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Rapahel Saadiq Appreciation Thread

Dr. Cheese

Dr. Cheese

Supporting Member
Mar 3, 2004
57,348
120,757
Metro St. Louis
#1
I recently bought "The Way I See It" and I really enjoyed how well Saadiq nailed the old school basslines and overall vibe. Today, my wife was loading her Iphone, and she pulled out a copy of Tony Toni Tone's Greatest Hits that I forgot we had. I put it in the car when I went to get her oil changed and reading the liners notes, I realized that Saadiq's first hit, "Little Walter" was twenty years ago this past spring. Listening to his hits really drove home the fact that he was the first r&b bassist to carve out a role for himself in the post-funk/hip hop era. All of the earmarks of Neo-Soul/ Hip Hop like no slap, bass lower in the mix, and quoting of classic soul are in evidence with the Tonys. A good example is "If I Had No Loot" which is a reworking of "Knock on Wood."
 
#3
I made a mistake when I first posted. The song that re-did "Knock On Wood" is :If I Had No Loot." Listening to Tony Toni Tone really drives home how Hip Hop influenced they were. The drums are almost always mixed higher than the bass, and the bass lines tend to be very simple but catchy. It is also striking how little Saadiq added fills or threw in cool licks. He played very much like a live sample, something that is a hallmark of current hip hop bass playing. To those of us who greew up on folks like Marcus Miller or Anthony Jackson, not tossing a fill or cool lick is tough!:eek: Playing the same simple line over and over while keeping it fresh takes some deep dscipline and groove.:cool:
 
#5
I feel you on the Tone Toni Tone stuff. I was listening to their stuff from the 80's the other day, like It never rains in southern Califronia, it's our anniversary..etc...Heck I was in the Military at the time, brings back LOTS of Memories.:cool: Not sure if Rapahel Saadiq was the one laying down the bass then, I always saw this dude in the videos playing, and he was some left handed cat playing why Mr Rapahel Saadiq was singing up front.

BTW, did you decide to keep your squire? if so how is that working out for you?

Peace.
 
#7
Fire-Starter said:
I feel you on the Tone Toni Tone stuff. I was listening to their stuff from the 80's the other day, like It never rains in southern Califronia, it's our anniversary..etc...Heck I was in the Military at the time, brings back LOTS of Memories.:cool: Not sure if Rapahel Saadiq was the one laying down the bass then, I always saw this dude in the videos playing, and he was some left handed cat playing why Mr Rapahel Saadiq was singing up front.

BTW, did you decide to keep your squire? if so how is that working out for you?

Peace.
Click to expand...

I'm glad you are feeling Raphael Saadiq too.:) Off topic: I still have the Squier. I have some DiMarzio Ultra Jazz (Sadowsky) pickups coming in for it this week. I will keep you posted on how it sounds.:cool:
 
#10
Man TTT was one of the hottest R&B bands ever, 80s and up. If I can ever find it, the FULL version of "Anniversary" is what made me want a 5 string. The whole version is like 7-8 minutes long, and near the end the strings go into an interlude, and then the bass just lays the bassline down, and he sets it up going kinda high, then DUMPS down on the B. I was like, OMG I gotta have that. I have yet to find that version because all the ones I hear are cut shorter or radio edits.
 
#12
Dr_Funkdamental said:
Man TTT was one of the hottest R&B bands ever, 80s and up. If I can ever find it, the FULL version of "Anniversary" is what made me want a 5 string. The whole version is like 7-8 minutes long, and near the end the strings go into an interlude, and then the bass just lays the bassline down, and he sets it up going kinda high, then DUMPS down on the B. I was like, OMG I gotta have that. I have yet to find that version because all the ones I hear are cut shorter or radio edits.
Click to expand...

try this :bassist::D

 
#18
If u wanna talk vintage you have to check out House of Music and Sons of Soul. 3T went old school big time! But No fills is how music is these days... No improvising not even a guitar solos are allowed in rock these days. music isn't what it used to be (and most of it isn't for the better).
 

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