| The Future | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 13, 1990 | |||
| Recorded | 1989–1990 | |||
| Studio | Soundtrack (New York City) | |||
| Genre | New jack swing [1] | |||
| Length | 72:02 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | ||||
| Guy chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Future | ||||
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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.
The Future had a much darker tone in stark contrast to their debut. Most of it had to do with things going on behind the scenes. A year after the release of their debut album, they fired their manager Gene Griffin—who they claimed allocated funds from the group. [2] [3] This revelation angered all of the members, and particularly infuriated lead singer Aaron Hall—so much so that he didn't sing on half of the album. Hall revealed:
"There came a time where I just did not want to sing a single note. To be honest, it was the money. It just became too depressing. We were the biggest group in the world and we were flat broke. It took its toll". [4]
As a result, Teddy Riley assumed the duties of lead vocals for the remainder of The Future.
Also on a tour with their MCA labelmates New Edition, things got out of hand between the two acts. [4] Although New Edition were headliners, Guy happened to upstage them a few dates into the tour. This created a rivalry backstage that turned deadly. One of New Edition's production managers Ronald Boyd shot and killed Anthony Bee—a member of Guy's security detail. [4] [5] [6] Guy would dedicate the song "Long Gone" to the memory of Bee- as well as Wreckx-n-Effect member Brandon Mitchell, who was also killed in the same year. [7] [4] The Future contained songs where they attacked their former manager Gene Griffin and his then-proteges, Motown Records recording group Basic Black. [7] By the time they released the fifth single "Let's Stay Together" in early 1992, Guy called it quits and embarked on separate endeavors, with Aaron and Damion Hall releasing solo albums and Riley starting the group Blackstreet with Damion Hall's protege Chauncey Black, along with close friends Levi Little & Joe Stonestreet. [2] [4]
A couple of the songs from The Future have been covered. Priority Records singer Toni Estes covered the song "Let's Chill" from her 2000 debut Two Eleven. [8] Singer Charlie Wilson also covered "Let's Chill" from his 2005 album Charlie, Last Name Wilson . [9] R&B singer Case covered the song "Smile" on his 2009 album The Rose Experience . [10]
The Future peaked at sixteen on the U.S. Billboard 200 and reached number one on the R&B Albums chart. By January 1991, it was certified platinum in sales by the RIAA after sales exceeding one million copies in the United States.
Although Alex Henderson of AllMusic felt The Future was not as strong an album as its predecessor, he still gave a positive note to the work, calling it "one of the more appealing—and certainly more authentic—examples of "new jack swing." [1]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Her" | Aqil Davidson, Aaron Hall, Teddy Riley | 3:53 |
| 2. | "Wanna Get with U" | Davidson, Hall, Riley | 4:47 |
| 3. | "Do Me Right" (featuring Heavy D) | Heavy D, Riley, Way | 4:23 |
| 4. | "Teddy's Jam 2" | 4:19 | |
| 5. | "Let's Chill" | Bernard Belle, Riley | 5:23 |
| 6. | "Tease Me Tonite" | Hall, Riley, Dave Way | 5:08 |
| 7. | "D-O-G Me Out" | Hall, Riley, Way | 4:23 |
| 8. | "Total Control" | Davidson, Riley | 3:00 |
| 9. | "Gotta Be a Leader" (featuring Wreckx-N-Effect) | Davidson, Riley | 4:28 |
| 10. | "The Future" | Aaron Hall, Damion Hall, Riley, Way | 4:12 |
| 11. | "Let's Stay Together" | Hall, Riley | 4:01 |
| 12. | "Where Did the Love Go" | Hall, Hall, Riley | 1:15 |
| 13. | "Yearning for Your Love" | Oliver Scott, Ronnie Wilson | 4:35 |
| 14. | "Smile" | Hall, Hall, Riley | 4:25 |
| 15. | "Long Gone" | Belle, Riley | 5:52 |
| 16. | "Wanna Get with U" (club version) | Davidson, Hall, Riley | 7:58 |
| Total length: | 72:02 | ||
Credits adapted from the CD liner notes.
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
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.
The Neptunes were an American record production duo composed of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, formed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in 1992. Williams often provided backing vocals and music video appearances on the duo's productions, while Hugo remained behind the scenes.
New jack swing, new jack, or swingbeat is a fusion genre of the rhythms and production techniques of hip hop and dance-pop, and the urban contemporary sound of R&B. Spearheaded by producers Teddy Riley, Bernard Belle, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, new jack swing was most popular from the late 1980s to early 1990s.
Guy is an American hip hop, R&B and soul group founded in 1987 by Teddy Riley, Aaron Hall, and Timmy Gatling. Hall's younger brother Damion Hall replaced Gatling after the recording of the group's self-titled debut album. The group released their debut album, which went on to sell over a million copies and was certified double platinum. Following their success, the group released their second album The Future in 1990, which also charted with successful singles and received platinum as well. Following their nearly decade long split, the group returned with their third album before the 2000s, which charted with their hit single "Dancin'".
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.
Wreckx-n-Effect is an American new jack swing group from Harlem, New York City. They are perhaps best known for their 1992 single "Rump Shaker", which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.
Aaron Robin Hall III is an American singer and songwriter. Hall joined the R&B and new jack swing group Guy in 1988, which was formed by Teddy Riley and Timmy Gatling, who was later replaced by Hall's brother, Damion. The group's self-titled debut album (1988) was met with commercial success; Hall provided lead vocals on its songs "Groove Me," "I Like," and "Piece of My Love", 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.
Make It Last Forever is the debut album of American R&B recording artist Keith Sweat. It was recorded at INS Recording and Power Play Studios in New York City. Released on November 24, 1987, the album went to number one on the Top R&B Albums chart for three weeks, and number 15 on the Billboard 200. Make It Last Forever was one of the earliest R&B albums to showcase the up-and-coming new jack swing sound, as it was mostly produced by Sweat himself and music producer Teddy Riley.
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.
Blackstreet is the debut studio album from American R&B group Blackstreet, released in 1994 on Interscope Records. In 1991 the group was formed by Riley with Chauncey Hannibal in Virginia Beach Virginia after the dissolution of Teddy Riley's former group Guy. The other members of Blackstreet Joseph Stonestreet and Levi Little were session singers alongside Hannibal who sung background Bobby Brown's third album Bobby, an album that was mostly produced by Riley who recruited them all to be singer.
They recorded one song for the soundtrack of the Chris Rock film CB4 called "Baby Be Mine". After they finish recording the first half of the album, Joseph "Street" Stonestreet left the group due to creative differences and business disputes with Teddy Riley and was replaced by former Force One Network singer Dave Hollister in 1994 .Then they re-recorded "Baby Be Mine" for their self-titled debut, Hollister's vocals were added on the album version of the song.
Guy is the 1988 debut studio album by American R&B band Guy. Released on June 14, 1988, by Uptown Records. It was produced by group member Teddy Riley and manager Gene Griffin. The album peaked at number 27 on the Billboard 200 chart. In July 1994, it was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, for shipments of two million copies in the United States. In 2007, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the album, Geffen Records reissued the recording complete with a remastered version of the original album and a second CD of remixes.
Peaceful Journey is the third album by American rap group Heavy D & the Boyz. It was released on July 2, 1991, for Uptown Records and was produced by Pete Rock, DJ Eddie F, Teddy Riley, Marley Marl and Howie Tee. This marked the group's first album since the death of member Trouble T Roy, who died almost a year before the album's release, and several songs on the album pay tribute to him. Though not as successful as the group's previous album, Big Tyme, the album was able to reach Platinum status and made it to number 21 on the Billboard 200 and number 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
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.
"Rump Shaker" is a song by American hip-hop group Wreckx-N-Effect. It was released in August 1992 by MCA Records as the lead single from their second album, Hard or Smooth (1992). It features production and guest vocals from Teddy Riley, brother of former Wreckx member Markell Riley. Due to the massive success of Whitney Houston's version of "I Will Always Love You," the song did not advance further than No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks charts. Nevertheless, it peaked at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Singles, and No. 9 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts.
"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.
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"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.
"Let's Chill" is a song released by American R&B band Guy from the album The Future. Co-written by Bernard Belle and Teddy Riley, it was released as the second single from the album on February 18, 1991. It reached #41 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, #10 on the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart and #3 on the R&B/Hip-hop singles chart; it was the highest-charting single by Guy on the Hot 100 at the time, not to be beat until 1999's "Dancin'".
Aqil Davidson is an American lyricist who aside from his solo career, serves as lead vocalist for the new jack swing group Wreckx-n-Effect. He has also been credited with songwriting or production work on albums by Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, MC Hammer, MC Lyte, and Guy.
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