Teddy Riley talks about his life and career during TV One’s Uncensored special.
The singer, songwriter, producer and “new jack swing” pioneer sat down with the autobiographical series to discuss his journey from a kid in Harlem with big dreams, to a Grammy and NAACP Image Award-winning music pioneer.
Riley, Aaron Hall, and Timmy Gatling founded R&B group Guy. The trio released their debut album titled “Guy” in 1988 and made new jack swing — a fusion of R&B, hip hop and other genres. Hall’s younger brother Damion Hall would later join the group.
In his interview with Uncensored, Riley talks about leaving Guy, and collaborating with the likes of Keith Sweat and Michael Jackson.
“I felt like with Michael, I was a big brother and that I was also a little brother,” Riley says in the above preview clip.
“Anything that I ever needed, Michael, I didn’t have to call him for it,” Riley shares about the late King of Pop. “He would just feel something. He would just call and say are you alright?”
Following the release and tour of Guy’s second CD, “The Future” in 1990, Riley co-produced Michael Jackson’s “Dangerous” album.
“Prior to working with Michael, hanging out with him was about a week,” Riley explained. “I was ready to get to the music and he was like, ‘we’re going to go to the studio, I just want to kind of spend some time. You get to know how I am, and I get to know how you are… He was studying me. He was studying everything about me.”
Riley also talks about spending time at Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. He also explained that he quitted the group because of the death of his friend and the pressure on the group. He then took his car to Michael’s house with the demo of “Remember the Time” blasting from the car’s speakers.
Check out a part of the interview here:
During the interview, Riley also defends Michael Jackson from the false allegations.
“My view was that it was all lies,” Riley said firmly. “A lot of stuff that was going on in his life – especially with me being the one to know him as a friend and as a brother and spent the time with him – you can’t tell me nothing. All of those things are lies. Now it’s coming to the forefront. Everything in the dark always comes to light.”
Riley also worked on the controversial “MICHAEL” album and he has spoken out few times to say he was tricked on this album.
“I was [given] a problem that involved my best friend and sign[ed] a contract to remix what I had,” explained Riley via Twitter on September 2, 2013. “It was too late for me to turn back so I finished out the project. Now if you want me to apologize for that, yes, I’m funkin’ sorry I did it.”
SOURCE: TV ONE
