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Teddy Riley | |
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Born | October 8, 1967 |
Origin | Harlem, New York United States |
Genres | New jack swing Contemporary R&B Hip hop |
Occupations | Record producer Singer-songwriter Musician Performer Rapper |
Years active | 1984–present |
Labels | Interscope MCA |
Associated acts | Michael Jackson, Guy, Blackstreet, MC Hammer, Doug E. Fresh, Mike Posner, Girls' Generation, Jay Park, RaNia, EXO |
Edward Theodore Riley (born October 8, 1967), professionally known as Teddy Riley, is a Grammy Award winning, American singer-songwriter, musician, keyboardist, and record producer credited with the creation of the New Jack Swing.[1] Through his production work with Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, Doug E. Fresh, Today, Keith Sweat, Heavy D., Usher, Jane Child, etc. and membership of the groups Guy and Blackstreet, Riley is credited with having a massive impact and seminal influence on the formation of contemporary R&B, hip-hop, soul, and pop since the 1980s.[2] Riley is reputed to be worth $80 million due to his productions."[3][4]
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Teddy Riley was raised in St. Nicholas Houses, Harlem, New York. Riley, a child prodigy since the age of 5, began playing instruments in the church. His uncle, who owned the famed Harlem club The Rooftop, built a studio in the club in which Riley would spend most of his time while growing up. By 14, upstart New York rappers began making music to his tracks. Under the guidance of local music producer Gene Griffin, Riley formed the short-lived group Kids At Work. At the age of 17, Riley produced Kool Moe Dee's 12" single, "Go See the Doctor".[1] Released on an independent label in 1986, the song became a crossover hit, reaching #89 on The Billboard Hot 100.[5] Riley had previously worked on the production of Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew's "The Show" in 1985.[6] His brother in law is popular R&B crooner Omar Chandler.
In 1987, Riley, Aaron Hall, and Timmy Gatling formed the R&B group Guy. Managed by Gene Griffin, Riley's work with Guy pioneered the New Jack Swing style of R&B, which had been showcased previously in Riley's productions for Keith Sweat (I Want Her), Johnny Kemp ("Just Got Paid"), Bobby Brown ("My Prerogative") and among others. Riley infused his own unique blend of hip-hop beats, R&B progressions and the Gospel vocal stylings of Hall to create the archetypal New jack swing sound on Guy's eponymous debut. In 1989, Riley produced Big Daddy Kane's "I Get The Job Done", as well as other work for The Jacksons, The Winans, James Ingram; he also created the highly successful remix of Jane Child, "Don't Wanna Fall in Love", which became a crossover pop smash.
After the release and tour of Guy's second album The Future, Riley co-produced half of Michael Jackson's album Dangerous, on the recommendation of Jackson's long-time producer Quincy Jones. Featuring the Riley co-produced singles "Remember the Time", "Jam", and "In the Closet", Dangerous remains the most successful New jack swing album of all time with 32 million copies sold.[7][8]
After the disbandment of Guy in 1992, Riley moved to production, performance on and promotion of Wreckx-N-Effect's second album Hard or Smooth. Based in Virginia by this time, Riley discovered The Neptunes who assisted production on Wreckx-N-Effect's smash hit single Rump Shaker.
In late 1992, Riley formed a second group, Blackstreet, with Chauncey Hannibal as lead singer. The group would go on to release several major hits, including "Don't Leave Me" (1997), the number one single "No Diggity" (1996, featuring Dr. Dre and Queen Pen), and "Girlfriend/Boyfriend" (1999, with Janet Jackson, Eve, and Ja Rule). By 2011, the group had disbanded and reformed several times.
In 2000, Riley worked on an album with Outsiderz 4 Life, producing "Wil' Out" and other songs.
At the start of 2006, he was part of the New Jack Reunion Tour, featuring Blackstreet and Guy, in addition to After 7, SWV, and Tony Toni Toné. In May 2006 Riley announced that he would be working on two key projects: a new Blackstreet album and a new Guy album.
In June 2008, a fire destroyed Riley's Virginia Beach recording studio. Fire investigators said that an electrical problem caused the blaze that burned the abandoned recording studio. The Virginia Beach Fire Department said lightning in the area also could have been a factor, although there was no direct strike. The empty studio was for sale and was insured for $336,000.[9]
In 2009, Riley performed with Guy at the BET Awards.[10] In the same year, Riley worked with Amerie and Robin Thicke on their respective albums. Leading on from his work on Snoop Dogg's album Ego Trippin' Riley became part of the production supergroup QDT, which features DJ Quik as well as Snoop Dogg. Teddy produced and co-wrote an album track "Teeth" with Lady Gaga for her EP The Fame Monster. Speaking in March 2010 to Blues & Soul's Pete Lewis - Riley said that he was no longer affiliated with Guy (Riley last performed with the group in October 2010). Riley also said that the current line-up of Blackstreet comprised himself, Chauncey Hannibal, Dave Hollister and Sherman 'J-Stylz' Tinsdale. He confirmed that he was working on a new Blackstreet album, though intended to release his own album - entitled 'TRX' - first. Artists he could possibly be working with for the project included Stevie Wonder, Elton John, plus his own new, upcoming acts.[3]. However, Hannibal, who is no longer performing with the group and the lineup is now Riley, Dave Hollister, & returning are Mark Middleton & Eric Williams.
As of 2012 Hannibal has returned to Blackstreet again & now Mark Middleton & Eric Williams are no longer involved. The group's lineup now consists of original members Riley, Hannibal, Hollister & newest member Glenn Adams aka Lenny Harold.
In an August 2010, co-executor of the Michael Jackson estate, John Branca, confirmed that a posthumous album of Michael Jackson would be released, containing work done in the previous five years with producers Neff-U, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and Riley himself, as well as work written and produced solely by Jackson himself. The album Michael was released on December 14, 2010 in the United States. Since the album's release, Riley has become a controversial figure in Jackson's fanbase, insisting all the songs were sung by Jackson amidst controversy that several tracks were questioned.
Adding fuel to the fire we're comments made in an interview with Dan Dodds (aka Soul Jones) earlier in the year where Riley suggested that there we're only elements, not fully produced songs from his work with Michael Jackson still left in the can. "They may use some elements from me, put together ideas but I haven’t been working on the new album" Riley is reported to have said. [2] He claimed that vocal processing was done which added artifacts to Jackson's voice. Riley has also expressed his belief that Jackson faked his death and is in hiding.
Recently, Riley has stepped into the Korean music market. Riley worked with singer/rapper Jay Park on an english track titled "Demon", which was originally meant for Michael Jackson.
Riley produced a mini album for the Korean girl group RaNia. Riley is one of the producers for Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, new debut solo album, Still Cool, as a solo producer and as a part of QDT, with DJ Quik and Snoop Dogg.[11][12][13] He produced the tracks "Believe" and "Flow" for the Twenty album of the R&B group Boyz II Men. He had also produced Korean girl group Girls' Generation's maxi single The Boys for the group's first international release. He has recently produced Korean/Chinese boy group EXO's prologue single "What Is Love".
Solo: Black Rock (Unreleased)
Guy: Guy discography
Blackstreet: Blackstreet discography
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Theodore "Teddy" Riley (10 May 1924 – 14 November 1992) was a jazz trumpet player and bandleader. On occasion he also sang and played flugelhorn.
Riley was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he would spend most of his career. His father Amos Riley (c. 1879 - 1925) was also a New Orleans trumpeter and bandleader.
Mostly known for playing jazz, he also worked and recorded with various Rhythm & Blues bands. Artists and groups he worked with included Louis Cottrell, Jr., Fats Domino, Champion Jack Dupree, The Dookie Chase Orchestra, Roy Brown's Band, The Onward Brass Band, The Olympia Brass Band, The Williams Brass Band, and The Royal Brass Band.
In 1971 Riley played on the cornet used by Louis Armstrong in his youth for the New Orleans ceremonies marking Armstrong's death.
He made a guest appearance on Wynton Marsalis' 1989 release "The Majesty of the Blues."
He performed both leading his own small band at hotels and clubs as well as in various brass bands until a couple of weeks before his death.
One, two
To a nigga nature
Hehe
[Verse 1]
No need to cry now, go wipe your tears
Be a woman, why you actin' surprised?
You showed the bullshit; commin' fake hair
fake nails, fake eyes too
So why you bound to fuck wit fake guys too
Aint nothin' hard about it
Why you lookin' sad, should'a though about it
Say you learn, i truly doubt it
I guess you got a problem with affection, kinda loose with the love
Gettin' freaky with the thug niggaz up in the club
Ask to buy you a drink, you holla Don Perione (spellin?)
Knowin' I'm a cash dealer, still I, remain calm
Let you chill with me
Plus you was smilin' 'til the bill miss me
That's what you get for trynna dick me
Missed me with that 'buy me this, buy me that'- syndrome shit
Bitch get a job if you wanna be rich
Gettin' mad 'cuz i cursed and i screamed i hate'cha
Introduced you to a nigga nature, feel me
[Chorus]
[Verse 2]
Probably too nice at first
I lettin' you kiss where it hurts
Me and you gettin' busy, slangin' dick in the dirt
Met you at a pool party it was cool to kick it
See us, toungkissin', you was trouly with it
Little Exstacy, Hennesey, mix with me
Picture me pray for pussy when the dick's for free
Hey now, where my niggaz at? Tell these hoes
Before I pay; I jerk off, word to Moses
Visions of you sittin' there sweaty and wet
Pointin' at the places that you want me to hit
Give me room all up in the room, call the cops
Nigga, hit them walls til the bastard drop
Label me: Makaveli - Thug Nigga with pipe
Livin' life as a Rock Star friday nights
Make money, get pussy
Always keep a pager, cell-phone in the ride
To complete my Nature now!
[Chorus] (That's a nigga nature!)
[Verse 3]
Started as a seed from the semen
Straight outta Papa's nuts, lustin' for creamin'
Bitches wit big butts, curves make a nigga cry, tits and shit
When I'm locked down beggin' you for porno fleeks
Sneak weed in, helped a nigga passed the time
With my name tattoo'd so that ass is mine
Tell everybody; 'Pac put it down for good
A local legend through the whole hood
Follow me, I got a gun on me
Goin' for nun on the run baby
You know a nigga need some, is my son crazy?
Why I cry, when i be thuggin' til i die
Picture of nigga in heaven high, of weed I fly
Got me missin' dead homies with the phonies that died
Hit the weed and hope it get me high
Dear God, understand my ways, livin' major
Blessed with a thug's heart
In a realla nigga nature!
[Chorus x2] (That's a nigga nature!)
(Just be a nigga nation)
(It ain't my fault, that's a nigga nature)
(A nigga nature)