Teddy Riley is getting candid about his life and career in a new episode of TV One’s Uncensored.
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 — mainstream. Hall’s younger brother Damion Hall would later join the group.
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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?”
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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. You can catch more of the interview as TV One unveils new episodes of Unsung and Uncensored on Sunday, March 21.
Unsung leads the back-to-back night of premieres with Morris Day at 9 p.m. ET/8c, immediately followed by Uncensored with Teddy Riley at 10 p.m. ET/9C.
