Nothing in the world replaces “feel good” music. You know, that type of stuff to hit your eardrums that’ll have you two stepping with your lady, losing all track of time in the process. For those not in the know, Raphael Saadiq specializes in said brand of tunes and his new video “Movin’ Down The Line” is the latest example. Read the rest of this entry »

This is the what you call a period piece. Shot through a retro lens and full of dated designer clothing on scantily-clad young ladies, the vintage visual to Raphael Saadiq’s “Stone Rollin” is a voyage back to when dope shows weren’t announced on Facebook and only the cool crowd came. As far as the song itself goes, this title track to the album is a three-minute slice of throwback soul, which could easily slide into my dad’s storied, Rock & Blues record collection and not miss beat. Read the rest of this entry »

Ask any person who was around during the glory days of Berry Gordy’s Motown and watch their smile upon reminiscing on The Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and countless other legends. Having that much talent under one roof is still one of the greatest – if not the greatest – feat in modern American music history. Anywho, that sound has long since left the landscape with no real hope for its resurrection. Read the rest of this entry »

Love is some scary, scary sh!t, man.

You wait your entire life to meet someone who complements you in the best way possible. You find that person and Like turns to a Lust that morphs Infatuation, thus spawning Love. That love sometimes leads to marriage and – God-willing – you get to spend the rest of your life with a person you couldn’t imagine living without. Beautiful stuff. Read the rest of this entry »

Although the words “donate,” “Haiti” and “help” are no longer on the tip of every newscaster’s tongue across the planet, the crisis that left the Caribbean country in ruins is still an ongoing ordeal. There’s plenty of charities and movements out there for every able participant to contribute to in some form or fashion, and tonight unveiled the regurgitation of one the most popular ones ever created. Read the rest of this entry »

Ray Ray’s music stays in rotation Chez Contra™ because not only does the man make good music, he has good sense. Case in point, the above song and video. Let Ralph tell it, maintaining the spark in a relationship is far from easy. Few are blessed to have found that perfect pairing in their lives. But like all rare things, good relationships require a lot of maintenance.

Hump Day music fam.

[Via]

*shrugs shoulders*

I don’t know what this is about. The release notes (“This is a warm-up mixtape to what will hopefully be an amazing album from them…”) weren’t all that helpful nor did they make me believe a Higher Power is going to bring this triumvirate Read the rest of this entry »

“Let me show you what you’re missing everyday.”

Male singers, like most modern musicians, have lost their way, and therefore their appeal. Like a wise lady I know pointed out, there was a time when singers would beg, in the most intimate and humble of fashions, to be given a chance to prove to the lady what he was. These days, we’ve reverted back to our caveman-esque nature of brashly beating the point across and telling the girl exactly what to do, profanity and lack of subtlety included. Read the rest of this entry »

New vintage. Old exclusive. Only Saadiq pulls these oxymorons off with such perspicuity. Read the rest of this entry »

Words By K1NG

It’s a shame when albums go slept on by the masses and only gets its shine on the blog circuit and other internet outlets, but what’s even worse is when an amazing artist gets left out of critical mentions by both blogs and mainstream media alike. I don’t know why it took so long to speak on this album, however I figure that it’s better to be late speaking on it rather than never speaking on it.

Raphael Saadiq has been around the music business for twenty years, starting off with his work as a member of Tony! Toni! Toné! and has been making quality music ever since. His newest addition to his catalogue, The Way I See It, doesn’t break that trend of substantial musical output, providing water for the dry well of male R&B with a splash of creative energy that hopefully will continue to flow in the coming years. Read the rest of this entry »

Raphael Saadiq is pretty much the epitome of what we stand for @ TSS. Read the rest of this entry »