.

"I Won't Cheat On U"

Was the amalgamatory jam 4 me.Lyrically, he's been more creative.

'dre

"he ruled out re-forming Tony,Toni,Tone"

DavidEye said:

yeah Man it's been that way for Years Bro.in fact the last I Heard was 3 Years back that the other TOny's were gonna bring in there Cousin who Sounded alot like Raphael.