Raphael Saadiq
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Product details

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches; 3.25 Ounces
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Pookie Entertainment
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ January 29, 2007
Label ‏ : ‎ Pookie Entertainment
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0002XVRQ6
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

Best Sellers Rank: #292,393 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #1,878 in Contemporary R&B (CDs & Vinyl)
- #10,614 in Soul (CDs & Vinyl)
- #163,324 in Pop (CDs & Vinyl)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 74 ratings

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4.4 out of 5

74 global ratings

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Samekcreia

Quality product

Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2023

Verified Purchase

Music collection. The CD was in good condition and the case as well.

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Ntlekt

A whole different ballgame...

Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2005

Verified Purchase

I waited for this bruh's album with great anticipation for quite some time. When I first played it, I realized I was expecting "Instant Vintage II." That was a mistake, because Saadiq's track record clearly shows that the ONLY thing predictable about his music is that it will be QUALITY.

The "blaxploitation" theme is not a new one, even for Saadiq, but I can tolerate it for one album. The straight funk/soul grooves are a welcome respite from the everyday BS on radio and videos.

If you EVER get a chance to see this cat live, do it! This CD will made a solid entry to your Saadiq/TTT collection (PS: CHECK OUT TEEDRA MOSES -- BANGIN'!)...

2 people found this helpful

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dennis weekly

Excellent

Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2022

N/A

Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2015

Verified Purchase

Another great CD by Mr. Saadiq. I can have a Raphael Saadiq concert whenever I want.

Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2013

Verified Purchase

RAPHAEL SAADIQ IS AWESOME I LOVE HIS MUSIC CANT BELIEVE I DIDNT URCHASE THIS CD YEARS AGO. GREAT MUSIC. I LOVE IT.

One person found this helpful

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Snazzy dresser!

Three Stars

Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2014

Verified Purchase

It has a few good tracks that I really like...the rest are okay.

Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2015

Verified Purchase

Great project! You should listen.

One person found this helpful

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J. Zackery

Three Stars

Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2014

Verified Purchase

Not my favorite album of Saadiq

Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2013

Verified Purchase

I have an old Raphael Saadiq release that I absolutely love but this one is just ok. His singing is the same I just don't care for the songs. I probably won't play this release much and probably give away to someone.

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J. Highsmith

I prefer "Instant Vintage", but "Ray Ray" holds its own

Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2004

If you don't know who Raphael Saadiq is by now, then you must not have been listening to r&b music for the last 20 years. His group Tony Toni Tone held it down with classic CDs "Who", "The Revival", my personal favorite "Sons Of Soul" and "House Of Music". Then Raphael Saadiq branched off and created Lucy Pearl with Dawn Robinson, formerly of En Vogue and Ali Shaheed Muhammad of A Tribe Called Quest. The CD was pretty good but Lucy Pearl couldn't live up to the expectations placed by Tony Toni Tone. After teasing us with solo tracks like "Ask Of You" and "Get Involved" with Q Tip, Raphael Saadiq finally released a solo CD, "Instant Vintage".

From the intro "Doing What I Can", all the way down to the 2 bonus tracks after "Skyy, Can U Feel Me", Raphael Saadiq held his own on one of my favorite CDs of all time. I was interested to see how Raphael would come back after tracks like "Body Parts", "Be Here" w/D' Angelo, "Excuse Me" w/Calvin Richardson and Angie Stone, "Still Ray" and "Blind Man". Raphael Saadiq released a live CD entitled "All Hits At The House Of Blues" which featured his solo tracks, songs with his artist on Pookie Entertainment, Joi and some Tony Toni Tone songs as well. "Still Ray (Live)" is worth the price of the CD alone.

With "Ray Ray", Raphael Saadiq lets his alter ego Ray Ray take things back to the 70s. One of my favorite tracks, "Chic" features Teedra Moses, who has a nice debut CD, "Complex Simplicity". On "Chic" their voices flow well together on the old school beat. "Rifle Love" features Dawn Robinson and Dwayne Wiggins on the vocals and Rphael Saadiq takes us back to the Tony Toni Tone days. "Not A Game" features Babyface who has been MIA. He had a nice song called "Loneliness" that I saw a video for and a CD that was supposed to come out entitled "A Love Story" but I have never seen a release date for it. On "Not A Game", Raphael and Babyface are stating that all the childish games that could be played while they were in high school and college involving females can't be played while they are adults now. Simply stated, grow up and decide whether or not you want to be in the relationship or not. "Chic Like You" w/Allie Baba will remind you a little bit of "Let's Get Down" from "House Of Music", but the two hold their own on the uptempo track. "Live Without You" switches the beat in the middle of the song and Raphael holds his own once again. "I Love You" sounds like a dedication to someone special in his life just like on "Ask Of You" and "Lovin' You" in the past.

"Detroit Girl" sounds like someone that Raphael may have met while he was on the road somewhere and has him saying toward the end of the song that there are "Detroit Girls" all over the US. "This One" is somewhat similar to "Detroit Girl" as Raphael is talking about a girl that he has met that may actually be the "one" for him in another state.

The only negatives of this CD are 1) The last 2 songs on this CD should have been left off of the CD. "Grown Folks" has Raphael sounding too much like Curtis Mayfield. I understand that the song may have been a tribute to the great legend, but some things are better left alone. "Save Us" was not needed either. He could have made two more songs with Teedra Moses and I would have been just as happy...lol

Overall, if you are a fan of Raphael Saadiq, Tony Toni Tone or Lucy Pearl, you will enjoy "Ray Ray" just as much as you did "Instant Vintage" and "All Hits At The House Of Blues". Since I have been a fan of Raphael Saadiq for years, I hold his CDs on a high level, but to me "Ray Ray" isn't at the same level as "Instant Vinatge". In the end though Raphael is just "Doing As He Can".

James' Top 5

1) Chic w/Teedra Moses

2) Rifle Love w/Tony Toni Tone & Lucy Pearl

3) Not A Game w/Babyface

4) Chic Like You w/Allie Baba

5) I Want You Back w/Teedra Moses

16 people found this helpful

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Enlightened

Possibly the Best Cd of The Year...

Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2004

I don't know if the people who already reviewed this album had a bootleg copy or what but this album is simply greatness. This is better than Instant Vintage by a long ways and that's the truth! Instant Vintage was, for one, a long album as well as having a multitude of pointless interludes, and he was just trying to do too much within one album. This resulted in not being able to just sit down and listen to it. Instead you had to wade through the tracks to find the great songs that lied within. That is not the case with this album.

The songs are short and to the point (unlike his usual 5-15 minute songs)...never dragging on for too long but never feeling unfinished. This concept, when perfected as it is here, will constantly have you hitting rewind. You wish it was longer but you don't really wish it was longer. If ya understand me. The album flows along seamlessly, each song distinct and memorable with a memorable groove to it. There are no pointless skits or interludes; just 'vintage' Raphael Saadiq. Perfect grooves and melodies and genius basslines. Timeless lyrics and flawless singing. Raphael Saadiq is probably the best singer of my generation with a voice 'instant'ly recognizable and smooth. Every song is borderline classic. Rifle Love meshes the sounds of Lucy Pearl and TTT perfectly, and rightly so as Dwayne Wiggins and Dawn Robinson contribute on the song. Replacement Lucy Pearl member Joi, wife of Big Gipp of Goodie Mob, shows her vocals on the Ray Ray Theme. Babyface does backup ( yes backup! ) vocals on Not A Game...arguably the best song on the album. New artist Teedra Moses ( whose debut is about as good as it gets ) gives that flavor on two songs; Chic and I Want You...again arguably the best songs on the album. Chic Like You with Allie Baba is another classic as well as my favorite joint on the album 'Detroit Girl' with a smooth background that only Saadiq can come up with; He pours his heart out to that girl ( Ray Ray you're a fool!). Trust me on this one...this album is greatness...I haven't heard a male album this year that's better and I've heard John Legend, Lyfe, Van Hunt, and Jon B among others. This album is for real. A Must have! 10 stars.

5 people found this helpful

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D. Baker

LOOKING BACK: That Saadiq type of groove.

Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2016

This was a neat recording by Raphael that had glints of ole skool mixed in with today's sounds...even though this was recorded in the early 2000s. It had that bop fashion and his vocals that gave way to a sound that I can clearly say that no one has been able to duplicate, and this is his trademark. It didn't grab me by the throat like I wanted it too, and I wonder how a man so talented can create and release what would sound like pretty good B-side material when he can write and produce untimate tracks for others? Nevertheless, this was a pretty good offering from an established man making his way.

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Raider Jack

We're Getting There!!!!!!!!

Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2004

Raphael, affectionately referred to as Ray,Ray, is quite simply a force to be reckoned with. He is indeed one of R&B's premiere male vocalists and his writing talent is legendary. He has carved out his own niche and does not copy anyone. You only need to hear a few notes and you immediately recognize Oaktown representing. I have appreciated Raphael's vocal prowess since his days with Tony Toni Tone, later with Lucy Pearl, and certainly as a solo artist.

However, I was NOT well with his first solo outing Instant Vintage. While there were memorable performances, instant vintage it was not. But Raphael is one of those artists who is entirely too musically entrenched/established to be relegated to "this cut" or "that cut."

His second solo outing is infinitely better than Instant Vintage. While there are moments where it appears his experimentation with melodies and rhythms don't necessarily mesh well with R&B/hip hop, he blows you away with what is undoubtedly the highlight of this project "Detroit Girl." Interestingly enough, everything AFTER this cut is far superior to the ones before it. (Unfortunately, Detroit Love is Track 7!) Dawn Robinson lends her hot voice to "Rifle Love" which easily is another highlight (also after track 7.) An unusual Save Us at the end is haunting.

Raphael's previous solo project suffered mostly because it was too ambitious. He was all over the place and unfortunately seemed to have run out of the best ideas when it came to his solo work while writing nice tunes for everybody else.

While this is by no means a stellar production, there are indeed flashes of Raphael's brilliance that enusres his place as a musical trailblazer and therefore makes any new product of his worth consideration.

At this rate, his next solo project should be the bomb!!!!

9 people found this helpful

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Calvin E. Daniels Jr.

Another Home Run from Oakland

Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2005

Raphel Saadiq scores a home run with this CD, a strong second release. 'Instant Vintage' exprimented more and may have been a song or two better but Ray Ray is a more focused and balanced effort. This CD stomps from beginning to end in a more disciplined performance from the Maestro this time out. "Ray Ray's Theme" leaps out of the speakers with such funk and drive that by the time Raphael howls "You are the only one I'll RIIIIIIIDE!", you'll know that somewhere in this guy's soul, the spirit and funk of Rick James still lives on. Raphael delivers playful bass lines as only he can on "I Want You Back". "Detroit Girl", probably the best song on the CD, absolutely soars, and the horns, warm and subtle, are spot-on as usual. Dawn Robinson and Dwayne Dwayne Wiggins of Envogue/Lucy Pearl and Tony! Toni! Tone! respectively, take a welcome turn on "Rifle Love"; in fact, I would think that two people who have figured so heavily in Saadiq's career and the last two decades of soul music would have more than a bar apiece to showcase they're talent. Raphael Saadiq has made, sung, played, and produced some the best music in R&B over the past 2 decades and while he doesn't seem to get his due as a solo artist or proper respect as an arranger and producer, he's arguably the most important soul man of our generation. If you'd like to experience Saadiq at the peak of his powers, this is the CD for you. This cat from Oakland is batting 1,000.

One person found this helpful

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Ray Ray does it again

Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2004

Raphael Saadiq - As Ray Ray (Pookie, 2004)

This album is a good follow up to his last album, Instant Vintage, which I liked and hated at the same time. It was probably because I expected more from the man who wrote classics like D'Angelo's "How Does It Feel" and Erykah Badu's "Love of My Life". Well, here's another album where you won't find any songs that top those two (why don't Raphael keep the great songs for himself?), but that doesn't mean that this album isn't good.

Songs like the Curtis Mayfield-esque "Grown Folks" (which plays well with the album's blaxploitation theme) and the two Teedra Moses duets, "Chic" and "I Want You Back", will have you constantly pressing the rewind button. Another surprise is the song with Babyface, "Not a Game" (I don't remember if they worked together in the past, but they make a great combination!). As Ray Ray does have its moments of filler ("Ray Ray Theme" featuring Joi) and "Rifle Love" sounds more like cut-and-paste performances than a reunion with Lucy Pearl (Dawn only) and Tony Toni Toné (Dwayne only). This album probably won't win Raphael any new fans but it'll sure keep his current ones like myself happy. -EJR

7 people found this helpful

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