Ray Ray

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Ray Ray
Studio album by Raphael Saadiq
Released September 27, 2004
Recorded 2003–2004
Genre R&B, funk, neo soul, soul
Length 49:03
Label Pookie Entertainment
PKE-1004-1
Producer Michael Angelo, Jake & The Phatman, Raphael Saadiq (also exec.), Kelvin Wooten
Raphael Saadiq chronology
Instant Vintage
(2002)		 Ray Ray
(2004)		 The Way I See It
(2008)
Singles from Ray Ray
  1. "Chic Like You" / "Rifle Love"
    Released: 2004
  2. "I Want You Back" / "I Love Her"
    Released: 2004
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 3.5/5 stars[1]
The Boston Globe favorable)[2]
Entertainment Weekly (A-)[3]
The Independent 4.5/5 stars[4]
New York (favorable)[5]
Rolling Stone (favorable)[6]
The Times 4/5 stars[7]
USA Today 3/4 stars[8]
Vibe 3.5/5 stars[9]
The Washington Post (favorable)[10]

Ray Ray, also known as Raphael Saadiq as Ray Ray,[3][9] is the second studio album by American R&B and neo soul musician Raphael Saadiq, released September 27, 2004 on his Pookie Entertainment label.[11] Production for the album was handled by Saadiq, Michael Angelo, Jake & The Phatman, and Kelvin Wooten.[11] Titled after a childhood nickname of Saadiq's,[12] Ray Ray contains a more funk-oriented sound than Saadiq's previous album, Instant Vintage (2002),[13] while it features romantic and some message-oriented lyrical themes.[1] The album's cover artwork is inspired by the blaxploitation films of the 1970s.[1]

Prior to its release, Raphael Saadiq had stated that the album is "more aggressive, more radio-friendly. It's one of those good, Saturday-playing records".[12] Ray Ray peaked at number 86 on the U.S. Billboard 200, at number 18 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and at number 3 on the Top Independent Albums chart.[14] Despite some mixed criticism towards its loose blaxploitation concept and Saadiq's songwriting, the album earned praise for its production quality and vintage style.[3][5][9][13] Ray Ray received generally positive reviews from music critics, based on an aggregate score of 66/100 from Metacritic.[15]

Contents

[edit] Track listing

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Blaxploitation"   B. Ozuna, R. Saadiq, G. Standridge Raphael Saadiq, Jake & The Phatman* 0:31
2. "Ray Ray Theme" (feat. Joi) J. Gilliam, R. Saadiq, K. Wooten Kelvin Wooten 2:36
3. "I Know Shuggie Otis"   R. Saadiq Raphael Saadiq 2:32
4. "This One"   T. Jackson, R. Saadiq, M. Angelo Michael Angelo 3:34
5. "Chic Like You" (feat. Allie Baba) R. Saadiq, M. Angelo, A. Wiggins Michael Angelo 4:01
6. "Live Without You"   B. Ozuna, R. Saadiq, G. Standridge Raphael Saadiq, Jake & The Phatman* 4:49
7. "Detroit Girl"   M. Angelo, R. Saadiq Michael Angelo 4:05
8. "Not a Game" (feat. Babyface) T. Jackson, R. Saadiq, K. Wooten Kelvin Wooten 2:58
9. "Rifle Love" (feat. Tony! Toni! Toné! & Lucy Pearl) T. Jackson, R. Saadiq, K. Wooten Kelvin Wooten 4:18
10. "Chic" (feat. Teedra Moses) T. Moses, R. Saadiq Raphael Saadiq 3:40
11. "I Want You Back" (feat. Teedra Moses) T. Moses, B. Ozuna, R. Saadiq, G. Standridge Raphael Saadiq, Jake & The Phatman* 3:48
12. "I Love Her"   B. Ozuna, R. Saadiq, G. Standridge Raphael Saadiq, Jake & The Phatman* 4:33
13. "Grown Folks"   B. Ozuna, R. Saadiq, G. Standridge Raphael Saadiq, Jake & The Phatman* 4:21
14. "Save Us"   R. Saadiq Raphael Saadiq 3:13
15. "Scream" (UK bonus track) R. Saadiq Raphael Saadiq 4:46

*Co-producer

[edit] Chart history

Chart (2004) Peak
position[14]
US Billboard 200 86
US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 18
US Billboard Top Independent Albums 3

[edit] Personnel

Credits for Ray Ray adapted from Discogs.[11][16]

  • Michael Angelo – producer
  • William Blochinger – photography
  • Jake & The Phatman – co-producer
  • Will Ragland – artwork
  • Raphael Saadiq – exec. producer, performer, producer
  • Anette Sharvit – production coordinator
  • Kris Solem – mastering
  • Kelvin Wooten – producer

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Kellman, Andy.Ray Ray at Allmusic Review: Ray Ray]. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-09-06.
  2. ^ Capobianco, Ken. "Review: Ray Ray". The Boston Globe: October 8, 2004. (Transcription of original review at talk page)
  3. ^ a b c Drumming, Neil. Review: Ray Ray. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on 2009-09-06.
  4. ^ Johnson, Phil. "Review: Ray Ray". The Independent: October 17, 2004. (Transcription of original review at talk page)
  5. ^ a b Brown, Ethan. Review: Ray Ray. New York. Retrieved on 2009-09-06.
  6. ^ Leger, Marie Elsie St. Review: Ray Ray. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2009-09-06.
  7. ^ Columnist. Review: Ray Ray. The Times. Retrieved on 2009-09-06.
  8. ^ Jones, Steve. Review: Ray Ray. USA Today. Retrieved on 2009-09-06.
  9. ^ a b c Simon, Andrew. "Review: Ray Ray". Vibe: 159–160. November 2004.
  10. ^ Himes, Gregory. Review: Ray Ray. The Washington Post. Retrieved on 2009-09-06.
  11. ^ a b c Ray Ray (CD). Discogs. Retrieved on 2009-09-06.
  12. ^ a b Mitchell, Gail. "Saadiq Skeds Solo Set". Billboard: 34. September 18, 2004.
  13. ^ a b Cinquemani, Sal. Review: Ray Ray. Slant Magazine. Retrieved on 2009-09-06.
  14. ^ a b Billboard Albums: Ray Ray. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2009-09-06.
  15. ^ Ray Ray (2004): Reviews. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2009-09-06.
  16. ^ Ray Ray (2xLP, Album). Discogs. Retrieved on 2009-09-06.

[edit] External links

Raphael Saadiq
Solo albums
Tony! Toni! Toné!
Lucy Pearl
Solo singles
  • "Ask of You" (1995)
  • "Get Involved" (1999)
  • "Be Here" (2002)
  • "Still Ray" (2002)
  • "Rifle Love" (2004)
  • "Chic Like You" (2004)
  • "I Want You Back" (2005)
  • "Love That Girl" (2008)
  • "Big Easy" (2008)
  • "100 Yard Dash" (2009)
  • "Never Give You Up" (2009)
  • "Let's Take a Walk" (2009)
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