Raphael Saadiq ft. Jay-Z – Oh Girl Remix(”The Way I See It,” Coming Soon)
Raphael Saadiq ft. Jay-Z – Oh Girl Remix(Props Nahright)
Info on the new album, “The Way I See It,” below.
In an era where any teenager with ProTools can compose an opus on his laptop, it is altogether rare to encounter a wholly live, sample-free, recording such as Raphael Saadiq’s THE WAY I SEE IT (due September 16th on Columbia Records). Particularly one that is a fully realized oeuvre; from the opening snare shots of “Sure Hope You Mean It” through the last string strains of the piece de resistance “Sometimes,” the artist takes us on a journey that is like a lush feature film, not a string of hackneyed trailers.
And his timing couldn’t be better. While plenty of ink has been spilled lauding various upstart ‘Queens of Retro-Soul’ from across the pond, Saadiq has lovingly synthesized the essence of the various regional scenes that underpin our best music – Motown, Stax, Chi-town, Philly – and seamlessly spliced in surprising aesthetic choices (an industrial vocal filter here, a Spanish vocalist there) that clearly earmark THE WAY I SEE IT as, literally, state of the art.
First single “Love That Girl” lays it down with a club-ready update of classic Temptations-era swing – right down to the impeccable strings and Saadiq’s clarion, falsetto vocals. In an album full of high points, “Never Give You Up” slays with its multi-generational line-up: the track includes Raphael’s musical protégé C.J., as well as the legendary Stevie Wonder on harmonica. And the quick-paced shuffle of “Big Easy” finds Saadiq longing for a child lost in Hurricane Katrina with classic honky tonk flair replete with overlapping horn solos.
The album’s inspiration was indeed global. “I was cooling out and surfing in Costa Rica and The Bahamas,” recounts Saadiq, “and ran into people from all kinds of places. I noticed everybody was listening to classic soul music. When I came back home the music for this album flowed organically, naturally. Since I have my own studio, I was able to perfect it, take my time to make it right. I was able to live with it, day after day and that had a lot to do with how the album turned out.”
Grammy-winning Joss Stone (with whom Raphael worked on the best-selling 2007 set INTRODUCING JOSS STONE) is a special guest on the song “Just One Kiss.” Says Raphael, “The track reminds me of early ’70s soul songs and getting Joss to sing on it wasn’t hard because she has a profound appreciation for great classic music.”
Saadiq’s innate musical facility – he learned to play guitar, drums and bass by the age of six, was singing with a professional gospel group at nine and toured with Prince and Sheila E. upon graduating from high school – goes a long way in explaining his ability to craft an album that will delight baby boomers and groovesters alike. Saadiq, founder of hybrid super group Lucy Pearl, member and producer of Tony! Toni! Toné!, as well as acclaimed producer of artists like Joss Stone, D’Angelo, Mary J. Blige, The Roots, Snoop Dogg, and John Legend – is a virtual one-man show. He wrote, produced, arranged and performed the flawless grooves (drums, bass and guitar) and effervescent vocals on every song. And it is that combination of elements that will make THE WAY I SEE IT the go-to album for any setting. A worthy follow-up to his 2002 solo debut INSTANT VINTAGE – the first independent release to receive five Grammy nominations – THE WAY I SEE IT sets a welcome new standard.
Tags: Raphael Saadiq
Suggestion Box
September 9th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
boring
September 9th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Sounds like some classic shit..Hov killed it
September 9th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I mean Jay is Raphael killed it
September 9th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
like the song minus jay
September 9th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Actually when Jay tries to sing is voice is really annoying…
September 9th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Song is jammin’
September 9th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
good shit… what the hell does he say? mamamicheal?
September 9th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
this worse than FAT JOE ON THE AUTOTUNE
September 9th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
this remix is poo… Probably the worst feature i can ever remember frm j z… And it sounds like they wer up in the bathroom recordin this shit, acoustics awful lol..
September 9th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
I’ll take everyones word for it cause I cant get past the 1st few bars of the singing. co-sign #8 even worse than uncle murda on that t-pain shit!
September 9th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
awwwww, he is so in love. this is a sweet song…there’s different sides to everyone. y’all don’t have to be hard all the time…
September 9th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
The song is hawt to me and JZ did his thing
September 9th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Different for Jay but i’m liking the collab with Saadiq.
September 9th, 2008 at 5:52 pm
Forget everyone on this Topic.
Jay-Z killed it, just because it’s not “the norm” doesn’t mean it’s not hot.
It’s called branching out, trying new things.
p.s. (Just Like kanYe on Love Lockdown)
September 9th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
that was a lil wierd but it wasnt that bad, it might take a few listens to get into jayz verse.
but rapheal saadiq is always outside the box and his music is always outta left field but i like it for some strange reason. his music was always different but needed. but jayz steppin out on a limb right there fuckin wit saadiq but it will grow on you, hopefully
September 9th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
If u don’t admit that that is the sickest flow ever ur hatin. GOAT
September 9th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Get it Jigga!
September 9th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Saadiq didnt even need Jay on this track. The song is sick without big homie.
September 9th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
I like this, jay is eh but The general vibe of the song is right up my alley!
keep fightin the fight Raph… hey lil Walter!!!
September 9th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
this shit has a ill vibe to it. hov and saadiq mesh well. the song is real hot. the only nigga i know that can rhyme about love and not sound like a bitch doing it is hov. that nigga put it out there.
September 9th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Damn, This Nigga Flow Sounds Good Over Any Beat Jay is Uh Beast ..This Shit Was On Point .I Wish it Was Longer .This That Soulful Music Right Here ..Somethin You Can Tune Out To .Definitely Got That Old School Vibe To it .Raphael Saadiq is That Nigga …Oh Yeah, Can Sunbody Post The Lyrics To Jay’s Verse.
September 9th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
lol… what happened to being able to hear the verse… why folks need lyrics posted nowaday?
September 9th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
I Couldn’t Understand Everything He Was Sayin ..
September 9th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
I like the fact that Raphael Saadiq brings back the good ol soul music from back in the day that my parents used to listen to when they were young. The motown sound is hot as hell and Raphael is a true soul artist. He definitely didn’t need jay on this track but Jay was still doing his thing.
Check out “I love that girl”. That song is dope as hell. If you like classic soul music then y’all need to pick up Raphael Saadiq’s new album
September 9th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
NOt jus you backlash its epidemic… worse is people post up the wrong lyrics cause they can’t tell what dudes is sayin either… lol @ whoever posted the “shofer, and willing myself” sh!t thinkin they postin Jay lyrics for some song…
Funnier thing is I was thinkin jay soundin all incoherent like lil wayne now…smh!
September 9th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
the only nigga i know that can rhyme about love and not sound like a bitch doing it is hov. that nigga put it out there
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
GhostfaceKillah is just as good. I’d say he’s even better!!!
September 9th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Hot Shit
September 9th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
and i mean that in a good way
September 9th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Saadiq is the truth a real soul brotha. I wish R.Kelly would change his music in this direction more often then we would get more beautiful songs like “If I could turn back the hands of time” (Yes that’s R.Kelly’s best song and one of the best song EVER)
September 9th, 2008 at 9:07 pm
@ #26 Mike, There are plenty more too but thats a great example. Wild flower and Camay come to mind.. I miss bangin that sh!t out the dorm room…lmao!
September 9th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
i feelin it
hov havin a good time with this
September 9th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
He basiclly talkin about Bee, nd he murdered the track on some true story.. look at the metaphore he used to describe how he used to think of the girl as to get it nd go from a drive thru.. Hov GOAT
Oh Girl, uh Oh Girl
You’re so thorough I want you in my world
you know I’m liable to spiral
no telling what I would do
when left alone with my maniacal mind my my boo
you chauffered hova to the place that I’ve arrived to
you know I used to answer you
get it to go like a drive thru
Until that day you said
close your eyes let me ride you
(Let me ride you)
drove me insane with your ride too.
Nice move, maestro, you can cue the wedding march.
I’m done I tried to run but cupid hit me dead and hard.
How ironc arrows hit me
you know I’m a Sag[ittarius],
hurt me so good that you love me so bad
September 9th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
@ 2CENTS
You KNOW IM FEELING THIS ONE BIG HOMIE. THIS JOINT WOULD BE FIRE WITH OUT HOV.
September 9th, 2008 at 11:35 pm
Hov ain’t kill it (as in f up the whole song) but I ain’t goin as far as some of these folks talkin bout he the only one who can spit about a woman.. Without soundin some way!
And he made the song hot or him and saadiq are like the new new cause they mesh so well… They mesh about as well as hov did wit dead prez… lol!
Saadiq mos def could have left the song alone though! Like most remixes nowadays.. they rarely improve the quality of the song or increase the scope of who may listen! Which defeats the purpose IMO!!!
September 9th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Good Lookin@#32 ..But Chea That Nigga Killed It ..Lol I’ve Listened To The Song About Eight Times Now.
September 9th, 2008 at 11:48 pm
HOV VERSE:
Oh Girl,Uh, Oh Girl/
Ur so thorough, I want u in my world/
U kno i’m liable to spiral, no tellin wat I would do/
When left alone with my miniacle mamma, my boo/
U shoufured Hova to the place that I’ve arrived to/
U kno I used to ask of u, get it and go like a drive through/
Untill that day u said close ur eyes let me ride u (let me ride u)/
Drove me insane wit ur eye too/
Nice move, maestro, u can que the wedding march/
I’m done, I tried to run but cupid hit me dead in heart/
How ironic arrows hit me u kno i’ma saag/
Hurt me so good how u love me so bad, oh girl/
September 9th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
p.s. reminds me of the verse from frontin…
Raphael Saadiq is a beast though Billy blanks prolly couldn’t have messed this up! I think X’s extra aggresive azz woulda still held it down…lmao!
September 10th, 2008 at 12:15 am
lol #32 and 36 need to figure out who’s right.. if either! Minus the spelling errors I’m rollin with MAS…
September 10th, 2008 at 12:20 am
definetly reminds me of “frontin” from pharrell
its ill how jayz kinda bagged his wifey thru lyrics on songs, he got at her on missy elliott “one minute man”,and “frontin”.
and dont forget jadakiss, imo he’s the best at spittin ill verses on love songs, he got that locked down.
September 10th, 2008 at 12:51 am
Lol@2 Cents .Worddd .I’m Confused Now ..Two Different Verses.
September 10th, 2008 at 12:53 am
@ County… He was already with her for a while when those songs came out from what I remember though so was he really baggin her with those lyrics? But I feel you it and those were some of his best versus IMO. Plus good lookin for addin another good MC at the smooth sh!t dudes would say jigga is the best at rock too if they could!
Sh!t prolly have…lol!
September 10th, 2008 at 1:19 am
I love that song! It’s incredible! I hope that will be a single
September 10th, 2008 at 7:39 am
Only Adults can really appericate shit like this.
Hov is that dude.
September 10th, 2008 at 11:43 am
Hov wasn’t needed (because this is Raphael Saadiq we’re talking about), but he definitely came correct on here. Beyonce got that boy sprung something serious!
September 11th, 2008 at 10:02 am
I had to come back and say TRASH JAY -Z
November 20th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
This song is an instant classic. Everything Jay touches turns to gold. that’s trill.