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
Rikers Island
Raphael Saadiq Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said there's way too many in Rikers Island
And you may not be in Rikers Island
You may be in Rikers Island in your own mind
Nevertheless, you gotta unleash yourself
Everybody, everybody
(Too many)
Why must it be? (I said that there's too many)
Too many niggas in Rikers Island (set 'em free)
Set 'em free (you know that there's too many)
Too many niggas in Rikers Island (why must it be?)
Why must it be? (Too many locked up today)
Too many niggas in Rikers Island (set 'em free)
Set 'em free
The judge sits in the high chair
While the family sits and prays
Hoping judge and jury
That all 12 will vote their way
The boy is shaking inside
He says it's something he didn't do
He's afraid to take that long ride
Down Rikers Avenue
(Too many)
Too many niggas in Rikers Island (why must it be?)
Why must it be? (I said that there's too many)
Too many niggas in Rikers Island (let 'em sing)
Set 'em free
Month to month to month, they're growin'
And it only multiplies
Some of them for no reason
Some will be there 'til they die
Children home with no fathers
And they don't even know why
Mother can't explain it
The family visits, that's all were seeing
(I know there's too many)
Too many niggas in Rikers Island (way too long)
Why must it be? (I know there's too many)
Too many niggas in Rikers Island (we need to heal)
Set 'em free (I know there's too many)
Too many niggas in Rikers Island (and why)
Why must it be? (I know there's too many)
Too many niggas in Rikers Island (set them free)
Set 'em free
La da da da da, la da da da da
La da da da da, la da da da da
In Raphael Saadiq's song "Rikers Island," the lyrics address the overwhelming number of individuals, particularly Black men, who are incarcerated at Rikers Island. The repetition of "Too many niggas in Rikers Island" drives home the message that the system is unjustly filled with a disproportionate number of people from marginalized communities. Through this repetition, Saadiq emphasizes the urgent need for change in the criminal justice system to address this imbalance.
The lyrics also touch upon the concept of being metaphorically imprisoned in one's own mind. Saadiq suggests that even if someone is not physically present at Rikers Island, they may still be trapped mentally, possibly due to societal pressures, systemic injustices, or personal struggles. This introspective angle adds depth to the discussion of incarceration and highlights the broader impact it can have beyond the physical confines of a prison.
The imagery of the courtroom scene portrays the injustice that can occur within the legal system. The boy falsely accused is trembling with fear, facing the prospect of a long journey down Rikers Avenue, symbolizing the harsh reality of being imprisoned. This scenario sheds light on the emotional toll that incarceration takes on individuals and their families, emphasizing the human cost of a flawed system.
Saadiq further emphasizes the cyclical nature of incarceration by mentioning how the population at Rikers Island continues to grow, with some individuals seemingly locked up for unjust reasons. The impact of this extended incarceration is felt keenly by families, with children growing up without fathers and loved ones struggling to comprehend the reasons behind their confinement. Through these poignant lyrics, Saadiq calls for reform, healing, and justice to address the systemic issues that perpetuate this cycle of imprisonment and separation within communities.
Line by Line Meaning
Way too many
There are an overwhelming number of individuals in Rikers Island.
I said there's way too many in Rikers Island
I reiterate that there are too many people incarcerated in Rikers Island.
And you may not be in Rikers Island
You may not physically be in Rikers Island.
You may be in Rikers Island in your own mind
You may feel mentally imprisoned, even if you are not in Rikers Island.
Nevertheless, you gotta unleash yourself
Despite circumstances, you must find a way to free yourself.
Everybody, everybody
This affects everyone, not just those directly impacted.
The judge sits in the high chair
The judicial figure presides over the legal proceedings.
While the family sits and prays
Desperate family members hope for a favorable outcome.
Hoping judge and jury
Expecting the legal system to deliver justice.
That all 12 will vote their way
Seeking unanimous agreement from the jury.
The boy is shaking inside
The accused is fearful and anxious.
He says it's something he didn't do
Maintaining innocence in the face of accusations.
He's afraid to take that long ride
Fearful of the journey to Rikers Island.
Down Rikers Avenue
Towards the correctional facility on Rikers Island.
Month to month to month, they're growing
The number of incarcerated individuals continues to increase.
And it only multiplies
The problem of mass incarceration becomes more widespread.
Some of them for no reason
Some are unjustly imprisoned.
Some will be there 'til they die
A grim reality for those facing long sentences.
Children home with no fathers
Families are torn apart by incarceration.
And they don't even know why
Lack of understanding and explanation for the separation.
Mother can't explain it
Mothers struggle to make sense of the situation.
The family visits, that's all we're seeing
Limited interaction and connection due to imprisonment.
La da da da da, la da da da da
Repetition that echoes the ongoing struggles and injustices.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brook Christian Davis, Kelvin Wooten, Raphael Saadiq
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
kutzoffdchain
I LOVE THIS SONG THE CONCEPT IS DEEPLY AMAZING
TinaMarie Mouzone
This is fire and It's a nod to Marvin Gaye's "Time To Get It Together" off the Here My Dear album. He has a lot of nods to classics on here without totally ripping off the original. I appreciate that so much.
Dadams 44
Look up “Nobody Knows” by Pastor TL Barrett if you wanna hear a similar could’ve been classic
msfeliciam
I don't hear any similarities, but it feels good either way.
SOUR SIXTEEN
Wow I love that Marvin joint ❤ you are AWESOME 😘
slystone
thank you Raphael for saving r&b music..real music lives!!!!!
D. E. T
I've been a fan since I worked at SoulBeat TV in Oakland back in the day...... Love This Cat
B-Town CHILL
Wow
Soulbeat
Dannnnngggggg
✊🏿✌🏿👍🏿
Townbiz
Tammy Spears
Touch on it my brother!! U on a mission!!👃👃👃👃👃💖💖👃👃👃💖💖 Guy keep dropping that spiritual wisdom and knowledge
Roman Chekrygin
Hello, Raphael! Its very good. Listening to your album, I constantly think on which bass guitar this album is played? It's fender Precision?