Raphael Saadiq, who first rose to prominence as a vocalist and bassist for the Bay Area R&B band Tony! Toni! Toné!, is calling for the retirement of the term “neo-soul.” Long used as a catchall for modern soul and frequently tied to artists like D'Angelo and Erykah Badu, the label has defined a generation of Black music. Saadiq now argues the term was never rooted in artistry, but in industry positioning.

In a recent Instagram post, Saadiq claimed “neo-soul” was created by one Black executive as internal shorthand for record labels. He alleges it helped marketing teams identify which Black artists would not receive major crossover budgets, with those funds instead reserved for pop boy bands. According to Saadiq, the label came with built-in sales ceilings, shaping expectations before the music even reached audiences.

He further asserted that artists such as himself, D’Angelo, and Maxwell were never “neo-soul” in creative intent. Instead, he views the term as a corporate construct that limited perception and opportunity. His remarks have reignited debate about how Black artists are categorized—and how those classifications impact legacy and commercial reach.