Blackstreet

Teddy Riley invented New Jack Swing in the late 1980s as a producer and with his group, Guy. Blending the silky smooth vocal harmonies of contemporary R&B with the beats and musical edge of hip-hop, Riley created a whole new genre in black music. He continued his hot streak with his next group, Blackstreet. Founded in the early 1990s, the group scored several R&B hits before hitting number one across the board with the 1997 smash "No Diggity". The group's blunt loverman lyrics, slick beats, and undeniable grooves provided a template for subsequent R&B ensembles such as Pretty Ricky and Jagged Edge.

• pop
• r&b/soul
• hip hop/rap