Beyonce's "CUFF IT" Was Written For Raphael Saadiq's Group, He Claims

BYGabriel Bras Nevares1188 Views
Link Copied to Clipboard!
Beyonce Cuff It Writer Hip Hop News
Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images & Steven Simione/Getty Images
The Tony! Toni! Toné! member shared that he wrote the song for his group, but realized it was too big for Queen Bey to pass up on.

Beyoncé's "CUFF IT" is easily one of the standout tracks on her latest and dominant album, RENAISSANCE. It's only been a little over a year since it dropped, and yet with her world tour, the project and its highlights seem more relevant than ever. As such, it's interesting to hear about the origins of these songs, especially considering the wealth of legendary collaborators on board. For example, Raphael Saadiq of recently back-together group Tony! Toni! Toné! said that he wrote "CUFF IT" for the group, but then passed it on when he realized how big it could be. While speaking to Vulture in an interview published Friday (September 22), the songwriter shared that Queen Bey rarely passes up on something she loves.

"I haven’t been to the RENAISSANCE tour, but I have seen the [viral dance] challenges online,” Raphael Saadiq expressed. “That record was going to be a Tonyies record, the part that just sounds like [mimicking the song's guitar riff]. But I gave it to a friend of mine and said, ‘I got this record. I was going to do it, but what about Beyonce?'

The Raphael Saadiq-Written Hit "CUFF IT"

"She’s one of those people where if she’s feeling it, she’s going 100 percent in," Raphael Saadiq continued. "I said, ‘It’s going to move people. It’s going to work, I’m telling you.’ I think she just put it away. From what I heard, The-Dream eventually found it. And he was like, ‘What is that?!’ I already knew it was one of them joints. I always said, if you drop the right music on an artist, it could go. But I’m glad she has so many eyeballs on her, you know what I mean? You can’t really trick people; it’s got to be good."

Meanwhile, the RENAISSANCE tour is still ongoing, and will likely keep up its bombast and spectacle. Conversely, the album itself is still getting spun like wildfire, with "CUFF IT" being one of its biggest hits. Next time you hear the song, be grateful for Raphael Saadiq's generosity. On that note, for more news on him and the latest updates on Beyonce, stay logged into HNHH.

About The Author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a staff writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined HNHH while completing his B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication at The George Washington University in the summer of 2022. Born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Gabriel treasures the crossover between his native reggaetón and hip-hop news coverage, such as his review for Bad Bunny’s hometown concert in 2024. But more specifically, he digs for the deeper side of hip-hop conversations, whether that’s the “death” of the genre in 2023, the lyrical and parasocial intricacies of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle, or the many moving parts of the Young Thug and YSL RICO case. Beyond engaging and breaking news coverage, Gabriel makes the most out of his concert obsessions, reviewing and recapping festivals like Rolling Loud Miami and Camp Flog Gnaw. He’s also developed a strong editorial voice through album reviews, think-pieces, and interviews with some of the genre’s brightest upstarts and most enduring obscured gems like Homeboy Sandman, Bktherula, Bas, and Devin Malik.
...