Blackstreet

Blackstreet is an American contemporary R&B and hip hop group from New York, formed in 1991 by record producers Teddy Riley and Chauncey Hannibal. The group’s line-up includes Mark L. Middleton, Chauncey Hannibal, Dave Hollister, Teddy Riley and Eric Williams, and it remains active.

Early releases and breakthrough

The group releases four albums on Interscope Records between 1994 and 2003. Its debut album, Blackstreet, produces the singles “Booti Call”, “Before I Let You Go” and “Joy”. “Booti Call” and “Before I Let You Go” both reach the US Top 40, and “Before I Let You Go” enters the Top 10.

The follow-up album, Another Level, comes out in 1996 and becomes the group’s most commercially successful release. It reaches number three on the Billboard album chart and is certified four-times platinum in the United States. The album includes “No Diggity”, featuring Dr Dre and Queen Pen, which spends four weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is later ranked number 91 on a Rolling Stone and MTV list of the 100 greatest pop songs.

Recognition and collaborations

In 1998, Blackstreet receives the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. The success of Another Level leads to guest work on Jay Z’s “The City Is Mine”, and to “Take Me There” with Mya and Mase for the soundtrack to The Rugrats Movie. The group also appears on the reunion tour for New Edition.

Later albums and line-up changes

Blackstreet later releases Finally, which reaches the Top 10 and includes “Girlfriend/Boyfriend”, a collaboration with Janet Jackson featuring Ja Rule and Eve. After Teddy Riley’s work with Guy and plans for a solo project, members reunite to record Level II.

After later hiatuses, members pursue solo careers. In 2014, former members Hannibal, Levi Little, Mark Middleton and Eric Williams reunite under the Blackstreet name and resume live performances, including an Australian tour in 2015. In the same year, Middleton and Williams perform backing vocals on “Autumn Leaves”, sung by Daniel Kajmakoski at the Eurovision Song Contest 2015.

Additional notes

Associated member Joseph Stonestreet dies in 2018. Blackstreet is also later included in a 2025 list of underrated 1990s groups published by Yardbarker.

Studio albums

Blackstreet (1994)
Another Level (1996)
Finally (1999)
Level II (2003)