Blackstreet

BLACKstreet is an American R&B group founded in 1992 by Teddy Riley, the inventor of New Jack Swing known for his work as a member of the group Guy. Their debut album, "BLACKstreet," was a moderate success due to the singles "Booti Call" and "Before I Let You Go," both Top 40 hits. The follow-up, 1996's "Another Level" was a breakthrough success due to the top single "No Diggity" (with Dr. Dre), which was a #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in November 1996, and won the 1998 Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, along with the Top 40 hit "Don't Leave Me."

"Another Level" eventually went four times platinum in the United States and peaked at #3 on the Billboard chart. "No Diggity" is ranked at #91 on Rolling Stone and MTV: 100 Greatest Pop Songs, while BLACKstreet comes in at #214 of the Top 500 Pop Artists of the Past 25 Years. BLACKstreet also collaborated with Jay-Z on his single "The City is Mine." The debut single from their third album, "Girlfriend/Boyfriend" a collaboration with Janet Jackson featuring Ja Rule and Eve -- finally netted the group a top ten album. Unfortunately, personnel shifts wrecked the group and contributed to the relative failure of "Finally" and BLACKstreet soon broke up.

After rumors of legal action and a preemptive countersuit, the group re-banded and released "Level II" in 2003. In 2006 the group was a part of the New Jack Reunion Tour with Teddy Riley, Mark Middleton, Eric Williams, and new member J-Stylz. In 2009 the "Another Level" lineup of Teddy Riley, Chauncey Hannibal, Mark Middleton. and Eric Williams have reunited and are working on a new album. Riley has also reunited his other group Guy with the Hall brothers Aaron Hall and Damion Hall and both groups are going to tour together and release new albums.