March 17, 2010
by Keith Murphy



Raphael Saadiq is a renaissance man. When the respected singer-songwriter-producer isn’t on the road performing his latest material, such as the critically acclaimed, ‘60s soul inspired album The Way I See It, he is overseeing his video game development company IllFonic.

And then there’s his role as an executive producer of an upcoming sitcom pilot called Love That Girl! starring The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s Tatyana Ali.

But when Saadiq, who has worked with everyone from Whitney Houston and Erykah Badu to Snoop Dogg and Ludacris, talks about music, it’s obvious where his true passion remains. “I just felt like as an artist you always do what you like first,” he says of the continued positive response to Way I See It, which was released in September of 2008. “You build that fan base that would like to see you do different things. That ‘60’s music was the soundtrack to my life. I didn’t want to try to completely fit into what’s going on right now even though I like some of the newer stuff out right now. I felt like the music of the ‘60s was all around the world.”

Still, Saadiq says he is proud of his past work as a member of the influential late ‘80s/early ‘90s R&B act Tony! Toni! Toné!.

The band, which went on to release one gold (starting with 1988’s Who?) and three platinum plus albums (The Revival, Sons of Soul, and their last project 1997’s House of Music) was a product of the New Jack Swing era sparked by Teddy Riley.

“Back in the day, when it was Guy, Keith Sweat, and Tony! Toni! Toné!, the black music executives were just getting their new jobs,” he recalls. “They were putting a lot of people on so a lot of music was coming out of New York. Everything was so brand new. If you wasn’t a strong band, artist or producer it was up to you to live on your own.”

But the question Saadiq continues to get on a regular bases is will there ever be a Tony! Toni! Toné! reunion? “For me it’s been a struggle,” he says of the possibilities of re-grouping. “I love the Tony’s. People always ask me would I ever do it again. But after three albums of putting my records together like I am now, I don’t think so.”


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Are we still on this?

It has established over & over,,,,,again, that Ray doesn't want to be a part of "the reunion" anymore.

However, wait till there's no demand on him anymore and you'll hear the different tune coming outta his mouth.

My Oakland neighbors gonna lose their minds.

looks like he's doing the Lionel Richie routine

I mean I respect his decision and all to not participate in it, but for real, what is the big deal? Why not participate in it? Are the creative differences between him, his brother and Tim that bad? So what, he's put out three albums...and???? He's talented and all, and I love his music, but I think he's just being difficult.

missfee said:

I agree.There's no reason why he couldn't do the occasional Tony!Toni!Tone! album and tour,while still focusing on his solo career.

SoulAlive said:

Yeah because I get the notion that he's acting like he's "too good" or "too hott" to do a Tonies reunion.
[Edited 3/18/10 4:51am]

Raphael's ego would never enable that reunion to happpen.

I gave up on that reunion years ago

Whoa, according to Wiki, D'Wayne Wiggins album "Eyes Never Lie" released in 2000 only sold 150,000 units????? I didn't know that. That album wasn't a bad album at all.

Caramelpfe said:

I guess you are right.

missfee said:

Word was that was the case during the House of Music sessions.

SoulAlive said:

...and what is poor Lionel doing today??? Producing sell out "We Are the World" song remakes.

Don't forget that great album Just Go Lionel released last year.

phunkdaddy said:

Identity said:

The part I bolded is so damn TRUE!

Spoken like a True Taurus.

~G

SoulAlive said:

.....and a Prince routine. Remember, some people wanted a Prince & The Revolution reunion and NEVER got that neither.

As a musician I totally understand where Ray is coming from. The past is the past. I know the fans want reunions, but he's happy right now, making music he enjoys and in total control of his own destiny. When you're in a band you have to compromise your vision sometimes. I believe Raphael is done with that! He is having the biggest success of his solo career. Why would he interrupt that to play songs he wrote twenty years ago? Keep doing your thang Ray Ray! The collabs with D'angelo have been some of his best. Bring on Linwood Rose!

Stax said:

STAX!!! you know about the bay area invasion, right?

Caramelpfe said:

Exactly! I know that more than ever after meeting him....

^

Should we ask what transpired during that meeting?

Identity said:

I'll just say that I will continue to listen to the music I still have by him. But will never go c him perform or buy another CD by him ever again.....

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

spill it...

Personally, I think the question is silly. I've been to two of his solo concerts and he's included Tony! Toni! Tone! songs in both of them. They sounded exactly the same without "the other Toni's".

He was the lead singer of the group so the sound was his, who cares who'singing back up. And, he doesn't have to split the money. He can just take care of his brother financially and call it a day, without all of the band disputes and drama.

godyssey said:

To me Tony Tone Toni performing with a Raphsel Sadiq look a like and sound alike speaks volumes...I would rather be at this performance...

godyssey said:

Hmm I disagree 100%, the sound wasn't "all his". His brother and Tim are extremely talented cats. Sure Saadiq had the lead singer sound for the Tonies, and no doubt extremely talented in his own right, but you can't discredit the "other two" members. Without them, I doubt we would even be having this discussion today about Raphael. There's no way Raphael could have pulled off "Whatever You Want"...D'Wayne's voice was perfect for it.
[Edited 3/20/10 7:27am]

missfee said:

Agreed. D'Wayne's voice was perfect for Last Summer,Slow Wine,Who,
and other TTT songs too. You can't deny that Whatever You Want isn't
a favorite among TTT fans and it wouldn't sound the same with Raphael
singing lead on it.

Anyone who likes TTT, there is a great b-side song made for the 1994 film, The Mask.

Simply amazing. Check it out. (Maybe, hopefully, one fan of Tony Toni Tone won't have heard it yet and will be happy to enjoy it.)

I personally feel like b-side songs like the one posted here will
be as close to a reunion we will get for the next 20-30 years.
Keep dreamin' guys


[Edited 3/20/10 10:56am]

*Bump! Great song above!
[Edited 3/20/10 10:55am]

Ego-trippin is a serious problem. Saadiq has been a member of 2 groups and all of those people got sick of him. I honestly think that he has to be on his own because nobody wants to work with him.
Saadiq is stuck so deep in lala land he doesn't realize that he was at his best with his brother and cousin. He's not more popular without the group and his music surely isn't better.
[Edited 3/20/10 11:37am]

The fact is, Raphael's solo albums have been weak. He comes across as being very arrogant. Raphael, you ain't all that.