Blackstreet is an American R&B group founded in 1991 by record producers Chauncey "Black" Hannibal, and Teddy Riley. The group released four albums with Interscope Records between 1994 and 2003. They achieved relative commercial success leading up to their 1996 single "No Diggity", which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks.
Edward Theodore Riley is an American record producer, singer, and songwriter credited with the creation of the R&B and hip hop fusion genre, new jack swing. He is the founder and lead vocalist of the musical group Blackstreet, as well as its predecessor Guy. The genre gained popularity from artists who utilized Riley's production and songwriting, namely Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, Heavy D & the Boyz, Keith Sweat, Hi-Five, and the Jackson 5, among others.
Faith is the debut studio album by American singer Faith Evans. It was released by Bad Boy Records on August 29, 1995, in the United States. A collaboration with the label's main producers the Hitmen, including members Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs and Chucky Thompson, as well as Mark Ledford, Herb Middleton, and Jean-Claude Olivier, among others.
No Diggity is a song by American R&B group Blackstreet, serving as the first single from their second studio album, Another Level (1996). Featuring Dr. Dre and Queen Pen, the song was released on July 29, 1996, by Interscope. It reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in Iceland and New Zealand. The song ended "Macarena's" 14-week reign at the top of the Billboard Hot 100. In the United Kingdom, it peaked at number nine. "No Diggity" was the final number-one single of Cash Box magazine. The track sold 1.6 million copies in 1996 and won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. It includes samples from Bill Withers's "Grandma's Hands". The music video for the song was directed by Hype Williams.
Another Level is the second studio album by American R&B group Blackstreet. Released in September 10, 1996, it was the first album with new members Eric Williams and Mark Middleton. They joined the group after replacing departed members Dave Hollister and Levi Little. Another Level was also the first Blackstreet album released under Interscope Records' new distribution deal with MCA Music Entertainment, Inc. after the company was dropped by Time Warner several months before the release of the album.
"French Kissing" is a song by German singer Sarah Connor. It was written by Rob Tyger and Kay Denar for her debut studio album, Green Eyed Soul (2001). A sensual mid-tempo song about tongue kissing, it is built around a sample of "No Diggity" (1996) by American R&B group Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre and Queen Pen. Due to the inclusion of the sample, Dr. Dre, Queen Pen, William "Skylz" Stewart and Blackstreet members Teddy Riley and Chauncey Hannibal are also credited as songwriters.
Finally is the third album from R&B group Blackstreet. It was released on Interscope Records on March 23, 1999. Finally was the only album to feature Terrell Phillips, after the departure of Mark Middleton. After the success of their multi-platinum last album Another Level, their label allowed them a bigger budget for the next album. Finally was recorded at Teddy Riley's studio Future Recording Studios based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Originally given the working title Get Higher, the album was scheduled for a November 1998 release until it was pushed back to March 1999.
Level II is the fourth album by R&B group, Blackstreet, released on March 11, 2003. It was their first and only album released on record label DreamWorks Records. The album's title was a reference to its members' best known line-up during their most successful album, 1996's Another Level. Two of the members returned for the recording of Level II. Mark Middleton returned to the fold after he was replaced by Terrell Phillips on 1999's Finally to launch a gospel music career. Dave Hollister returned on the song "Bygones", as he also left the group to start his solo career.
Bobby is the third studio album by American singer Bobby Brown, released in 1992 by MCA Records. The album continued the R&B/new jack swing sound of its predecessor, Don't Be Cruel. Babyface, L.A. Reid, and Daryl Simmons returned as producers and songwriters, however, Brown also worked with other producers, most notably Teddy Riley, who was considered a pioneer of the new jack swing genre. Riley also co-wrote and produced the majority of the album. Brown had more creative input and control of the album, becoming an executive producer and co-writing seven of the album's thirteen songs. The album received mixed reviews from music critics.
"Don't Leave Me" is a song by American R&B group Blackstreet, produced by Teddy Riley and released in February 1997 as the third single from their second album, Another Level (1996). It contains a sample of the DeBarge song "A Dream", also used in "I Ain't Mad at Cha" by Tupac Shakur. "Don't Leave Me" features Eric Williams, Mark Middleton, and Chauncey Hannibal on lead vocals. It topped the New Zealand Singles Chart for two weeks in May 1997 and reached No. 6 in the United Kingdom. In the United States, the song peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 Airplay chart.
My Melody is the debut studio album by American rapper Queen Pen, released on December 16, 1997, by Lil' Man Records, a distribution by Interscope Records and was executive produced by Teddy Riley. The album went to number 78 on the Billboard 200, number 13 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number one on the Top Heatseekers, and had three charting singles "Man Behind the Music", "All My Love" and "Party Ain't a Party".
Hard or Smooth is the second album released by Wreckx-n-Effect. It was released on November 24, 1992 by MCA Records, and featured production from Teddy Riley and Ty Fyffe, as well as Riley's engineers Franklyn Grant and David Wynn. This marked Wreckx-n-Effect's first album following the death of member Brandon Mitchell, who was fatally shot in 1990.
The Future is the second studio album by American R&B group Guy, released in November 13, 1990, on Uptown Records. It was their last album before their reunion a decade later.
Personal is the debut studio album by the American vocal group Men of Vizion. It was released on June 18, 1996, via Michael Jackson's record label, MJJ Music, after a demo tape was played to him by producer Teddy Riley. The album has been described as a "sumptuous blend" of vocal R&B and "90s production techniques", that alternates between smooth ballads and new jack swing.
"Heaven Can Wait" is a song recorded by Michael Jackson, originally released on his 2001 studio album Invincible. The song was written by Jackson, Teddy Riley, Andreao "Fanatic" Heard, Nate Smith, Teron Beal, Eritza Laues and Kenny Quiller.
Guy III is the third studio album by American R&B group Guy, released on January 25, 2000, by MCA Records. The album reached number five on the R&B Albums chart and peaked at number thirteen on the Billboard 200 chart.
"Booti Call" is a song by American R&B group Blackstreet, recorded for the group's self-titled debut album (1994). The song was released as the second single for the album in July 1994.
"Before I Let You Go" is a song by American R&B group Blackstreet, recorded for the group's self-titled debut album (1994). The song was released as the third single for the album in November 1994. The song was notable for featuring lead vocals from Dave Hollister who joined the group upon the album's release.
"Joy" is a song by American R&B group Blackstreet. The song was written by Michael Jackson, was released as the fifth single for the group's self-titled debut album Blackstreet (1994).
Serban Ghenea is a Canadian audio engineer and mixer. He has been nominated for a Grammy Award a total of 45 times and has won 21 times.
