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Raphael Saadiq has spent decades shaping the sound of R&B, but his latest achievement arrives in another space, the movies. The Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, and producer played a key role in creating “I Lied To You,” the standout track from the history-making film Sinners, a song that has quickly become one of the most talked-about moments tied to the project. Blending blues roots with gospel tradition and adding a contemporary twist, the record highlights Saadiq’s ability to create, regardless of genre.

The creation of “I Lied To You” came to be due to a longstanding connection. Through director Ryan Coogler, Saadiq joined composer Ludwig Göransson in shaping a song that would visualize the history and connection of Black music. For Saadiq, the process felt familiar. “Every album I’ve ever made, there’s been a theme to it,” he said. “If you look at my career, all my records had titles like The Revival, Ray Ray or Jimmy Lee, and I also grew up around a lot of artistry where the records had themes. So, film really lends itself to my process.”

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 20: (L-R) Miles Caton, Raphael Saadiq and Ludwig Göransson perform onstage during the 39th annual American Cinematheque Awards Honoring Michael B. Jordan at The Beverly Hilton on November 20, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California.(Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images for American Cinematheque)

In the months that followed its release, the song earned an Academy Award nomination, adding to a long list of milestones in a career that stretches from early work with Prince to the success of Tony! Toni! Toné! and Lucy Pearl, and production credits on era-defining albums by artists including Beyoncé, Solange Knowles, and D’Angelo. Recently, Saadiq also took the stage at the Grammys as part of a tribute performance honoring D’Angelo alongside Lauryn Hill and other peers, another reminder of how central he remains to conversations about Black music and its evolution.

Despite the accolades, Saadiq approaches the moment with perspective shaped long before the spotlight. “I tell people all the time, that when you become famous, don’t stop doing all the things that you need to do,” he said. “My mom was always neighborly and I never wanted to lose that because of some success. I never want to imprison myself because of success.”

In conversation with ESSENCE, Saadiq opens up about building music for film, honoring the lineage of Black sound, staying creative, and why gratitude plays such an important part in this new chapter of his life and career.

ESSENCE: Congratulations on the Oscar nomination for “I Lied To You.” How did you connect with Ludwig Göransson on this record?

Raphael Saadiq: I connected through Ryan Coogler. So me and Ryan are both from Oakland. At the time, we had never met in person, but later we met through his brother—who is an artist, and I actually did some music for his brother’s project—so we kind of knew each other from that. And my late great brother, D’Wayne Wiggins, he and Ryan’s dad were friends too, because they grew up together. So, one day I got a phone call from Ryan and Ludwig, and they pitched me the script, and we took it from there.

With “I Lied To You” being nominated for an Academy Award this year, what does that recognition mean to you at this stage of your career?

Honored, to answer your question. I think the Academy’s goal too, is that they want to work with people that really love what they do, too. They want you to be a creative person and make some more history for the Academy, and it gives the Academy more legs for people to be very creative and give the next generation after us, to give them some legs to be creative too. So, just to know that I’m part of a cast with so many nominations too. It feels great. 

What do you think about your role in carrying the legacy of black music forward? 

As far as black music—I am black music. I’m not retro, either. I grew up in it. My first record ever I ever played was “The Thrill is Gone” by the late, great B.B. King. So I just feel like I’m a part of that tree and I’m like a branch, or a vessel. I’m just adding on to some of the things that were given to us by the legends, and I’m just so excited to be able to carry it more into the future, what was already laid out for me. 

How has your perspective on songwriting has evolved today from the time you started?

I’ve been able to pinpoint some good things about my writing, and also some things that I could improve on by working with different artists, both younger and older. I’ve always kept my eyes open, kept my ears open, and listened to a lot of different music. So, I think my writing has evolved a lot and I still think there’s a lot of room for growth, but that’s what keeps it fun. I grew up listening to The Ohio Players, The Whispers, The Stylistics; then R&B and the Blues. There was always Lightnin’ Hopkins, Jimmy Reed, T-Bone Walker and Lil Walter. The first song I ever wrote was called “Lil Walter.” So I just think the more reps you get in, the more jump shots you get up and practice, you just get better. And I’ve always believed how athletes work is how you should work as a musician. You should try to practice as much as you can and be around good players, good people, and you can evolve into something you didn’t even imagine.

You’ve been relevant in the music industry for four decades, which is amazing, especially nowadays. What would you attribute your longevity to?

I would attribute it to growing up in Oakland, listening to so many differentrel=”tag”>raphael saadiq ryan coogler Sinners

The post Raphael Saadiq On Crafting “I Lied To You,” The Oscars, And Bringing Black Music’s Legacy To ‘Sinners’ appeared first on Essence.