| 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 provides additional vocals on records and appears in the duo's music videos, while Hugo tends to stay behind the scenes.
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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 millennium, 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 also 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.
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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.
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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.
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"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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"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, sometimes socially referred to as A-Plus or Empra, is an American lyricist, hip-hop artist, and record producer. He is known for being front man and lead rapper of hip-hop / new jack swing brand Wreckx-n-Effect and writing, producing, and being featured on songs by Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, MC Hammer, MC Lyte, and Guy.
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