*Teddy Riley is preparing to tell his story in his own words. On February 10, Simon & Schuster will release “Remember the Times,” a new memoir from the Grammy Award–winning producer widely credited with creating New Jack Swing and reshaping modern R&B and hip-hop.
Written with award-winning biographer Jake Brown, the book traces Riley’s rise from a teenage musical prodigy in Harlem to one of the most influential figures in contemporary music, per the news release. Known for his work with Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, Guy, and Blackstreet, Riley reflects on decades of creative breakthroughs, personal setbacks, and collaborations that helped define entire eras of sound.
Throughout the memoir, Riley revisits the evolution of popular music from the 1980s to today, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how genres blended and expanded as Black artists pushed culture forward. Publishers Weekly described the book as “a candid, illuminating window into the career of one of rap and R&B’s major players,” while Library Journal noted that “fans of Riley’s work will be wildly entertained.”
Artists across generations have praised Riley’s influence and legacy. Pharrell Williams credited him as “such an incredible mixologist of so many different styles,” adding that his vocal production “pretty much changed the way people listen to music still to this day.” Snoop Dogg echoed that sentiment, saying, “Before I was making records, I was buying [Teddy’s] records.”
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Vibe emphasized Riley’s lasting impact on the industry, writing that “without the Guy and Blackstreet leader’s blueprint, there would be no Mary J. Blige, Jermaine Dupri… or Bruno Mars.” Fellow producers have also acknowledged his role as a trailblazer, with will.i.am stating, “If there wasn’t a Teddy Riley, there would be no Timbaland, no Neptunes, and no me.”
With “Remember the Times,” Riley offers an intimate account of a career that helped redefine popular music, cementing his place as both an innovator and a historian of the culture he helped build.
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