In addition to writing and producing hits for singers such as Michael
Jackson, Mary J. Blige and Bobby Brown, Teddy Riley is noted for two
significant contributions to contemporary music.

And those are his creation of the New Jack Swing sound by combining R&B and
rap, and discovering Virgina teens Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, now
super producers known as The Neptunes, at a talent show.

But there’s a third gift of which he is equally proud: “I had the first
booty record played on MTV,” says the 38-year-old Harlem, N.Y., native by
phone from his Virginia Beach base.

That would be the 1992 No. 2 pop single “Rump Shaker,” which Riley co-wrote
and produced for the group Wreckx-N-Effect, which included his younger
brother Markell.

The video for the raunchy song (I don’t mind stickin` it to her every single
night) sparked an enduring and controversial trend with its buxom
bikini-clad babes.

“I don’t take the credit for all of it, but I’ll take the credit that was
given to me,” said Riley. “If you asked me if I would do it again - yeah, I
would because it’s original and I originally done it.”

One can be sure, however, that his 18-year-old daughter who is currently
exploring showbiz as a backup dancer won’t be shaking her tail feather on
camera.

“Oh! No way!”

“The thing about it is my daughter has a choice. We had a choice. Just like
you had a choice to like that music or be offended by it. You all have a
choice to dance on that song, sing the song, make the song, arrange the
song. It’s our choice and we’re grown enough to make that choice.”

Riley, who has also done a fair bit of dancing and singing himself, will be
making his first Canadian appearance tomorrow with his erstwhile male vocal
groups Guy and BLACKstreet as part of the New Jack Swing Reunion Tour, which
also features ’90s favourites Tony!Toni!Tone! and SWV.

After two successful albums, Guy (1988) and The Future (1990), Guy - his
trio with brothers Aaron and Damion Hall - disbanded amidst infighting and
record label wrangling. Riley formed BLACKstreet; Aaron and Damion put out
solo records before reuniting for the lukewarm Guy III in 2000 and current
tour.

“We had to get ourselves together and grow up,” said Riley. “We did our solo
things and now when we get back together people appreciate it even more.

“Especially when you see that we haven’t missed a beat. The compliments and
the responses that we’ve been getting … people say we look the same, as a
matter of fact, they say we look younger and better.”

Really?

“Oh, man! Wait ’til you see. We don’t play on the stage. We are the
originals. We know what the Ushers and all the different people have been
doing, but they wouldn’t have been doing what they’ve been doing if it
wasn’t for Guy.

“And I’m not cocky. This is something that would usually come from Aaron.
Me, myself it’s a pleasure to still be doing what we’re doing and have
people still receiving our music almost two decades later.

“We have not been fairly compensated financially for our contributions, but
we’ve always been respected.

“Our compensation comes in our blessings and it is a blessing that we’re
back together. We could’ve been on drugs or just can’t do it no more.
“Keeping God first, that’s the main thing - we all come from spiritual
families - and then having our families, my children, I’m a single man and I
have a life with my children.”

How many children does he have?

“I really wouldn’t like that to be printed, that’s like my personal life,
just say my kids … having that sense to be in their lives and still get
along with their mothers and everything going smooth and I can go out and
make my money and do what I do and bring it home and chill with my
children.”

Currently writing songs for Michael Jackson and rapper Nas, as well as
working on new Guy and BLACKstreet albums, Riley isn’t worried about making
it on youth-dominated radio.

“I don’t get into music for the competition,” he said. “I know if I write a
great song, its going to be played - today, tomorrow, 15 years from now -
like Guy records are still being played.”

Source: TheStar.com

Category: Archive