Ray Ray
| Ray Ray | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Raphael Saadiq | ||||
| Released | October 5, 2004 | |||
| Recorded | 2003–04 | |||
| Studio | Blakeslee Recording Company in North Hollywood, California | |||
| Genre | R&B, funk, soul, neo soul | |||
| Length | 49:03 | |||
| Label | Pookie Entertainment, Navarre | |||
| Producer | Michael Angelo, Jake and the Phatman, Raphael Saadiq (also exec.), Kelvin Wooten | |||
| Raphael Saadiq chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Ray Ray | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    |
| Entertainment Weekly | A– |
| The Independent | |
| Paste | |
| Slant Magazine | |
| The Sunday Times | |
Ray Ray is the second studio album by American R&B singer, songwriter, and producer Raphael Saadiq. It was released October 5, 2004, by his record label, Pookie Entertainment. After being dropped from Universal Records, Saadiq formed the label and recorded the album. He pursued a 1970s-inspired musical direction that was looser than his 2002 debut album, Instant Vintage, and produced Ray Ray with Michael Angelo, Jake and the Phatman, and Kelvin Wooten.
Titled after Saadiq's childhood nickname, Ray Ray features funky, groove-oriented songs and Saadiq's characteristic fusion of programmed beats, strings, neo soul melodies, and live guitar. They are arranged in a song cycle and touch on lighthearted romantic themes and socially conscious messages.
The album debuted at number 86 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, but fell off the next week. It received generally positive reviews from music critics. Although some were ambivalent towards its loose blaxploitation concept and Saadiq's songwriting, critics praised the album's production quality and vintage musical approach. It is currently out of print.
In 2002, Saadiq released his debut solo album Instant Vintage, which received critical acclaim and earned him five Grammy Award nominations. However, despite attaining a following among listeners in Europe, it was largely ignored by contemporary R&B listeners in the United States and did not sell well. After its release, he was dropped by his record label Universal Records.
Saadiq subsequently formed his own label, Pookie Entertainment, on which he released the double live album All Hits at the House of Blues in 2003. The live album showcased Saadiq's solo material and songs he recorded as a part of Tony! Toni! Toné! during the late 1980s and 1990s. Saadiq also continued working as a producer for other recording artists, including Erykah Badu, Kelis, Jill Scott, Nappy Roots, Earth, Wind & Fire, Sunshine Anderson, and Jaguar Wright.
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