The Sam Sanders Show What’s Raphael Saadiq’s Golden Rule for Making Music?
Jan 23, 2026
Raphael Saadiq, acclaimed singer-songwriter and producer behind Tony! Toni! Toné! and hits for Beyoncé and Solange, plus an Oscar nomination. He recounts writing the bluesy “I Lied To You” for Sinners, his quick write with Ryan Coogler, the golden rule for scoring films, memories of making “Untitled” with D’Angelo, and how his bass-first approach shapes his work.
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Song Written In A Few Hours
- Ryan Coogler and Luke Wigg called Raphael in and asked for a song on short notice, so he wrote "I Lied To You" in a few hours.
- Raphael recorded the basic idea immediately with Luke Wigg and then wrote lyrics on the spot.
Left Out Of The Film's Final Vision
- Raphael didn't know the song would trigger the film's supernatural montage and first saw the finished movie at an IMAX screening.
- He compared his role to a getaway driver who stayed in the car while the directors executed their vision.
Music As Ancestral Gift
- Raphael views musical talent as a God-given gift rooted in ancestors and the past.
- He believes work's purpose is to share that gift to affect people's feelings across generations.