RAPHAEL SAADIQ “The Way I See It” -Album Review

RAPHAEL SAADIQ
Columbia Records
The Way I See It

☆  ☆ ½

Though he’s often labeled as a singer, songwriter, musician, producer and arranger, Raphael Saadiq is talented period. In the late eighties/early nineties this California native was the lead vocalist and bass player for one of the number one groups in America; Tony! Toni! Tone! While it’s obvious that most of Raphael’s charm lies in his production skills, this award winning producer has produced hits for such artists as Joss Stone, The Roots, Snoop Dogg, John Legend, Keisha Cole and many others. He was also the same person who created the “super group” Lucy Pearl, with En Vogue’s Dawn Robinson and A Tribe Called Quest’s Ali Shaheed Muhammad.

Now, after four years and on his third solo album and first for Sony BMG, Raphael Saadiq said that The Way I See It” is “the culmination of a lifetime of experiences informed by the music I grew up on.” It took him four months to record the album in his LA studio. His inspiration to make this album you ask? Well, it came while he was vacationing in Costa Rica and the Bahamas; he noticed that everybody was listening to classic 60’s and 70’s soul music and when he had gotten back home “the music for this album flowed organically, naturally.”

Check out “Staying In Love,” his ode to his ex-lover: “You know I love/the way you hold my heart/I tell all the girls don’t even try.” You can also catch Joss Stone on :Just One Kiss,” And on “Let’s Take A Walk” he embraces his freaky side: “This place is crowded/Don’t know bout’ you/I need some sex/Some sex with you…” 

“The Way I See It” hits stores September 16th

Jean Grae “Jeanius” -Album Review

Jean Grae
Jeanius
Black Smith Music
 ☆  ☆  ☆  ☆

Five years after her head-turning EP “The Bootleg of the Bootleg EP”, and months of rumours of early retirnment this New York rapper shows us that she is definitely not going anywhere. Jean Grae’s fourth full-length album and second Blacksmith Music release “Jeanius” demands attention. With her protean skills and on point lyrics Grae has helped make Blacksmith Records one of the most respected labels out there. To be released July 8th ‘Jeanius’ is no doubt Grae’s most anticipated album.

Midway though her fourth album, Grae claims that she know’s that she’s “on the right path to who I’m gonna be at last,” a sensible thing to boast, since she’s spitting fiercely thought the whole album. While songs like “#8” and “American Pimp” doubles the pleasure of Grae’s previous releases, it’s the vivid images in “My Story” about a personal subject matter that gets you thinking. And singles like ‘Love Thirst,’ (the lead single) captures Jeans’ uncanny word play with an intimate twist.

Jean has once again proved just how underrated she is.