Ross, because shes from the projects and I can hear it in her music, but its mixed with the most beautiful orchestral strings and some of the best, prolific songwriting that crossed oceans. (Kyle Gustafson/for The Washington Post) Singer-songwriter-producer Raphael Saadiq's evolution into a virtuosic artist has been nothing short . Toni! I kept telling Quik that it was okay, but every time we got back with our lawyers they kept telling Quik that the band said no. While hes talking about a few people on the songs, a lot of it relates to me. Music from The Way I See It was featured in the following motion pictures: Madea Goes To Jail, Bride Wars, Cadillac Records, Secret Life of Bees, In Fighting (Rogue), and It's Complicated. Would you and the active and former band members of Tony! I never could have sold dope, Saadiq said. The same could be said for Saadiq himself, who at 51 is as active and as detail-minded as hes been at any point in the three decades since he got his start backing Prince and Sheila E. on tour in the mid-1980s. Hear Saadiq perform live in concert from WXPN in Philadelphia. Ill have one idea, but then Ill be eating breakfast and Ill hear something by the Jackson 5, he said. Raphael Saadiq My mission has always been to do something that suits everybody. Toni! In 2002, Saadiq founded his own record label, Pookie Entertainment. So, I think Im a great decision maker. But I was definitely singing about him., This fall Saadiq is focused on completing his album, which he says will represent a shift from the tidy Motown pastiche of The Way I See It and Stone Rollin.. Raphael Saadiq Raphael Saadiq is virtually immortal, and we're not only talking about his youthful features either. Raphael Saadiq 's latest album Jimmy Lee is finally upon us and it's possibly one of the most thought-provoking records released this year. R&B. Ton! Raphael Saadiqs new album, Jimmy Lee, explores his personal history like never before. But from his time with the band he affectionately calls The Tonys up through his solo career four albums between 2002 and 2011, each more joyous, and consummately crafted than the last hes always prioritized hooks and concision over self-expression. Same as Minnie Riperton, she left with a short career and she left a lot on the table. is a remix of Every Time I Close My Eyes by Babyface feat. In December 2011, he performed a cover compilation of several Neil Diamond songs at the Kennedy Center Honors award ceremony. Alot of musicians struggle now because they want to walk around and look like their friends and you just cant walk around and look like your friends if you want to stand out. Ton But then everybody would call me: This broke me!, But its really not the song its the girls. Toni! I didnt think it was just producing. We didnt know what to do, he said. He just said, Yo, follow me, Muhammad said. And it allows you to go other places, to explore different types of music. . Its like Im playing basketball, he continued as songs by Stereolab and Rufus Wainwright played in the background. None of this has ever been a secret. Saadiq has been playing music since the age of six. (He had become Raphael on an audition to play in Sheila Es live band in the mid-80s.) Also, he was told an executive at PolyGram asked: Who wants to hear an artist named Raphael Wiggins?. Play some stuff, have the fans ask some questions, and do some really cool things where people will get to know us and talk about the friendship and respect we all have for one another. He eventually branched out as a solo artist, and in recent years has drawn in a new audience in. Ton!, Raphael Saadiq has been a singer of doubt, of psychic wounds, of romance undergoing a test. In 2009, Saadiq produced "Please Stay" and "Love Never Changes" for Ledisi's August 2009 release "Turn Me Loose". Raphael Saadiq has been a mainstay in music for more than three decades and his influence on Black music and culture continues to transcend generational gaps. Tone in 97 and the band arrangements they have now, theyre still the ones I made probably in the [early] 90s and they never changed them. Sometimes when I get up in the morning I want a chocolate chip cookie and some coffee. Or at least thats what he envisions right now. In 2022, Saadiq was credited as a collaborator on multiple songs from Brent Faiyaz's album Wasteland, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart. Dont Miss A Story. It wasnt Saadiqs plan to make a concept album, let alone one that digs into stories this personal. Ton! Every year, Congress invites the President to provide an address on the state of the nation. But in addition to the racks of keyboards and the leopard-print bass just some of the gear this veteran R&B artist uses to create his music two classic cars were parked in the high-ceilinged space on a recent afternoon: a vintage gold Mustang and a wood-paneled Ford station wagon that mightve rolled straight off the set of The Brady Bunch.. Discover all Raphael Saadiq's music connections, watch videos, listen to music, discuss and download. For me to title my album Jimmy Lee people in my family will wonder, Why him, Saadiq said. Ive seen dudes wreck their cars into buildings over my sisters. [26], In 2017, Saadiq collaborated with Mary J. Blige as a songwriter for the movie Mudbound (2017), for which they both received Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song.[27]. With all of them he's pushed a classic aesthetic, heavy on organic sounds and light on studio magic, deeply indebted to the past and distrustful of easy formulas."[15]. R&B Legend Raphael Saadiq Lived Through Tragic Deaths of 4 Siblings How He Overcame the Heartbreak By Christell Fatima M. Tudtud Aug 04, 2021 06:20 A.M. Share Raphael Saadiq had a painful past marked by the tragic deaths of his four siblings. Babyface). Despite reaching the pinnacle of success, Saadiq seems to have no plans of settling down. A cop was chasing some kid through a residential neighborhood, and the kid killed her when he ran into her car., SO WHAT IS THIS? when he got the news that she had been killed; he walked back into the studio and sang It Never Rains (in Southern California), a yearning long-distance love ballad that would top the Billboard R&B singles charts in the fall of 1990. In 2009, Saadiq teamed up Bentley Kyle Evans, Jeff Franklin, Martin Lawrence, and Trenten Gumbs to create a new sitcom called Love That Girl! I'll Always Love My Mama by The Intruders (1973) was sampled in. for help. We were supposed to do three songs with Quik but the rest of the band didnt feel like they wanted to give Quik that much money. Were very creative people because urban artists its hard for us to just stick to one thing [and] its hard for me to stick to one style of music. At age 9, he became the bassist of his uncle Elijah Bakers group, the Gospel Hummingbirds, and carried a stack of business cards identifying himself as such. So I understand the creative forces that make the culture move so fast. Raphael Saadiq (born Charlie Ray Wiggins on May 14, 1966 in Oakland, California) is an acclaimed American music artist. New Release. Raphael Saadiq, Soundtrack: Mudbound. As the former band singer branched off into acting, Saadiq, whose real name is Charlie Ray Wiggins, appeared in a number of iconic movies, including "Brown Sugar" and "Abduction" in 2011; and "Mudbound" in 2017. After leaving the band in 1997, helaunchedwhat would becomean accomplished solo careerwithfour albums and 15 Grammy nominations,including a victoryfor writing on Erykah Badu and Commons Love Of My Life. He also appeared on other soundtracks like Boyz In The Hood, Luke Cage, and Mudbound, earning an Academy Award nomination for the latter with his collaboration as a songwriter with Mary J. Blige and Taura Stinson, Mighty River.. My brother joined our band. I dont think he gets credited enough. Toni! Ton! Then another brother ODd on heroin. Ton! 24 Was fantasia in color? In 1999, Saadiq's next big project became the R&B supergroup Lucy Pearl. He's an American singer, bassist, songwriter and record producer in the R&B/soul traditions. Before Jimmy, his other three older siblings died one after the other, leaving the R&B icon scarred and broken. In addition to his solo and group career, he has also produced songs for such artists as Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Stevie Wonder, Joss Stone, D'Angelo, TLC, En Vogue, Kelis . Ton;! through his work for Solange and Mary J. Blige, hes hesitated to bring his personal history into his music. And then at that time, I didnt know what rapid meant so I looked at my dad and said, Im gonna walk the other way. He couldnt control himself but now that hes been gone for over 12 years, I thought about his addiction and I dedicated my album to him called Jimmy Lee. Three years after Desmond's death, Saadiq's sister, Sarah, died in a car accident after a police chase. Kenny G Remixer credit: Raphael Saadiq. Saadiq said he wont truly know what the album is like until hes done working on it and these days hes enjoying a break from the unforgiving deadlines imposed by TV. 67. Love That Girl Raphael Saadiq 7. Randy Chrisley Is Todd Chrisley's Brother Who Was Diagnosed with Cancer in 2014, Johnny Depp's Weight Gain & Changes in Appearance over the Years, 'Whos the Boss? I did it to kinda show people that you can have some real tough things happen in your life, he said. But $hort was in the house so I brought $hort on stage to do a song and he was like, What you wanna play? and I said, Freaky Tales. Now we looked at all of these women, hundreds of women all dressed up and he said, Are you out your fucking mind? I was playing bass on it, I took the bass from by bass player. I sort of miss that era, so sometimes you want to create something that everybody can get into. I like to pick my punches, when I want to hit you at., Ive always been making music for me. 2023 Vibe Media, LLC. Its more responsibility, which I was willing to take on. He started playing bass at the age of six, taught by an older brother among a dozen other siblings in a blended family and received additional tutelage from some of the fellow budding musicians in . The band that accompanied the performance was Saadiq's touring band called Stone Rollin. It ain't even a contest. Ive seen some of the craziest stuff when I was 9 and 10, straight up fights in the streets, swinging. Since you all were coming up around that same time during the late 80s, early 90s, whats one of your favorite memories with Too $hort? He produced a few solo tracks, but Saadiqs next big project became the R&B supergroup Lucy Pearl. I think thats what vision is about, and a lot of people are scared to take those risks. Dude is so whacked I don't even no where to begin. It was the most personal album he had ever recorded. We only ended up doing one song, which the price wasnt bad for three songs. The Oakland native, born Charles Ray Wiggins, was engrossed in music as a child. We dont have any upcoming events for this artist right now. I like Daniel Caesar, PJ Morton, SZApeople are really trying to do it. Saadiq had the crowd at their heels with classic duet staples in his catalog like You Should Be Here and Lucy Pearls Dance Tonight, and even a few songs he wrote like Solanges Cranes In The Sky, Erykah Badus Love Of My Life,and DAngelos How Does It Feel., Saadiq has been a staple in R&B music and black soundtracks since the late 80s as a lead vocalist/bassist for the groundbreaking 90s R&B band Tony! After returning to Oakland from touring with Prince, Saadiq began his professional career as the lead vocalist and bassist in the rhythm and blues and dance trio Tony! Stevie Wonder & CJ] 6. see 9 more connections. My dad was the kind of dude to say, Man, go get your work done, he said. I think from here on out going forward, theres going to be a massive wave of R&B artists coming out. Toni! Asked if he drove the vehicles or if they were just there to look pretty, Saadiq scoffed. He was sitting in a control room at his studio, Blakeslee Recording, surrounded by totems of the past a trophy from the first talent show he won at Elmhurst Junior High in Oakland, Calif., an Amy Winehouse prayer candle and enough vintage guitars to stock three pawnshops. Brian McKnight might have an edge on Saadiq. Im my own best bet. That first funeral was for his older brother Alvie Wiggins, who was murdered in 1973 in a dispute with a family member. The album title is a reference to everything I couldnt name it after all of them, he said, but Saadiq himself is a newly raw and vulnerable presence too. Currently, Raphael Saadiq is 56 years, 8 months and 6 days old. Raphael Saadiq (born Charlie Ray Wiggins on May 14, 1966 in Oakland, California) is an acclaimed American music artist. And if hes not busy enough, hes still handling the vibrant, eclectic sounds for the third season of Issa Raes Insecure on HBO. My sister was a singer who sang blues. Ask of You by Raphael Saadiq. I go back there, and you hear people say different things about the Bay, but the Bay is a real special place. Instant Vintage prior to his performance in Chicago to talk about his experiences performing for over 30 years, the revival of R&B, Tony!, Toni!, Tone!, classic hip-hop stories and the Bay Areas influence, and much more. Solange, Issa RaeI learned more from watching Insecure more than anything because you hear the beeline conversations that you dont hear when you talk to a girl one-on-one. How Princes Revolution reformed and why his legacy might be in trouble. His solo album Instant Vintage, released in 2002, also earned 5 Grammy nominations. We were in huge venues with the biggest sound systems in the world; all these roadies throwin' me basses, and a bunch of models hangin' round Prince to party. [14] D'Angelo's album Voodoo won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 2001 Grammy Awards. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. He is a singer, songwriter and record producer associated with the neo-soul music movement. In truth, Saadiqs reemergence feels well timed to a moment when his signature blend of live instruments and mechanized grooves seems to be echoing in music by adventurous young R&B acts like Blood Orange and the Los Angeles-based King (both of which will join Solange for a show at the Bowl on Sept. 24). I feel like if youre a musician, you should be able to do everything, he said. Toni! The Blakeslee Recording founder and his R&B band enjoyed massive fame in the middle of 1990. [13] The song was ranked #4 on Rolling Stone's "End of Year Critics & Readers Poll" of the top singles of 2000. To me, its flattering because you want people to be able to try to do what youre doing. thesexofit. Raphael Saadiq will celebrate 57rd birthday on a Sunday 14th of May 2023. . Raphael Saadiq is back with his first album in eight years, so we went deep with him on Solange, Joss Stone, Lucy Pearl, D'Angelo, Tony! The Oakland, California native left the band in late 1990, pursued a solo career, and eventually started appearing in several films. why babyface,rahsaan patterson,and raphael saadiq sounds so similar when they sing?who's a better singer,songwriter,producer in ur opinion? They love you and you cant do nothing wrong by them, but you have to make sure youre taking care of the Bay. Tony! . Toni! They dont have to fight for publicity, their music speaks for themselves. Raphael Saadiq attends the 90th Annual Academy Awards Nominee Luncheon at The Beverly Hilton Hotel February 5, 2018 in California. from Higher Learning: Music From The Motion Picture. At the audition, he chose the name "Raphael", and had difficulty remembering to respond to the name when he heard that he got the part to play bass in the band. It featured a variety of musical stars He also dedicated his "Jimmy Lee" album to those who experienced the same grief as him. Sometimes I would experiment with little things like marijuana, but thats as far as it ever went. VIBE: Whats the difference between performing as a solo artist and performing as a band member? Ill bet on me all the time.. "[5], He has been playing the bass guitar since the age of six,[6] and first began singing at age nine in a local gospel group. Im my own best bet. Looks like a bunch of light and cameras set up in front of family and groupies. In fall 2011, he performed on the fourth results show of Dancing with the Stars season 13. My nephew Trey is $horts DJ. He is a singer, songwriter and record producer associated with the ne read more Features Raphael Saadiq (/sdik/; born Charles Ray Wiggins; May 14, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. As a producer, hes pulled concise statements out of performers who often default to the diffuse, such as DAngelo (Lady and Untitled [How Does It Feel]) and Solange (Cranes in the Sky.) But as one of relatively few major figures of the hip-hop age who grew up playing in bands, hes just as adroit at leading from behind as a sideman, steering Mary J. Blige to an Oscar nomination (for Mighty River, from Mudbound) or playing bass behind Mick Jagger on a Grammy salute to Solomon Burke. In a 2019 CBS interview, Saadiq shared that he named his album after his late brother Jimmy Lee, who died in 1990 due to a heroin overdose. So, whats an example of how decision-making played a role in the quality of your performances as a band member? As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. *In the late 1980s, Raphael Saadiq was the lead vocalist of the R&B group Tony! [29][30] Saadiq also collaborated with Beyonc on her seventh studio album Renaissance for which he received two Grammy award nominations. He started playing a bass line and singing just humming, freestyling like a rapper. As far as black women in music, Im a huge MinnieRipertonfan and thats probably my favorite all time artist, Ms. Minnie Riperton and Diana Ross. Sometimes when youre in a band, theres too many decision makers and its okay to have two or three different decision makers and everybody can make great decisions. "I've never been late for an album, and I've. Other artists he has collaborated with include The Roots, Macy Gray, Snoop Dogg, Kelis, Q-Tip and Young Bellz. In 2009, he released the song "The Way I See It." Raphael Saadiq had a painful past marked by the tragic deaths of his four siblings. | Photo: Getty Images. Then I started thinking about the lyrics and was like oh, thats why he aint want to sing it, and we both started laughing. Randy sang with Alvie in talent shows but never pursued music professionally, and is now retired after a long career with Kilpatricks Bakeries in Oakland. Saadiq, who describes himself as an observant kid, explained that witnessing his brothers' unfortunate lives forced him to consider his future and the decisions he makes carefully. But if someone makes bad decisions, then its not cool. Raphael Saadiq It's the adrenaline rush you only get from being in front of an audience. With their swinging tempos and crisp textures, those albums caused many to regard Saadiq as a strict revivalist, especially given the period clothes he favored at the time. . ami puffy friends forever; john finnis' natural law quotes We dont truly get it, but you look at E-40 whos a pioneer of hip-hop on the West Coast, hes one of the best out. That was one of my favorite memories with him. Is Dave Hollister related to KC and JoJo? Saadiq's most famous track was the song "Sons of Soul." Rob Bacon] 3. He said, thats what Im talking about. So it was the indirect things people would say to me that would tell me not to be like this person. It is typically the most watched presidential speech of the year and provides an opportunity for the president to How to Prepare for Miscarriage (Ep. Theres Stevie, theres Michael, theres Marvin and then theres DAngelo, Muhammad remembered him saying. How has the Bay Area influenced your writing? Roni! Ton! Babyface Produced By Raphael Saadiq Written By Taura Stinson, Raphael Saadiq & WU10 Mixing Engineer Danny Romero (Engineer) Mastering Engineer Kris Solem Label Pookie Entertainment. 0. Later he wrote and recorded songs with Tribes Q-Tip and the R&B star DAngelo before moving south to L.A. and releasing his solo debut in 2002. in the early '90s, through his . So, I was a great listener. The show airs on TV One and debuted on January 19, 2010. We dont know who they are, but I can just feel the vibration happening all over Europe and back this way. If the Bay loves you, then they love you. It's just the truest sound you could ever get". In 2016 he executive produced Solange Knowles' album, A Seat At The Table, which debuted at number 1 on music charts[specify] in the United States. But Saadiq also sought out the Queens rappers A Tribe Called Quest and quizzed them about their gritty drum sound. I did it to kinda show people you can have some real tough things happen in your life, but you don't have to wear it on your sleeve. Then he sang a bit of Never Can Say Goodbye., Ill be like, Damn, I need something like that!, A galaxy of sound: L.A.s King makes R&B on its own terms, Kenny Edmonds and Toni Braxton: Rhythm and blues, with lifes bruises. COPYRIGHT 2022 EURweb.com/Rabercom Enterprises, Trumps Platinum Plan: $500B to Black communities + Designate KKK, Antifa as Terrorist Organizations, TMI: Garcelle Beauvais Reminiscing on Jamie Foxx Being Hung Like A Horse. You can experience New Raphael Saadiq songs list 2022 across all genres and moods like Heart Broken, Soulful, Chill, Happy, Tripping, Romance, Party. Young Bellz, Anthony Hamilton, Babyface, Ledisi, Goapele, Ghostface Killah, Ginuwine, The Grouch Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, Bilal, Chali 2na, Larry Graham, Luniz as well as many others. Saadiq was a child when Alvie was killed; he had more time with Jimmy Lee, a heroin addict who didnt get along with their stepfather, Ed Nelson, Saadiq said, and would sometimes break into the Nelson house and steal whatever he could. He stood up, walked to the console, and stood with his arms outstretched, as if surveying an invisible kingdom on the other side of the control-room glass. It just has this like magical sound the way that it's built. Tone!. Ive never been late for an album, and Ive been making albums since 88, he said, referring to the year of his debut with Tony! Lastly, whats the key to longevity and eternal youth? RELATED: Raphael Saadiq Talks New . reunion to people, but I think that ship has sailed.. On his solo records their is a Jermaine vibe..also Babyface wrote and produced (with his team including La reid) a whole damn record 4 Jermaine jackson back in 1991 which bombed..Babyface must of admired Jermaine as Jermaine was not a big star at the time and Babyface's team were at their peak on the charts! Raphael Saadiq: I love being in a band, bands are my first love. Ton! Grammys are beautiful things, he said. Raphael Saadiq (born Charlie Ray Wiggins on May 14, 1966 in Oakland, California) is an acclaimed American music artist. is raphael saadiq related to babyface. Raphael Saadiq is back with his first album in eight years, the self-produced "Jimmy Lee," (Columbia), which addresses the loss of his brother to addiction.. Ton! The set primarily deals with addiction, looking at the serious subject matter through the eyes of both the addict and the loved ones of the addicted. He is also co-founder of the independent video game developer IllFonic, which developed Friday the 13th: The Game. He also guest starred in Luke Cage, where he performs his songs "Good Man" and "Angel" at Harlem's Paradise. Raphael Saadiq Songs: Presenting the most dynamic and versatile - Raphael Saadiq. Learn how the R&B legend coped with the deaths of his siblings. Toni! You kind of make the last decision in [your own] band. copyright 1998-2023 prince.org. As a songwriter Saadiq has received two Grammy Awards, two Golden Globe Award nominations and an Academy Award nomination. [18][19][20] "He's always had a boyish enthusiasm for performing, and a flexible, naturally joyous voice that suggests a young Stevie Wonder," wrote Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune, "but with his latest album, Saadiq finds a new gear. Debmar-Mercury & Will Packers Central Ave Debuts in 200+ Markets This Weekend! U Do It For Me is a song by Algebra, released on March 2nd 2023 in the album Purpose. Asked in a phone interview about the present state of his falsetto, he offered an impromptu demonstration, singing the first few bars of the Stylistics Betcha by Golly Wow into the phone in a voice that was high and powerful. Mariah Carey and Kenny G (1996 . Check out our FAQ
"My first funeral, I was 7 years old," Saadiq told The New York Times. Ton!, wrote and recorded songs like "It Never Rains in Southern California" and "Whatever You Want," he earned himself a lifetime "Do Whatever You Want" card.One could disregard his third solo studio album for being the equivalent of a Civil War reenactment, sounding much more like "instant vintage" R&B than 2002's Instant Vintage. I dont like that, The Weeknd is getting mocked for his response to Rolling Stones The Idol expos, Daisy Jones & the Six review: Riley Keough fronts a rock soap opera, Aaron Carters mom posts awful photos from death scene, pushes for homicide inquiry, Wayne Shorter, influential jazz saxophonist and composer, dies at 89. Toni! So, were gonna start our own little thing and hes more than welcome to come and sing some songs with us, too. 1 (Steal This Sh*t). with his brother DWayne Wiggins and the drummer Timothy Riley at the end of the 80s. I lost my brother to a heroin overdose and I lost another brother to drugs, too. Cliffs: -She has known Raphael since they were 16 years old. In 1995, Saadiq had his biggest solo hit to date, when "Ask of You", featured on the Higher Learning Soundtrack peaked at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on the R&B chart. In 2007 . In 1995, Saadiq produced and performed on Otis & Shug's debut album, We Can Do Whatever. [24] live on the restored first electrical sound recording system from the 1920s. When I went to go do Lucy Pearl, I knew that was a great decision to grab Ali Shaheed and Dawn Robinson, and it showed me that I could put together a good team of people. WHY BABYFACE,RAHSAAN PATTERSON,and RAPHAEL SAADIQ SOUNDS THE SAME?WHOS THE BEST SINGER/COMPOSER/PRODUCER? We dont own it, so we cant do anything with that. The Bay has been everything to me and I kind of write about some of the same things sometimes. I would be in the streets playing football and he would say, Which one of these guys you look up to? I would point to a guy and he would said, Alright, keep playing. My dad watched the whole game and later on he was telling me, the guy you look up to, hes not gon be nothing, hes not gon be nothing, trust me. And I got a chance to watch this dude nine years later and he becomes his own worst nightmare. all rights reserved. But Saadiq, who wore fitted sweat pants and a pair of bright-yellow sneakers when we met, said he thought of those projects as films and of himself as an actor and that his throwback sound was actually ahead of the curve. And you go from there to MC Hammer, En Vogue, Too $hort. Collectively, his parents had 14 children, but Saadiq was the only child they had together. So I finally called the band and asked, whats up? Get Involved E Saadiqs brother Desmond Wiggins, like Jimmy Lee Baker, struggled with addiction, and killed himself in 1987. You wanna talk about Too $hort, hes one of the longest lasting rap artists who tours more than anybody I know. He also served as executive producer of singer Solanges hit album, Seat at the Table.. In addition to his solo and group career, he has also produced songs for such artists as Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, Stevie Wonder, Joss Stone, D'Angelo, TLC, En Vogue, Kelis, Mary J. Blige, Ledisi, Whitney Houston, Solange Knowles and John Legend. L.A. City Council Shutdown Because Council Members Caught on Opinion: Sacramento Mass Shooting Confirms What Experts Already Knew, What the Puck? spin.com Two Grammy Winners Put IllFonic on the Video Game Map Raphael Saadiq and Charles Brungardt founded IllFonic in 2007 and thought it would be easy to crack into gaming.