Guy

The pioneering R&B outfit Guy introduced new jack swing to audiences by fusing traditional soul vocals with hip-hop rhythms, a style whose origins trace directly to founder Teddy Riley, the multi-instrumentalist and super-producer who launched the group. Riley assembled his debut project Wreckx-N-Effect during his teenage years with brothers Markell Riley and Brandon Mitchell, then formed Guy two years afterward in 1987. The original configuration featured vocalists Aaron Hall and Timmy Gatling. Their self-titled debut album achieved immediate commercial impact, generating the R&B hits “I Like,” “Groove Me,” “Spend the Night,” and “Teddy’s Jam.” At the same time Riley’s songwriting and production services were in heavy demand; in 1988 he produced Bobby Brown’s Don’t Be Cruel, the album that carried new jack swing into the pop mainstream. Riley’s additional credits include Kool Moe Dee, Michael Jackson’s Dangerous, Stevie Wonder, Keith Sweat, Jane Child, and SWV. Between Guy releases the trio placed original material on the soundtracks for Do the Right Thing and New Jack City.

By 1989 internal strain intensified after Riley’s brother Brandon Mitchell was killed in a shooting and the group entered a contentious split with manager Gene Griffin over finances. The 1990 album The Future replaced Gatling with Aaron Hall’s brother Albert Damion Hall and yielded the R&B hits “Let’s Chill,” “Do Me Right,” “D-O-G Me Out,” and “Long Gone.” Recognition for the group’s innovative work arrived only after the trio had already disbanded. Riley focused on production and songwriting for several years before assembling Blackstreet with vocalists Chauncey “Black” Hannibal, Dave Hollister, and Levi Little; the quartet released its self-titled debut in 1994. Aaron Hall issued his solo debut The Truth in 1993, and Damion followed in 1994 with Straight to the Point. Guy reunited in 1999 and released Guy III early the next year.