Record Label: Columbia Records
Featured Artists: Jay-Z, Joss Stone, Stevie Wonder
Article by: Serge Fleury
But while rubbing elbows with some of soul’s elite, he’s never lost focus when it came to releasing his own projects, and now he returns with his fourth album in six years, The Way I See It. The album itself is a throwback to the days of the vintage Motown sound, with artists like England’s Joss Stone, Stevie Wonder, and Jay-Z lending a helping hand. Those who weren’t born during that time period which basically manufactured every Hip-Hop beat used today, should still be able to appreciate offerings like, ‘Sure Hope You Mean It,’ ‘100 Yard Dash,’ and ‘Staying In Love.’ The narrative sounds of ‘Sometimes’ will give classic music lovers the feel of Sam Cooke, while ‘Never Give You Up’ featuring Stevie Wonder helps to bridge two musical talents together with Stevie Wonder brandishing the harmonica that made him a legend. If you’re interested in listening to music that sounds like it’s from a different age, then The Way I See It is the perfect album for you, as the 20-year music veteran does a brilliant job at bringing something different to a table that’s usually filled with the same meal from end to end.
The name Charlie Wiggins might not ring a bell to you, but the name Raphael Saadiq should, because these people are one in the same. Fully adopting the stage moniker of “Raphael Saadiq” back in the mid-90’s, the former Tony! Toni! Toné! and Lucy Pearl member has collaborated with some of the biggest names in R&B like Whitney Houston, D’Angelo, The Isley Brothers, and Mary J. Blige just to name a few.
Jay-Z playfully tries his hand at singing, but quickly goes back to his bread and butter on ‘Oh Girl,’ and lets Mr. Saadiq handle the crooning duties; but that doesn’t stop the God MC from wailing out adlibs in the background. Raphael Saadiq and Joss Stone briefly share each other’s lips on ‘Just One Kiss.’ During the 2:32 time limit, the two soul experts discuss how they felt when that intimate moment was upon them.