Raphael Saadiq’s 2002 Instant Vintage was his first full-length album as a solo artist. He had already spent a decade as one-third of the successful R&B trio Tony! Toni! Toné! with his brother and cousin.  Singles like “Feels Good,” “Whatever You Want” and “Anniversary” made his honey-toned voice a source of connection and comfort for ’80s and ’90s R&B fans. The Lucy Pearl group he formed with Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Joi and  Dawn Robinson had a brief three-year run that ended in 2001. “Skyy, Can You Feel Me” was written on the night that Aaliyah died and he likened the song’s feeling to her being an angel. Charity Grace, who was Saadiq’s protege from the Willie Max trio he renamed, was the other singer and a co-writer of the song. He described the sound of the album which drew from rock, jazz, funk, soul and hip-hop ‘gospeldelic.’ Instant Vintage was critically acclaimed and it received a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album and the popular “Be Here” with D’Angelo was nominated for Best R&B Song. Raphael Saadiq’s most current solo project is the Jimmy Lee album released in 2019. In 2021 he was the executive music producer for National Geographic’s Genius: Aretha limited series. 

 

 

[youtube id=”_KKjBeAfdPg”]Raphael Saadiq returns to NPR Tiny Desk concert series with a show that took place at night was streamed live on social media. His first performance was back in 2009 when the idea of a concert behind the small desk was new. For this show, Saadiq is joined by Lucky Daye and his band and they perform a six-song set. Saadiq’s fifth solo album, Jimmy Lee, came out this past summer after an eight-year break. 

[youtube id=”MSqT1BOc_-0″]Raphael Saadiq talks about his newest album in the Jimmy Lee documentary. The filming took place in New Orleans during the weekend of the Essence Music Festival. Saadiq explains how his older brother Jimmy Lee inspired the album named after him. His sibling’s struggles with addiction and the stories of other family members are blended into the album. He also goes back to the beginning of his career to share how music became his profession. 

As it gets closer to the release of Raphael Saadiq’s Jimmy Lee, he shares another song from the album. “Glory To The Veins” is a spacey ode to drug addiction about Saadiq’s late brother who died of A.I.D.S. yet still found some joy in life. Saadiq’s Jimmy Lee is all about his sibling and the struggles he had when he was alive. It will be his first album in eight years and he also revealed in a recent interview with Sway Calloway that there is a Tony! Toni! Toné! reunion in the future. Jimmy Lee officially will be available in stores and all digital platforms August 23rd.