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