Blackstreet

Release date

01 January 1970

If you are interested in booking Blackstreet, please contact one of our agents: info@international-artists.com

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One of the top R&B vocal groups of the ’90s, Blackstreet was founded by singer, producer, and new jack swing
pioneer Teddy Riley after the breakup of his seminal trio Guy. Riley had taken a few years to concentrate on his
booming production career, which saw him working with Wreckx-N-Effect, Bobby Brown, Michael Jackson and
SWV, and many more.

His itch to get back in the performing arena resulted in the formation of Blackstreet in 1991, which included
singers Chauncey “Black” Hannibal, Levi Little, and Joe Stonestreet in addition to Riley. Stonestreet was replaced
by Dave Hollister prior to the recording of the group’s self-titled debut album, which appeared in the spring of
1994. On the strength of “Before I Let You Go,” a Top Five hit on the R&B charts, Blackstreet was a platinum-selling
hit even without much crossover exposure.

Dave Hollister left for a solo career and Little exited as well, their replacements were Mark Middleton and Eric
Williams. The new additions helped set the stage for Blackstreet’s pop breakthrough with 1996’s Another Level.
More specifically, it was the inescapable smash single “No Diggity”, which featured special guest Dr. Dre, that put
them over the top.

“No Diggity” reigned for four weeks on top of the pop charts and won a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal by a Duo or
Group, it also pushed sales of Another Level past the four million mark. The follow-up single, “Don’t Leave Me,” was
a decent-sized hit in 1997, and the group later made a guest appearance on Dr. Dre’s “The City Is Mine” and teamed
with Mýa and Mase for the hit “Take Me There” from the Rugrats soundtrack. More personnel shifts had ensued
following their blockbuster success, however: Middleton left for his own solo career and was replaced by Terrell
Phillips.

Blackstreet’s third album, Finally, was released in early 1999, and though it contained “Take Me There” (and a bevy of guest cameos), it spent one week in the Top Ten.