At the age of 15, he produced his first hit record "The Show/La Di Da Di" for rappers Doug E. Fresh and The Get Fresh Crew who included: DJs Barry B., Chill Will and MC Ricky D AKA Slick Rick and the underground classic hit for Classical II "Raps New Generation". His composition of one-hit wonder Johnny Kemp's "Just Got Paid" became a very popular track reaching #1 on the Billboard R&B charts in the spring of 1988. He was also known of producing hits for Keith Sweat on his debut album, Make It Last Forever, released in November 1987, which produced number one hits such as "I Want Her" and "Something Just Ain't Right". He also produced tracks for hip hop artists such as Kool Moe Dee and Heavy D & the Boyz on their debut album, Livin' Large (1987) on Uptown/MCA Records.
In the summer of 1988 Bobby Brown released his smash hit album Don't Be Cruel which included the hit single "Don't Be Cruel", "Every Little Step" and Riley's first major mainstream hit produced song "My Prerogative" along with writing skills of Guy's Aaron Hall.
Riley got the idea of forming his own group after it was suggested to him that a younger singer named Aaron Hall was looking to join a group. After meeting at a New York mall, Riley and Hall became friends and formed what would be Guy in 1987. Complete with a third member - Timmy Gatling - they recorded and finished their self-titled debut in the summer 1988, which by the time of Gatling's exit and Hall's younger brother Damian's entry. The album sold over 3 million copies with hits like "Groove Me", "Teddy's Jam", "Piece of My Love", "I Like" and "Spend the Night". The album had established the group as a unique R&B musical force through out the end of the 1980s into the 1990s.
While in the band Guy he also produced and remixed songs for acts such as Abstrac, Aretha Franklin & Whitney Houston, Billy Ocean, Blondie, Boy George, David Peaston, Hi-Five, James Ingram, Stephanie Mills, The Jacksons, Wreckx-N-Effect (which included his brother Markell Riley) on their first album Wrecks 'n' Effect, which featured the hit songs "New Jack Swing", "Juicy" and "Club Head". He remixed Jane Child's hit song "Don't Wanna Fall in Love", which peaked at #2 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart for three weeks in the spring of 1990.
In between albums, Guy appeared on the 1989 Spike Lee film Do The Right Thing soundtrack, their song "My Fantasy", was also released as a single. The film title song was originally performed by rapper / producer Redhead Kingpin, which Riley produced called "Do The Right Thing". However, Spike Lee went along with Public Enemy "Fight The Power" as it matched the mood of the film. Never the less both songs went on to be smashes in summer of '89.
He turned Heavy D & the Boyz into a hip hop powerhouse in 1989 on their sophomore effort Big Tyme, by producing their hit song "We Got Our Thang". The album also featured "Somebody For Me", which also featured notable New jack Swing artist Al B. Sure.
The Future, the second album released by Guy in the autumn of 1990 produced hits such as ""Wanna Get With U", "Let's Chill", "Do Me Right", "Her" and "D.O.G. Me Out".
Guy contributed a song to the soundtrack of Mario Van Peebles 1991 directoral debut film New Jack City, which stared Wesley Snipes, Ice-T and Chris Rock. Guy also appeared in the film as the New Year's Eve Band. Guy also contributed to the 1992 film FernGully: The Last Rainforest soundtrack, with the song "Land Of A Thousand Dances"
Before the band Guy split up, Riley moved his music operations to Virginia Beach, where he set up his Future Recording Studio.
Michael Jackson, who would have Riley produce his records following the release of his 1991 album, Dangerous. Riley produced the Jackson songs, "Remember the Time", "Jam" which featured Heavy D, "She Drives Me Wild", "In the Closet", and the title song "Dangerous".
Riley also went on to contribute to the Juice soundtrack which starred rapper Tupac Shakur aka 2Pac. Riley's song "Is It Good To You" perfomed with long time collaborator Tammy Lucas was a smash hit. His fellow ex-Guy bandmate Aaron Hall was also on the soundtrack his song "Don't Be Afraid" was the big hit on the movie soundtrack.
Even throughout his reign as producer, Riley found time to form another band Blackstreet in 1992. The first song that Blackstreet released was "Baby Be Mine" which was off the "CB4" soundtrack which stared Chris Rock. In 1994 Blackstreet released their debut self-titled platinum selling album which featured the hits "Booti Call" and "Before I Let Go". The follow-up album took the group to national prominence with the release of their sophomore effort, Another Level, in 1996, which sold 4x platinum, it featured their biggest-selling hit to date, "No Diggity".
In 2005, he had disbanded and reformed Blackstreet. Riley also worked on an album with Outsiderz 4 Life [1], producing Wil' Out and others.
Riley will be working with Australian singer Kylie Minogue for her comeback album.
Riley is also credited for discovering The Neptunes (Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo) and Rodney Jerkins.
My Fantasy
Teddy Riley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You all ready to kick? C'mon.
1-2-3
Swing it
Aw yeah baby, you're my fantasy
And I want everybody in the house to clap,
Clap, clap your hands, c'mon
Ready? You all ready? Here we go. 1-2-3
Swing it, (woof) Aw yeah, (woof) Aw yeah, (woof) Aw yeah
All the money major fellas (woof)
Oh yeah do the dog, do, do the dog
Now I want to introduce whose in the house tonight, ready?
Guys in the house, Jeane Griff's in the house
Red Hairs in the house
Wreck n' Efects in the house
Today's in the house
And my man zen in the house
Spike Lee's in the house
GR kicking it live
You're just a fantasy (She's a fantasy)
Image in a magazine (Image in a magazine)
I've seen the face before (I've seen the face before)
Her body walks out of my door (Hey Hey Hey Hey)
She's just a fanatasy
Image in a magazine
I've seen the face before
Her body walks out of my door
Eveytime I close my eyes,
What she gives me is said surprise
That body was so kicking
Hey fellas, it's just a thing I need
She's just a fantasy (She's a fantasy)
Image in a magazine (Image in a magazine)
I've seen the face before (I've seen the face before)
Her body walks out of my door (Hey Hey Hey Hey)
She sets my heart aflame
I wonder what's her name
Something inside says hey
This could be my lucky day
She's just a fantasy (She's a fantasy)
Image in a magazine (Image in a magazine)
I've seen the face before (I've seen the face before)
Her body walks out of my door (I like, I like yo! )
I wish my fantasy yeah, could come true
My love fantasy
She's just a fantasy (She's a fantasy)
Image in a magazine (Image in a magazine)
I've seen her face before (I've seen the face before)
Her body walks out of my door (I like, I like yo! )
You're just a fantasy (She's a fantasy)
Image in a magazine (Image in a magazine)
I've seen her face before (I've seen the face before)
Her body walks out of my door (Hey Hey Hey Hey)
You're just a fantasy (just a fantasy)
Image in a magazine (Image in a magazine)
I've seen her face before (I've seen the face before)
Her body walks out of my door (Hey Hey Hey Hey)
It's my fantasy, It's my fantasy, You're just my fantasy
Teddy Riley's "My Fantasy" featuring Guy is a lively party track that primarily discusses the singer’s attraction to a woman he has never met. The repetitive use of the phrase "she's just a fantasy" and "image in a magazine" implies that the woman's beauty is a product of the media, something that is not real or tangible. Despite the fact that the singer has never met the woman, he is still drawn to her and describes her "walking out of his door" whenever he closes his eyes, highlighting the intensity of his fantasies.
The lyrics suggest that the main character is preoccupied with the idea of love and romance and finding someone special. The chorus states that "it's my fantasy" indicating that the focus is purely internal, entirely of the realm of the mind. The verse "She sets my heart aflame; I wonder what's her name" suggests that the main character is seeking someone to light up his world.
Overall, the song is a fun and lively celebration of attraction, longing, and desire towards a woman who the singer has never actually met. The chorus's singalong nature makes it easy to enjoy and spread good vibes.
Line by Line Meaning
Aw yeah baby, you're my fantasy
The singer is infatuated with a woman he considers his fantasy.
And I want everybody in the house to clap, Clap, clap your hands, c'mon
The singer wants everyone in the audience to clap.
All the money major fellas (woof)
The singer is addressing wealthy men.
Now I want to introduce whose in the house tonight, ready?
The singer is getting ready to introduce the guests present in the audience.
You're just a fantasy (She's a fantasy)
The woman the singer desires is an unrealistic fantasy.
Image in a magazine (Image in a magazine)
The woman the singer desires is merely an image in a magazine.
I've seen the face before (I've seen the face before)
The singer recognizes the woman's face from previous encounters.
Her body walks out of my door (Hey Hey Hey Hey)
The singer desires the woman so much that he imagines her walking out of his door.
She sets my heart aflame
The woman the singer desires excites him.
I wonder what's her name
The singer is curious about the woman's identity.
Something inside says hey
The singer feels that something about the woman is special.
This could be my lucky day
The singer hopes he will have a chance to meet the woman he desires.
I wish my fantasy yeah, could come true
The singer wishes that his fantasy of being with the woman he desires would come true.
It's my fantasy, It's my fantasy, You're just my fantasy
The singer reiterates that his desire for the woman is merely a fantasy.
Contributed by Alice N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@LaCheleWallace
Aaron used to come out blowin' just like Uncle Charlie. I love this song. It's a shame that we can't get one voice that sounds like Aaron in today's mainstream music.
@29larron
LaCheleWallace yo sexi ass like the mob I see you everywhere wit the killa comments ctfu
@djnitetrain6171
Check out my New Jack Swing Mix!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEeYcpnp7Kw
@jeterw75
Not even one!!
@Godbody2009
He dancing in speedos like him too 😂
@S-FLA_BOI
I always said an early R. Kelly sounded just like Charlie Wilson and Aaron Hall. No one has come close since….
@ThejazzworldExoticDJ
This is one of their best songs, and totally underrated.
@MrBlacksuperman10
It wasn't underrated when it came out guy made nothing but hits then
@ederrell6032
@MrBlacksuperman10 right shit was on the radio all day
@rishaabston1552
So much 90s goodness here...the biker shorts, the running man, gold chains, Aaron Hall popping about to dislocate his chest😂😂😂 good times