Singer/musician, Raphael Saadiq, has always been a private dude. So, for decades, not much has been known about his past. There’s one fact he revealed in recent years, that most fans of the former Tony! Toni! Toné! lead singer never knew. He once worked for the late, great Prince and when you see what Prince made him do, you will probably flip out…or at least lightly chuckle.

Raphael Saadiq On Working With Prince Back In The Day

In an interview with The Quietus, Raphael Saadiq revealed that at the age of 18 he auditioned to be Prince’s protege’ and also part of the band Prince created for Sheila E., during their “Parade Tour.” He was shocked when he made it, but didn’t let Prince know:

“I was taught by my dad not to look excited at the point Prince said my name. I played the bass guitar in my audition like Prince meant absolutely nothing to me,” [said Saadiq]. It worked, even if Prince’s non-standard take on masculinity would later come as a surprise.

Embed from Getty Images

What Prince Made Raphael Saadiq Do

The hilarious part is that Saadiq says in order to be in the band, he really had to become one of “The Blouses” that the late Charlie Murphy once spoke about in his infamous “Chappelle Show” skit. Check out what Saadiq said below…

Raphael Saadiq: “To be in the band you had to wear a ton of make-up, it was mandatory. You had to almost sign a contract to wear eyeliner, blusher and basically look like a girl. That Dave Chappelle skit was no joke, we literally were The Blouses!” After the shows with Prince, Saadiq would transform his appearance getting dressed back into a bomber jacket, Detroit Titans baseball cap and white T-shirt while rocking some 501s and Nike Quartet sneakers. “Prince liked that I dressed differently cos’ he could see I was my own person. I knew when I was playing ‘Erotic City’ in Yokohama, Japan, that my life had sort of changed.”

HILARIOUS! So that Charlie Murphy skit was exactly on point! Gotta love Prince..I tell, ya.’ Saadiq had more to say though…

Saadiq Not Fond Of Grammys, Nor Losing To Jennifer Hudson

Saadiq also discussed the #GrammysSoWhite backlash the Grammy Awards received a few years back, and why he chose to skip them. Not only did the talented musician and singer seemingly feel disrespected by losing to Jennifer Hudson in 2016, but he also agrees that the Grammy’s are out of touch with Black music.

“They’ve [The Grammy Awards] 100% lost their way and are out of touch. I remember The Way I See It lost to J-Hud at the Grammys! I wasn’t even surprised. If you have a day job and work in a corporate building then that’s who that show is for. Britney Spears won a Grammy before Steely Dan, that’s crazy!” Rather than ‘fix the Grammys’ as the likes of Kanye West have suggested, Saadiq says we should just let them die: “There’s no point sitting down and talking about it. All awards shows needs to get off TV and just die. Music would be much better if people didn’t make it for an award.”

Also when randomly asked about Donald Trump, Saadiq kept it real: “He is a comedian and a waste of time.”

These days, Raphael Saadiq is scoring several cable television series, including the hit HBO series, “Insecure,” starring Issa Rae. He’s also been in the studio working on FIRE music for true R&B music lovers to vibe to.

The post Raphael Saadiq Details Odd Demands Prince ‘Forced’ Him To Do When He Was In Prince’s Band appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

As most of us Old Schoolers know, ever since the late ’80s, former Tony! Toni! Toné! singer, Raphael Saadiq, has been making his mark in the music game. In more recent years, his introduction to a whole new audience in Netflix’s series, “Luke Cage”; as executive producer of Solange’s hit album, “Seat At the Table,” and much more has been impressive. But what many of us never knew, were the horrific tragedies Saadiq’s family endured after losing four of his fourteen siblings at different times throughout his career.

SAADIQ OPENS UP ABOUT SIBLINGS DEATHS

Super secretive with his private life, Raphael Saadiq made the rare move of briefly opening up about his life in a prior interview with The Guardian. He revealed the heartbreaking details of his siblings deaths, and how he survived amid his pain, without succumbing to his grief:

“My brother was murdered when I was seven,” he says, matter-of-factly. “Then another brother OD’d – heroin – and my other brother committed suicide because he couldn’t get off drugs. My sister was a singer, she sang blues. A cop was chasin’ some kid through a residential neighborhood, and the kid killed her when he ran into her car. And through all of that I was makin’ records, but it wasn’t coming out in the music. I did it to kinda show people you can have some real tough things happen in your life, but you don’t have to wear it on your sleeve.”

Like we said, some of Raphael Saadiq’s siblings’ deaths happened after Saadiq was a professional music artists. So while we were vibing to “Little Walter,” Feels Good,” Just Me And You,” “It Never Rains In Southern California,” and all of the other Tony! Toni! Toné! joints back in the day, Raphael Saadiq; his brother/group member, Dwayne Wiggins; and their cousin, Timothy Christian (also of Tony! Toni! Toné!), were singing through some real pain…SO sad!

This is yet example of how we just never know what some of our favorite entertainers are going through when the crowds go home and the cameras are off. May their loved ones continue to rest peacefully.

Source

The post Raphael Saadiq’s Four Siblings Died Tragic Deaths, He Explained How He Survived appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Singer/musician, Raphael Saadiq, has always been a private dude. So, for decades, not much has been known about his past. There’s one fact he revealed in recent years, that most fans of the former Tony! Toni! Toné! lead singer never knew. He once worked for the late, great Prince and when you see what Prince made him do, you will probably flip out…or at least lightly chuckle.

Raphael Saadiq On Working With Prince Back In The Day

In an interview with The Quietus, Raphael Saadiq revealed that at the age of 18 he auditioned to be Prince’s protege’ and also part of the band Prince created for Sheila E., during their “Parade Tour.” He was shocked when he made it, but didn’t let Prince know:

“I was taught by my dad not to look excited at the point Prince said my name. I played the bass guitar in my audition like Prince meant absolutely nothing to me,” [said Saadiq]. It worked, even if Prince’s non-standard take on masculinity would later come as a surprise.

Embed from Getty Images

What Prince Made Raphael Saadiq Do

The hilarious part is that Saadiq says in order to be in the band, he really had to become one of “The Blouses” that the late Charlie Murphy once spoke about in his infamous “Chappelle Show” skit. Check out what Saadiq said below…

Raphael Saadiq: “To be in the band you had to wear a ton of make-up, it was mandatory. You had to almost sign a contract to wear eyeliner, blusher and basically look like a girl. That Dave Chappelle skit was no joke, we literally were The Blouses!” After the shows with Prince, Saadiq would transform his appearance getting dressed back into a bomber jacket, Detroit Titans baseball cap and white T-shirt while rocking some 501s and Nike Quartet sneakers. “Prince liked that I dressed differently cos’ he could see I was my own person. I knew when I was playing ‘Erotic City’ in Yokohama, Japan, that my life had sort of changed.”

HILARIOUS! So that Charlie Murphy skit was exactly on point! Gotta love Prince..I tell, ya.’ Saadiq had more to say though…

Saadiq Not Fond Of Grammys, Nor Losing To Jennifer Hudson

Saadiq also discussed the #GrammysSoWhite backlash the Grammy Awards received a few years back, and why he chose to skip them. Not only did the talented musician and singer seemingly feel disrespected by losing to Jennifer Hudson in 2016, but he also agrees that the Grammy’s are out of touch with Black music.

“They’ve [The Grammy Awards] 100% lost their way and are out of touch. I remember The Way I See It lost to J-Hud at the Grammys! I wasn’t even surprised. If you have a day job and work in a corporate building then that’s who that show is for. Britney Spears won a Grammy before Steely Dan, that’s crazy!” Rather than ‘fix the Grammys’ as the likes of Kanye West have suggested, Saadiq says we should just let them die: “There’s no point sitting down and talking about it. All awards shows needs to get off TV and just die. Music would be much better if people didn’t make it for an award.”

Also when randomly asked about Donald Trump, Saadiq kept it real: “He is a comedian and a waste of time.”

These days, Raphael Saadiq is scoring several cable television series, including the hit HBO series, “Insecure,” starring Issa Rae. He’s also been in the studio working on FIRE music for true R&B music lovers to vibe to.

The post Raphael Saadiq Details Odd Demands Prince ‘Forced’ Him To Do When He Was In Prince’s Band appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

As most of us Old Schoolers know, ever since the late 80’s, former Tony! Toni! Toné! singer, Raphael Saadiq, has been making his mark in the music game. In recent years, his introduction to a whole new audience in Netflix’s series, “Luke Cage,” as executive producer of Solange’s hit album, “Seat At the Table,” and much more. But what many of us never knew, were the horrific tragedies Saadiq’s family endured after losing four of his fourteen siblings at different times throughout his career.

SAADIQ OPENS UP ABOUT SIBLINGS DEATHS

Super secretive with his private life, Rapheal Saadiq made the rare move of briefly opening up about his life in a prior interview with The Guardian. He revealed the heartbreaking details of his siblings deaths, and how he survived amid his pain, without succumbing to his grief:

“My brother was murdered when I was seven,” he says, matter-of-factly. “Then another brother OD’d – heroin – and my other brother committed suicide because he couldn’t get off drugs. My sister was a singer, she sang blues. A cop was chasin’ some kid through a residential neighborhood, and the kid killed her when he ran into her car. And through all of that I was makin’ records, but it wasn’t comin’ out in the music. I did it to kinda show people you can have some real tough things happen in your life, but you don’t have to wear it on your sleeve.”

Like we said, some of their deaths happened after Saadiq was a professional music artists. So while we were vibing to “Little Walter,” Feels Good,” Just Me And You,” “It Never Rains In Southern California,” and all of the other Tony! Toni! Toné! joints back in the day, Raphael Saadiq; his brother/group member, Dwayne Wiggins; and their cousin, Timothy Christian (also of Tony! Toni! Toné!), were singing through some real pain…SO sad!

This is yet example of how we just never know what some f our favorite entertainers are going through when the crowds go home and the cameras are off. May their loved ones continue to rest peacefully.

Source

The post Raphael Saadiq’s Four Siblings Died Tragic Deaths, He Explained How He Survived appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Singer/musician, Raphael Saadiq, has always been a private dude. So, for decades, not much has been known about his past. There’s one fact he revealed in recent years, that most fans of the former Tony! Toni! Toné! lead singer never knew. He once worked for the late, great Prince and when you see what Prince made him do, you will probably flip out…or at least lightly chuckle.

Raphael Saadiq On Working With Prince Back In The Day

In an interview with The Quietus, Raphael Saadiq revealed that at the age of 18 he auditioned to be Prince’s protege’ and also part of the band Prince created for Sheila E., during their “Parade Tour.” He was shocked when he made it, but didn’t let Prince know:

“I was taught by my dad not to look excited at the point Prince said my name. I played the bass guitar in my audition like Prince meant absolutely nothing to me,” [said Saadiq]. It worked, even if Prince’s non-standard take on masculinity would later come as a surprise.

Embed from Getty Images

What Prince Made Raphael Saadiq Do

The hilarious part is that Saadiq says in order to be in the band, he really had to become one of “The Blouses” that the late Charlie Murphy once spoke about in his infamous “Chappelle Show” skit. Check out what Saadiq said below…

Raphael Saadiq: “To be in the band you had to wear a ton of make-up, it was mandatory. You had to almost sign a contract to wear eyeliner, blusher and basically look like a girl. That Dave Chappelle skit was no joke, we literally were The Blouses!” After the shows with Prince, Saadiq would transform his appearance getting dressed back into a bomber jacket, Detroit Titans baseball cap and white T-shirt while rocking some 501s and Nike Quartet sneakers. “Prince liked that I dressed differently cos’ he could see I was my own person. I knew when I was playing ‘Erotic City’ in Yokohama, Japan, that my life had sort of changed.”

HILARIOUS! So that Charlie Murphy skit was exactly on point! Gotta love Prince..I tell, ya.’ Saadiq had more to say though…

Saadiq Not Fond Of Grammys, Nor Losing To Jennifer Hudson

Saadiq also discussed the #GrammysSoWhite backlash the Grammy Awards received a few years back, and why he chose to skip them. Not only did the talented musician and singer seemingly feel disrespected by losing to Jennifer Hudson in 2016, but he also agrees that the Grammy’s are out of touch with Black music.

“They’ve [The Grammy Awards] 100% lost their way and are out of touch. I remember The Way I See It lost to J-Hud at the Grammys! I wasn’t even surprised. If you have a day job and work in a corporate building then that’s who that show is for. Britney Spears won a Grammy before Steely Dan, that’s crazy!” Rather than ‘fix the Grammys’ as the likes of Kanye West have suggested, Saadiq says we should just let them die: “There’s no point sitting down and talking about it. All awards shows needs to get off TV and just die. Music would be much better if people didn’t make it for an award.”

Also when randomly asked about Donald Trump, Saadiq kept it real: “He is a comedian and a waste of time.”

These days, Raphael Saadiq is scoring several cable television series, including the hit HBO series, “Insecure,” starring Issa Rae. He’s also been in the studio working on FIRE music for true R&B music lovers to vibe to.

The post Raphael Saadiq Details Odd Demands Prince ‘Forced’ Him To Do When He Was In His Band appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

ILOSM fam,’ remember whenTony! Toni! Tone! had us vibin’ to their many 90s hits like, “Just Me And You,” from John Singleton’s Boyz N The Hood and “It Never Rains In Southern California?” The group members consisted of brothers, Raphael Saadiq and D’Wayne Wiggins, along with their cousin, Timothy Riley. Unfortunately, as quickly as their careers began, it all came to an end a few years later. The group has never discussed the breakup publicly, yet all of that changed when Saadiq recently sat down with his fellow Oakland, Cali. homie and radio personality, Sway Calloway.

Music As Therapy

Prior to now, Raphael Saadiq (53) had briefly discussed some of the heartbreak he endured, while growing up in Oakland. A few years ago, we reported about how four of his siblings died tragically, a subject that was ongoing during the height of Tony! Toni! Tone!’s success. Though their deaths were devastating, Saadiq chose to not put all of his pain into the music. He summed it up like this:

“Through all of that, I was makin’ records, but it wasn’t comin’ out in the music. I did it to kinda show people you can have some real tough things happen in your life, but you don’t have to wear it on your sleeve.”

Years later, he’s paying homage to his brother, Jimmy Lee, by titling his new album after him. Saadiq also sat down on Sway’s Sirius XM show, Sway in the Mornings, to open up about some very personal things. Since he lost Jimmy, to an overdose Sway brought up the topic of addiction, mentioning both, Michael Jackson, and his close friend, Prince. Saadiq kept it honest with his answer.

“I just feel like Michael was tired.” He continued. “He had been in the music industry his whole life. He did it bigger than anybody. And he couldn’t get rid of people.”

He offered similar thoughts about Prince’s reported addiction, claiming that even though he was allegedly on drugs, he was still professional. However, as music changed, he started losing faith, according to Saadiq:

“I think Prince hated where music was at and didn’t want to be around it anymore. I think he loved music that much, that he was like, ‘This is what they doin’?’ I don’t think he could take it.”

Next Page: Raphael Saadiq Discusses What Happened With Tony! Toni! Tone!

The post Raphael Saadiq Finally Reveals Why He Left Tony! Toni! Tone! & Discusses Brother’s Death appeared first on I Love Old School Music.

Singer/musician, Raphael Saadiq, has always been a private dude, so for decades, not much has been known about his past. There’s one fact he revealed in recent years, that most fans of the former Tony! Toni! Toné! lead singer never knew. He was once worked for the late, great Prince and when you see what Prince made him do, you will probably flip out…or at least lightly chuckle.

Raphael Saadiq On Working With Prince Back In The Day

In an interview with The Quietus, Raphael Saadiq revealed that at the age of 18 he auditioned to be Prince’s protege’ and also part of the band Prince created for Sheila E., during their “Parade Tour.” He was shocked when he made it, but didn’t let Prince know:

“I was taught by my dad not to look excited at the point Prince said my name. I played the bass guitar in my audition like Prince meant absolutely nothing to me,” [said Saadiq]. It worked, even if Prince’s non-standard take on masculinity would later come as a surprise.

Embed from Getty Images

What Prince Made Raphael Saadiq Do

The hilarious part is that Saadiq says in order to be in the band, he really had to become one of “The Blouses” that the late Charlie Murphy once spoke about in his infamous “Chappelle Show” skit. Check out what Saadiq said below…

“To be in the band you had to wear a ton of make-up, it was mandatory. You had to almost sign a contract to wear eyeliner, blusher and basically look like a girl. That Dave Chappelle skit was no joke, we literally were The Blouses!” After the shows with Prince, Saadiq would transform his appearance getting dressed back into a bomber jacket, Detroit Titans baseball cap and white T-shirt while rocking some 501s and Nike Quartet sneakers. “Prince liked that I dressed differently cos’ he could see I was my own person. I knew when I was playing ‘Erotic City’ in Yokohama, Japan, that my life had sort of changed.”

HILARIOUS! So that Charlie Murphy skit was exactly on point! Gotta love Prince..I tell, ya.’ Saadiq had more to say though…

Saadiq Not Fond Of Grammys, Nor Losing To Jennifer Hudson

Saadiq was also discussed the #GrammysSoWhite backlash the Grammy Awards received in recent years and why he chose to skip them. Not only did the talented musician and singer seemingly feel disrespected by losing to the less talented (comparison), Jennifer Hudson, in 2016, but he also agrees that the Grammy’s are out of touch with Black music.

“They’ve [The Grammy Awards] 100% lost their way and are out of touch. I remember The Way I See It lost to J-Hud at the Grammys! I wasn’t even surprised. If you have a day job and work in a corporate building then that’s who that show is for. Britney Spears won a Grammy before Steely Dan, that’s crazy!” Rather than ‘fix the Grammys’ as the likes of Kanye West have suggested, Saadiq says we should just let them die: “There’s no point sitting down and talking about it. All awards shows needs to get off TV and just die. Music would be much better if people didn’t make it for an award.”

Also when randomly asked about Donald Trump, Saadiq kept it real: “He is a comedian and a waste of time.”

These days, Raphael Saadiq is scoring several cable television series, including the hit HBO series, “Insecure,” starring Issa Rae. He’s also been in the studio working on FIRE music for true R&B music lovers to vibe to.

The post Raphael Saadiq Reveals Odd Demands Prince Forced Him To Do When He Was In His Band appeared first on I Love Old School Music.