During the closing night of his “No Bandwidth: One Man, One Night, Three Decades of Hits” tour, Raphael Saadiq made a candid confession. He compared former bandmate Dawn Robinson to the iconic Lauryn Hill. He declared, “We had our own Lauryn Hill.” The comment drew gasps from the audience.
Then he drove his point home. “Actually, I’d rather have Lauryn,” he said plainly.
Breaking the legend of Lucy Pearl
Lucy Pearl formed in 1999. The group debuted in May 2000 with a self-titled album. It included the hit “Dance Tonight,” which reached the Top 40 in the US and UK. Yet, the supergroup split less than two years later.
Saadiq recalled their final show in Amsterdam. Dawn Robinson announced she was leaving. “I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “We did an album in six months, but toured for less than a month.”
He added humorously, “See! I didn’t need her. I could’ve sang it myself,” while poking fun at the chorus of “Dance Tonight.”
He also addressed rumors about Robinson’s personal struggles. “That sh‑‑ about her living in her car is not real,” he stated bluntly.
The weight of hindsight
Saadiq’s reflections were raw and unsparing. He even called Robinson their “own Lauryn Hill.” And then said he would have preferred to work with Hill instead. It’s a bold statement, especially given Hill’s prestige as a Grammy-winning icon.
Hill herself needs little introduction. Born May 26, 1975, she shattered norms with The Fugees and her solo work. She helped popularize hip hop and neo-soul, winning eight Grammys and two solo platinum albums.
Saadiq’s tour blends music and storytelling
The “No Bandwidth” tour combines live performance with candid tales. It follows a format that reminds fans of “Beastie Boys Story” on Apple TV+. Saadiq included personal anecdotes about Tina! Toni! Toné!, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, and more.
The shows took place in major venues, starting at the Apollo in New York on May 31, and ending June 8 at Oakland’s Fox Theater. Audiences were asked to lock away phones to encourage honest storytelling.
What’s next for Lucy Pearl and Saadiq?
Lucy Pearl’s future remains uncertain. Reconvening such a trio would require all three members to align. With Saadiq stating a preference for Hill, a classic reunion seems unlikely.
Still, fans in Oakland gave their hometown hero a standing ovation. He smiled and thanked them. “I didn’t mind the noise… it was all love,” he said.