Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond

Revisiting: Raphael Saadiq

Oct 23, 2026 · 1h 22m

Summary

Rafael Sadiq discusses his recent collaborations with Beyoncé and Solange, including the unique origin story of "Cranes in the Sky," and reflects on his historic partnership with D’Angelo. He also shares memories of performing with Mick Jagger, working with Earth, Wind & Fire, and the profound influence of Oakland bassist Larry Graham on his musical development.

Topics discussed

Sponsor: ChatGPT for business expansion Sponsor: Petivity Smart Feeder for cats Introduction to Raphael Saadiq's career Early projects and recording history Collaborating with a vocalist from Oakland Discussing vocal talent and 'pipes' CeeLo Green's performance and vocal control The House of Music record store inspiration Funkadelic artwork and Larry Graham's legacy Oakland musicians and the Hawkins family Comparing Sly Stone and Larry Graham's records Hypothetical tour with The Who Playing with Mick Jagger at the Grammys The band lineup for recent albums Raphael's role as a drummer A dismissive reaction to a new album Meeting D'Angelo through the Hawkins family First impressions of D'Angelo's home Developing a musical style with D'Angelo D'Angelo's unique piano approach Other musicians playing bass and guitar Sponsor: Before the Moment podcast Sponsor: Airbnb co-host network Brother Dwayne's reaction to playing guitar Finding a new guitarist for the tour Benefits of a smaller touring band Taking piano lessons and studying keys Nephew Dylan's piano talent Online piano lessons from Seattle Influences: The Spinners and Earth, Wind & Fire The Wailers' rhythm section The history and energy of the band Playing with Earth, Wind & Fire Bernard Edwards and Queen's 'Another One Bites the Dust' Beyonce's 'American Requiem' and team dynamics Rhiannon Giddens' banjo contribution Balancing musician and producer roles Sponsor: Before the Moment podcast Sponsor: ChatGPT for business research Sponsor: Chase Business Checking Finding a clean copy of a song Listening to old recordings and production Making music for personal enjoyment Video game company Illphonic Starting the game company with a partner Def Jam video games and sports games Playing basketball video games Writing a song inspired by The Chronic Collaborators Denzel Foster and Tommy McElroy How the band got to Mercury Records Touring with the Tony! Toni! Toné!s The energy of live shows without phones Audience demographics during the tour Revisiting classic music and band dynamics Perception and past band conflicts Meeting Brian Grant at the Kings game Sacramento Kings and Metallica fans Sports talk shows and First Take Different voices on sports panels Trump and George Bush humor Colin Cowherd's hosting style Skip Bayless and other sports personalities Recording in Trinidad for three months The energy of the 'Sons of Soul' album Connecting with new musicians The gap between House of Music and Instant Vintage Helping family get into good schools Advice for a friend in sports Future instrumental music plans Being a 'friend of the brand' Celebrity friends and third-grade friends The secret track and Larry Graham Sponsor: Before the Moment and Petivity Sponsor: Bank of America Safe Balance
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