Raphael Saadiq has spent decades shaping the sound of R&B, but his latest achievement arrives in another space, the movies. The Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and producer played a key role in creating “I Lied To You,” the standout track from the history-making film Sinners, a song that has quickly become one of the most talked-about moments tied to the project. Blending blues roots with gospel tradition and adding a contemporary twist, the record highlights Saadiq’s ability to create, regardless of genre.
The creation of “I Lied To You” came to be due to a longstanding connection. Through director Ryan Coogler, Saadiq joined composer Ludwig Göransson in shaping a song that would visualize the history and connection of Black music. For Saadiq, the process felt familiar. “Every album I’ve ever made, there’s been a theme to it,” he said. “If you look at my career, all my records had titles like The Revival, Ray Ray or Jimmy Lee, and I also grew up around a lot of artistry where the records had themes. So, film really lends itself to my process.”
In the months that followed its release, the song earned an Academy Award nomination, adding to a long list of milestones in a career that stretches from early work with Prince to the success of Tony! Toni! Toné! and Lucy Pearl, and production credits on era-defining albums by artists including Beyoncé, Solange Knowles, and D’Angelo. Recently, Saadiq also took the stage at the Grammys as part of a tribute performance honoring D’Angelo alongside Lauryn Hill and other peers, another reminder of how central he remains to conversations about Black music and its evolution.
Despite the accolades, Saadiq approaches the moment with perspective shaped long before the spotlight. “I tell people all the time, that when you become famous, don’t stop doing all the things that you need to do,” he said. “My mom was always neighborly and I never wanted to lose that because of some success. I never want to imprison myself because of success.”
In conversation with ESSENCE, Saadiq opens up about building music for film, honoring the lineage of Black sound, staying creative, and why gratitude plays such an important part in this new chapter of his life and career.
ESSENCE: Congratulations on the Oscar nomination for “I Lied To You.” How did you connect with Ludwig Göransson on this record?
Raphael Saadiq: I connected through Ryan Coogler. So me and Ryan are both from Oakland. At the time, we had never met in person, but later we met through his brother—who is an artist, and I actually did some music for his brother’s project—so we kind of knew each other from that. And my late great brother, D’Wayne Wiggins, he and Ryan’s dad were friends too, because they grew up together. So, one day I got a phone call from Ryan and Ludwig, and they pitched me the script, and we took it from there.
With “I Lied To You” being nominated for an Academy Award this year, what does that recognition mean to you at this stage of your career?
Honored, to answer your question. I think the Academy’s goal too, is that they want to work with people that really love what they do, too. They want you to be a creative person and make some more history for the Academy, and it gives the Academy more legs for people to be very creative and give the next generation after us, to give them some legs to be creative too. So, just to know that I’m part of a cast with so many nominations too. It feels great.
What do you think about your role in carrying the legacy of black music forward?
As far as black music—I am black music. I’m not retro, either. I grew up in it. My first record ever I ever played was “The Thrill is Gone” by the late, great B.B. King. So I just feel like I’m a part of that tree and I’m like a branch, or a vessel. I’m just adding on to some of the things that were given to us by the legends, and I’m just so excited to be able to carry it more into the future, what was already laid out for me.
How has your perspective on songwriting has evolved today from the time you started?
I’ve been able to pinpoint some good things about my writing, and also some things that I could improve on by working with different artists, both younger and older. I’ve always kept my eyes open, kept my ears open, and listened to a lot of different music. So, I think my writing has evolved a lot and I still think there’s a lot of room for growth, but that’s what keeps it fun. I grew up listening to The Ohio Players, The Whispers, The Stylistics; then R&B and the Blues. There was always Lightnin’ Hopkins, Jimmy Reed, T-Bone Walker and Lil Walter. The first song I ever wrote was called “Lil Walter.” So I just think the more reps you get in, the more jump shots you get up and practice, you just get better. And I’ve always believed how athletes work is how you should work as a musician. You should try to practice as much as you can and be around good players, good people, and you can evolve into something you didn’t even imagine.
You’ve been relevant in the music industry for four decades, which is amazing, especially nowadays. What would you attribute your longevity to?
I would attribute it to growing up in Oakland, listening to so many different styles of music, from Latin music to funk to jazz, African music, and so many different types of artistry from African modern dance. You see people playing percussion in the middle of the park, African Liberation Day, tap dancing. I would attribute it to me watching creative people, and knowing that I wanted to be a part of the creative process; it kept the fuel burning in my soul.
You were a part of the beautiful tribute to Roberta Flack and D’Angelo during the Grammy Awards this year. What did that moment represent for you personally and music?
I have much respect for Roberta Flack and my brother, my good friend who I love dearly, Michael Archer, who many people know as D’Angelo. I was there because of him and it was beautiful to honor him and to be up there with so many great artists, especially Ms. Lauryn Hill, who is amazing.
But other than that, it was beautiful to have all those artists on the stage and to feel the power that we felt coming together to represent Roberta Flack and D’Angelo, who we lost too soon. It’s probably one of the most beautiful performances I’ve done in my life.
How did you feel about the Grammys Awards overall this year? I feel like sometimes they have been a little tone deaf, but I feel like they kind of got it right this year.
I’ve felt like they’ve been trying to get it right. Harvey Mason, Jr., he’s working real hard to pull it together. It was burning down, so he had a lot to fix, and I think he’s on his way to fixing it. This year, I thought some of the performances were really good. I really liked Justin Bieber’s performance, and seeing great performers like Lauryn Hill, Raphael, Anthony Hamilton, John Legend, Lucky Daye, Leon Thomas, it was beautiful. For everybody to be in the same room so they can actually feel the power of what my generation did, it was good for the audience to see, and for us to experience.
You listed a few artists just now. How do you feel about today’s generation, and the next generation of the R&B genre?
I feel like the future is bright. Today, there are so many artists that really want to sing, and I think now that they have more power to get out on their own without labels. As time goes on, I think we’ll hear more of the people who really believe in what they are doing. A lot of the mumble rap that came out, I don’t really believe those kids really wanted to do that. I think somebody just told them, Mumble, and don’t worry about it. We’re just going to get these bots to work your streams. I don’t believe they really want to do that. Not black kids, atleast, they’re too creative.
With all of your recent success—Grammy Awards, an Academy Award nomination, etc.—this feels like a major chapter in your already legendary career. Have you been able to reflect on this moment that you’re in right now?
I really just started to reflect last week, because I’ve been doing a lot of different events, and have to get ready to go on these red carpets and other things. I don’t know how people like John Legend, who is my good friend, can live like that. I like to be inside doing regular stuff. But, I have reflected on it and I feel very honored to be around such a good cast of people like Ryan, Ludwig, and Michael B. Jordan. He’s been working since he was a kid, so for him to pull off those two characters like that, it was amazing. My favorite song is “Smokestack Lightning,” so when the characters were named Smoke and Stack, I was lit.
Right.
I’m a part of this legendary Black film that’s going to go down in history with the most nominations. So, I have reflected on it, and my reflection is that my hard work didn’t go in vain. I’ve never stopped loving music, and I’m never going to stop loving music. Nothing can come in between that.