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
Radio
Raphael Saadiq Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said ? low
She wasn't getting my sound
She kept the ? down
I told her turn up the bass
And the she gives me in my face
I told her I had a girl
That meant the world to me
Wrote her name on me
Thought of putting on a dress
Thought of leaking on my chest
I tried to move away
She found me the very next day
She found me the very next day
See that girl is so fast
She ? smoking in making cash
She ? smoking in making cash
She knows I like it like that
She knows where exactly is that
She knows I like it like that
That girl is going on my hat
She knows I like it like that
She knows where exactly is that
You got me
Something I don't wanna do
I still wouldn't make it
Dance on a tango with you
I didn't want to go there
Call me in a month or two
I know you really wanna a baby
I think I want one too
But the chance is not sure
It don't want to wait you
See every time we touch
I take chances of a fool
Stone rollin' baby
Stone rollin' baby
I take chances of a fool
Stone rollin' baby
Stone rollin' baby
The lyrics to Raphael Saadiq's song "Radio" tell a story of a chance encounter with a girl over the radio. The singer appears to be a musician or DJ who meets a girl on the radio who initially isn't feeling his music, but after turning up the bass, they connect in a flirtatious manner. The singer is faithful, but the girl writes her name on him, and though he tries to move away, she finds him again the very next day. The girl is depicted as daring and fast, making money through questionable means like smoking, but the singer is drawn to her nonetheless, admitting that he likes it like that. He acknowledges that they take chances like fools each time they touch.
The verses describe the constant push and pull between the singer's commitment to his significant other and his attraction to the girl from the radio. The chorus repeats a refrain of "Stone rollin' baby," which appears to be an expression of recklessness and risk-taking that characterizes the singer's mentality as he tries to navigate these conflicting emotions. The theme of taking chances and living in the moment is cemented by the image of the titular stone rolling, which suggests a lack of control over one's fate and a willingness to follow wherever life takes you. Ultimately, the song paints a picture of a man torn between his responsibilities and desires, grappling with the thrill of the unknown and the security of the familiar.
Line by Line Meaning
I met this girl on radio
I met this girl through music, possibly on the radio
Said ? low
She was speaking softly or unclearly, possibly due to poor radio signal
She wasn't getting my sound
She didn't understand or appreciate my music
She kept the ? down
She turned down the volume of the radio
I told her turn up the bass
I suggested increasing the bass in the music
And the she gives me in my face
And then she confronted me directly
I told her I had a girl
I mentioned that I was already in a relationship
That meant the world to me
My current girlfriend is extremely important to me
She just looked me up and down
The other girl evaluated me with a judgmental gaze
Wrote her name on me
Physically marked me as her territory or interest
Thought of putting on a dress
Considered changing my appearance or gender expression
Thought of leaking on my chest
Considered being intimate or vulnerable with the other girl
She found me the very next day
The other girl pursued and located me quickly
See that girl is so fast
The other girl is swift or efficient in her actions
She ? smoking in making cash
She possibly earns money through smoking or related activities
She knows I like it like that
The other girl understands and satisfies my desires
She knows where exactly is that
The other girl knows my preferred method or location of satisfaction
That girl is going on my hat
The other girl is being recognized or celebrated by me
You got me
The other girl has seduced or captivated me
Something I don't wanna do
There may be something happening that I am not comfortable with
I still wouldn't make it
I would not go along with it
Dance on a tango with you
Metaphor for engaging in complicated or risky behavior with the other girl
I didn't want to go there
I did not want to engage in that type of behavior
Call me in a month or two
I need time to consider the situation or distance myself from it
I know you really wanna a baby
The other girl desires a child
I think I want one too
I may also want a child
But the chance is not sure
The probability of having a child is uncertain or unlikely
It don't want to wait you
Time may be a factor in this decision or situation
See every time we touch
Whenever we interact or have contact
I take chances of a fool
I am taking foolish or risky actions
Stone rollin' baby
Possibly a reference to the album or song title
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RAPHAEL SAADIQ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@unknownclass
Can't believe this only has 132,526 views.This is such a good song, this type of music needs to be promoted more,He is one of the few people whose music i actually appreciate and enjoy.
@L1ghtningWisp
12 years later and has over 1 million views!
@blackcosmos
'Instant Vintage', 'Stone Rolling' n TTT's: 'Son's of Soul' n 'House of Blues' r his best works by far. RS the 🐐
@ujimajame4601
Love this musical update of "Tossin' and Turnin'" by Bobby Lewis.
@topcover2000
Wow! In addition to his original contributions, which are great, this song pays homage to about a zillion (more or less) great old sounds and styles. Really nicely done.
@victornewman06
This is growing on me, I'm loving the 60s retro sound. Real instruments and real music. Whether you like it or not, you can't say it doesn't represent musicianship. By the way, he doesn't have to jack a clown rapper's style, he's been in the game since '87. I can't stand these ignorant ass comments. No wonder people can't stand this generation's taste in music. Will give props to a fucking rapper with no substance, than a REAL ARTIST!
@mjscarousal
Great artist.. he looks really good for his age... WOW
@richardbritt2347
One of the last true artist with talent on EARTH!!!!!!!
@tempodelavie
This guy's brilliant. Normally, I should be going to one of his concerts on July, 5th. Just soooooooo looking forward to it !
@lateshiachilds3640
I'm a huge Raphael saadiq fan I love this CD by him he took us back to the 60s. The Way I See It is a hot album too.