Growing up in the Bay Area, I played early on with these quartet groups who set guidelines for me. I remember the guys would all have the same clothes and shoes, like these uniforms. I was in awe.

Kids are probably frustrated and egos are too much involved and kids don't know how to get together and be kids and start a group and it's kind of sad because I feel like if you come out with three or four people in the beginning, you can be protected and everybody can shield each other. Before you get out there by yourself and get all these people coming at you. I just think it's not really there.

I liked the name Saadiq and didn't want to be known as an artist as Raphael Wiggins.

When you love what you do, it pays off, and that's the best reward you could have.

I feel like I have re-created myself on every album. I try to do that. It's like playing a game with yourself, trying to compete with yourself.

I don't really produce so-called commercial pop music so I haven't changed so much. I've been on the one path always.

When you look at athletes, they have fundamentals.