Taking an interest in music from the age of 6, joining gospel groups and attending Young Musicians Program at Berklee during middle school, Saadiq got the chance phone call of a lifetime, when Sheila E. called one day looking for touring musicians to join Prince on his Parade tour. Saadiq spent two years on the road, a time he called "My University".
Saadiq made a name for himself as the lead vocalist in the rhythm and blues and dance trio Tony! Toni! Toné!. He went by his birth name during the beginning of Tony! Toni! Toné!, where he was joined by his brother Dwayne Wiggins, and his cousin Timothy Christian. He adopted the name of Raphael Saadiq in the mid-1990s.
After the 1996 Tony! Toni! Toné! album, House of Music, (when he performed under his current name) Saadiq started his solo career. He produced a few solo tracks, but Saadiq's next big project became the R&B supergroup Lucy Pearl. He recorded the self-titled album with Dawn Robinson (En Vogue) and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest). This group only lasted for one album. His solo album Instant Vintage, released in 2002, also earned 5 Grammy nominations.
Saadiq released his third solo album, The Way I See It, on September 16 2008, featuring collaborations with Stevie Wonder and Joss Stone. Saadiq acknowledges the album's old school soul sound, which he says includes nods to Gladys Knight & The Pips, Al Green, The Four Tops, The Delfonics and The Stylistics.
Various artists have tapped Saadiq to produce their work through the years. Some of Saadiq's most notable work has been with D'Angelo. The 2000 collaboration "Untitled" won D'Angelo a Grammy award for Best R&B Album. In 2007, Saadiq was called on to produce the whole third album from UK Soul singer Joss Stone. Other artists he has collaborated with include The Roots, Macy Gray, Snoop Dogg, Kelis, Q-Tip and Young Bellz.
In 2002, Saadiq founded his own record label, Pookie Entertainment. Among the artists on the label are Joi and Truth Hurts.
http://vimeo.com/3020000
Get Involved
Raphael Saadiq Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
S-A double-D-I-Q
Yo, he want to get involved with you
Mr. S-A double-D-I-Q
Yo, he want to get involved with you
Mr. S-A double-D-I-Q
Yo, he want to get involved with you
Yo he want to get involved
[Raphael Saadiq]
Met this girl walking in the ghetto
(Uh huh, uh huh)
Looking good but looking down
(What's you say, come on by)
Said she needed inspiration
(What'd you say)
I said, 'Get yo shit cause we're goin uptown'
(Uptown baby, uptown, say what)
I could tell she was feelin better
(Yeah, yeah come on, yeah)
When she got inside the car
(When she got inside the car)
She was a dark-skinned girl with pretty cornrows
(uh uh)
She was doin her best to try to hide her scars
(Say come on now, what you say now)
I don't really care
About that there, just get involved
Boy you, makin' me feel, uh oh so real
Just get involved
Every time i take you around friends
(Come on, every time I take you around friends)
I catch them looking at you love
(Lookin' at you love, lookin' at you love like that)
You know it never ever bothered me
Because i know that i'm the one you're thinking of
I don't really care
Word up, word up, word up yo
Raphael just stopped in his tracks
Get involved and make it into the pack
You know the way that you present your thing
We in the belly so we might as well cling
The way you shine shorty you da shit
The princess in the pauper pit
We may be poor but we rich in soul
Just get involved and get in control
Just get involved and get in control
You know the way we do it, yo we roll
Oh, oh, oh, oh
S-A double-D-I-Q
Yo, he want to get involved with you
Mr. S-A double-D-I-Q
Yo, he want to get involved with you
Mr. S-A double-D-I-Q
Yo, he want to get involved with you
Mr. S-A double-D-I-Q
Yo he want to get involved
"Get Involved" by Raphael Saadiq is a soulful song that calls out to the listener to "get involved." The song is a mix of classic 70s soul and modern R&B. The lyrics are an invitation to a woman who is feeling down and looking for inspiration. Raphael Saadiq offers to take her on a journey to lift her spirits and make her feel alive. The song is a celebration of life, love, and music. It encourages the listener to let go of their troubles and immerse themselves in the uplifting energy of the music.
The lyrics describe Saadiq meeting a girl in the ghetto who is feeling down. He offers to take her uptown and show her a good time. The girl is hesitant at first, but Saadiq convinces her to get in the car. He describes the girl as a dark-skinned girl with pretty cornrows who is trying to hide her scars. However, Saadiq doesn't care about her past; he just wants to have a good time with her. The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "get involved" and encourages the listener to let go and enjoy the music.
Line by Line Meaning
Ummah, Ummah, Ummah
Chant expressing enthusiasm and excitement
S-A double-D-I-Q
Raphael Saadiq's stage name, spelled out in a catchy way
Yo, he want to get involved with you
Saadiq expressing his desire to collaborate with someone
Met this girl walking in the ghetto
Saadiq meets a girl in a less affluent part of town
Looking good but looking down
Girl appears attractive, but is not in a good mood
Said she needed inspiration
Girl tells Saadiq that she needs motivation
I said, 'Get yo shit cause we're goin uptown'
Saadiq tells girl to come with him for a change of pace
I could tell she was feelin better
After the outing with Saadiq, the girl's mood improves
When she got inside the car
The two of them get into a car to go uptown
She was a dark-skinned girl with pretty cornrows
Description of the girl's physical appearance
She was doin her best to try to hide her scars
The girl is self-conscious about her scars and tries to hide them
I don't really care
Saadiq doesn't mind the girl's scars
About that there, just get involved
Saadiq's message to the girl that she should focus on collaboration and not her scars
Boy you, makin' me feel, uh oh so real
Saadiq singing about someone who makes him feel authentic and alive
Just get involved
Encouraging listeners to collaborate and participate
Every time i take you around friends
Saadiq references bringing someone around his social circle
I catch them looking at you love
Saadiq's friends are showing interest in his companion
You know it never ever bothered me
Saadiq isn't concerned about his friends finding his companion attractive
Because i know that i'm the one you're thinking of
Saadiq is confident that he has the attention of his companion
Word up, word up, word up yo
Expression of affirmation and enthusiasm
Raphael just stopped in his tracks
Referring to himself in the third person
Get involved and make it into the pack
Encouraging participation and inclusion
You know the way that you present your thing
Saadiq admires the unique style and approach of the other person
We in the belly so we might as well cling
Saadiq suggests that they stick together in difficult circumstances
The way you shine shorty you da shit
Complimenting the other person's confidence and charisma
The princess in the pauper pit
Acknowledging the challenges and struggles of everyday life
We may be poor but we rich in soul
Emphasizing the importance of character and spirit
Just get involved and get in control
Encouraging participation and empowerment
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Vocalization of excitement and enthusiasm
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: FAREED KAMAAL, GENE MCFADDEN, JOHN WHITEHEAD, KENNETH GAMBLE, KENNY GAMBLE, LEON HUFF, RAPHAEL SAADIQ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vickylynn8787
2023 and I’m still rocking this 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@Phoenix_7568
2024 🔥🔥🔥
@nikkija1166
Who’s here in 2023? Got to rock that beginning over and over again ❤️this song
@KolendoTV
1999 was a golden year for SO many genres of music, hip-hop, house, rnb, even pop. Will be playing this classic until the day I die.
@TheSamBlonde
Saadiq is so underrated as a musician.
@beautifulroots_
This song still goes hard, 20 years later. Talk about timeless!
@corylackland8377
No doubt. ✌🏾
https://youtu.be/f3a_si4A1vQ
@kirkswannjr8036
I love it this will never be old.My favorite joint
@sugarconecandy
2022 still hard!
@tiffanylandry8669
Absolutely!!! It's been 20 years? Damn! Its a classic on its own but its the sample that makes it feel timeless.