RILEY
in the days after.
Comments flooded screens from loyalists to newcomers just discovering the men behind some of the world’s most wellknown R&B grooves, including the Riley-produced “Right Here (Human Nature Remix)” by SWV and, courtesy of Babyface, a timeless track from 1979 that was ahead of its time then and to this day moves and grooves through one’s bones: The Whispers’ “Rock Steady.”
Banter about Riley’s technical difficulties might have forced him to take the social media platform seriously, but he’s since become a master.
He’s dancerizing his days away with daughter Deja Riley, teaching followers how to get as fit as he is, no equipment necessary. The two then reunited to teach viewers a skin-care routine so they can achieve that Riley glow fans fawn over.
He’s doing interviews, giving talks on the topics like fatherhood. And he sat down with 14-year-old twin DJs Amira and Kayla to talk about his creating the New Jack Swing music genre and working with Michael Jackson. He and Babyface teamed with former first lady Michelle Obama and the nonprofit she co-chairs, When We All Vote, to encourage folks to register and get out to the polls.
For a man who might not have totally grasped the world of live-streaming, Variety reported Riley’s Instagram followers increased by a lofty 141% thanks to the battle. His Twitter account saw even more love, with his followers skyrocketing by 3,021%.
It seems Riley’s star is once again burning bright.
But viewers here in Hampton Roads already know Riley’s roster of classic throwbacks is both lengthy and impressive. Look no further than his star-studded, sweat-inducing set at last year’s Something In the Water festival for proof of his long-recognized status as a musical genius in Virginia.
The “King of New Jack Swing” — a sound perfected by Riley that meshed funk, gospel, jazz and rap — relocated his studio efforts from music metropolis New York City to an unassuming little corner of Virginia Beach, a stone’s throw away from Princess Anne High School. He was just 23 years old.
His fingerprints were already all over huge hits like “My Prerogative” by Bobby Brown, “I Like” by Guy, and Johnny Kemp’s “Just Got Paid.” But after the move his dominance expanded as he pumped out instant hits for big names like Stevie Wonder, Heavy D, New Kids on the Block and Janet Jackson.
He didn’t stop there. Riley then brought Michael Jackson to the Beach, producing several tracks for the artist’s 1991 album, “Dangerous,” including the titular track, “Jam,” “Why You Wanna Trip on Me” and “Remember the Time.”
Riley turned the heat up a little more when he took over the Oceanfront to film the music video for another song he produced, WreckxN-Effect’s “Rump Shaker.” During Riley’s Verzuz battle, viewers from the 757 chimed in with memories of the video’s making.
Last year, Riley was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to music worldwide.
What Riley did for the Hampton Roads music scene nearly three decades ago continues to ripple through pop music. He brought major attention to the area, which ultimately gave artists like Portsmouth’s Missy Elliott and Timbaland increased visibility and cool-by-association status.
He even discovered the most cutting-edge music production team in hip-hop and pop music less than a mile away from his studio: Pharrell Williams and
Chad Hugo.
Or as we came to know them back then, The Neptunes.
At SITW last year, Riley recounted stumbling upon the two then-teens.
Riley said when he moved his recording studio to Virginia Beach, two cops kept pulling him over when he left the building. He finally asked them why and invited them inside to see what he was up to.
“They said I didn’t do anything for the city and that I kept to myself,” Riley said, so he asked if they knew how he could set up a talent show at a nearby school. The officers agreed to help him out.
“That’s how I met the Neptunes. … I knew there was something,” Riley told an audience last year. “They were so far ahead of their time, it’s like they were on Mars.”
In the years Riley made his home here, he didn’t simply elevate the scene, but gave his all to the culture and community. Who knows how many aspiring creatives drove by his studio in hopes of getting a glimpse of the magic spilling out from inside its walls?
Watching Riley play hit after hit on Instagram and knowing many of them were created right here was like finally getting to peel back the curtain on an era of mystery and wonder. Fingers crossed that, even after this quarantine passes, we are treated to more of that magic.
Amy Poulter, 757-446-2705, amy.poulter@ pilotonline.com