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It isn’t an easy feat to emerge from the shadows of a musical group and evolve into a Grammy Award-winning singer, but if Raphael Saadiq’s fame is any indication of what can follow such a bold move, then group members may want to take note. 

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After emerging as a member of the groundbreaking ’80s soul trio Tony! Toni! Tone!, Raphael Saadiq (born Charles Ray Wiggins) re-invented himself, armed with a new name to take on the ever-changing music industry. 

While the art of R&B began to gravitate away from its traditional grounds, the singer, songwriter and record producer efficiently carried the torch for old school R&B, teaming up with big-time acts like D’Angelo, John Legend, The Roots, Stevie Wonder, Mary J. Blige and Whitney Houston, while taking advantage of the development of technology to ensure that the genre’s soulful legacy lived on. 

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Much like Raphael, the Prius embodies three primary characteristics – Technology, Design and Efficiency. These characteristics are also found in very few influencers who not only drive the masses to the cutting edge, but keep true to the originals, Raphael being one of them. 

Throughout his career, both behind the scenes and in front of the mic, Raphael has embodied characteristics that earned him the badge of a musical icon – one who is constantly evolving into a better version of himself.