Teddy Riley
"My NeKo helps me to create outside the box."
-Teddy Riley
Teddy Riley, an American R&B and hip hop singer-songwriter, musician and record producer was the ring leader of one of the most influential groups of R&B in two separate decades - Guy in the '80s and Blackstreet in the '90s. Riley is mostly responsible for making a successful fusion of hip-hop and R&B in the late '80s and early '90s which was called New Jack Swing.
Riley began his producing and recording career at age of 12 in the 1980s. His first group was called Kids At Work, which included future Guy member Timmy Gatling. The group were signed to CBS Records and released their self -titled album which included the single "Singin' Hey Yeah."
At the age of 15, he produced his first hit record "The Show/La Di Da Di" for rappers Doug E. Fresh and The Get Fresh Crew who included: DJs Barry B., Chill Will and MC Ricky D AKA Slick Rick and the underground classic hit for Classical II "Raps New Generation". His composition of one-hit wonder Johnny Kemp's "Just Got Paid" became a very popular track reaching #1 on the Billboard R&B charts in the spring of 1988. He was also known of producing hits for Keith Sweat on his debut album, Make It Last Forever, released in November 1987, which produced number one hits such as "I Want Her" and "Something Just Ain't Right". He also produced tracks for hip hop artists such as Kool Moe Dee and Heavy D & the Boyz on their debut album, Livin' Large (1987) on Uptown/MCA Records.
In 2005, he had disbanded and reformed Blackstreet. Riley also worked on an album with Outsiderz 4 Life, producing Wil' Out and other songs.
At the start of 2006, Riley started the New Jack Swing revival, with the New Jack Reunion Tour, featuring acts, in addition to Blackstreet and Guy, After 7, SWV and Tony Toni Toné. At the same time, In May 2006, an interview with Underground Soul Online Magazine, Riley announced that he would be working on four key projects: a new Blackstreet album, a new Guy album, a project with singer Kylie Minogue, and with Michael Jackson for his new album. Additionally, he is in the lab working effortlessly on his soon to be released LPs: Teddy Riley The Comeback and The Legend.
Teddy was entered into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame on Oct 4th, 2007.
Equipment Used
Purchased NeKo LX (Gen3)
Artist Links