Here on DanjLovesThe90s, it’s not always about rappers and singers (though it is most of the time)… it’s also about the beats. Besides, without the music, everything would be a cappella. Boyz II Men woulda been a barbershop quartet, and all of DMX‘s songs woulda sounded like the “Prayer” interludes from his albums. *shudder*
So with that, today’s entry is about legendary producer, Teddy Riley.
Teddy changed the sound of a whole genre before he was old enough to buy a got… damn… drink. In 1988, R&B got introduced to the New Jack Swing sound, and he was the king of that whole thing. Before that, there were a few instances where R&B acts mixed their music with a hip-hop feel, but people weren’t all the way ready for it yet. Most of the music was still maintaining its distance from rap, and vice versa. That was still a time when you could cut on the radio and hear the DJ’s almost bragging about not playing rap, and also hear rappers dissing singers in their rhymes.
For the most part, Teddy’s music still had an R&B identity. Even the ones he did for rappers had a more polished sound to them. But his production stood out, because it was just enough of both sounds to appeal to both crowds (although not everyone was totally crazy about it). It was completely new, to the point where some stuff that came out just a year prior seemed old as shit by comparison. Respect to the others who did their thing as well, but the late-’80s/early-’90s were TR’s time.
I was only 8 years old when his music started hitting. Up to that point, I knew nothing about who was behind all the music, I just knew who the artists were. TR was the first person that I recognized as the one who made the beats for these people. He was a member of Guy, who were putting out some of my favorite songs at the time, but it didn’t stop there. It was also “My Prerogative”, “It Takes Two”, “Just Got Paid”, “Wild Wild West”, et cetera, et cetera. As a matter of fact, he said it best himself on Wreckx-N-Effect‘s “New Jack Swing” (sing along if you know it):
“I got Keith Sweat, Heavy D, Today, Moe Dee, B. Sure, and my man Bobby Brown… I got Zan the Man, Redhead, Boy George, James Ing, Deja, and my homeboys Guy…”
In addition to that very abridged list, he went on to work with Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, The Jacksons, Big Daddy Kane, LL Cool J, Hi-Five, SWV, Hammer, The Winans, Tony! Toni! Tone!, Soul II Soul, and a gang more. In some cases, he was like hired help for artists who couldn’t make hits anymore. In other cases, he was the one to call when new artists needed to score one.
Years before Puffy would be the producer/personality known for making his presence on other artists’ songs, Teddy was kind of the prototype of that. He wasn’t much of a rapper, but he still rapped on certain songs. He wasn’t the best singer out there, but he sang anyway. You could always know a song was produced by him because he’d be on it saying shit like “yep-yep” (the equivalent of “that’s right”). On top of that, if I can channel Suge Knight for a second, Ted was allll in the videos… allll on the records… dancin’.
Going back to what I said earlier, TR’s biggest accomplishment was that by the early-’90s, almost every bit of uptempo R&B music on the radio sounded like his shit. Even producers who were on top before he came along (Jam & Lewis, L.A. Reid & Babyface) were making some of their songs in a New Jack Swing style. If I could compare NJS to something, I’d say it’s the same way Alternative Rock came along and dominated rock music until it wasn’t the “alternative” anymore.
Eventually, NJS started moving on out as the second half of 1992 rolled in. Just like other producers had done with him, he ended up having to absorb himself into the Hip-Hop Soul sound, which he didn’t do too poorly. He kept it going as a member of BlackStreet, and still pumped out hits, although his workload definitely got lighter.
It’s been a hot minute since his last big record, but the ones on his resume are kinda like a big deal. Even this decade owes a lot to his legacy, because he was an early mentor to The Neptunes, who practically ran the whole first half of the 2000′s. I try not to make these entries long as shit, but I def. had to acknowledge Teddy Riley’s contributions, as should anyone who recognizes. Salute!
Guy “Teddy’s Jam 2″ (1990)
The Winans feat. Teddy Riley “It’s Time” (1990)
Michael Jackson “In The Closet” (1991)
Heavy D & The Boyz “Is It Good To You” (1991)
Hi-Five “I Like The Way (The Kissing Game)” (1991)
Wreckx N Effect “Rump Shaker (Remix)” (1992)
Bobby Brown “Get Away” (1993)
SWV “I’m So Into You (Remix)” (1993)
BlackStreet “Don’t Leave Me” (1996)
Queen Pen feat. Teddy Riley “Man Behind The Music” (1997)
-D!
Posted by Danj! 
