Teddy Riley, extremely influential R&B musician and producer, is looking back on his heyday. He recently published the memoir Remember The Times, co-written with author Jake Brown, which reflects on the beginning of new jack swing. The book was actually written over a decade ago, but now it's finally seeing the light. In interview published on Wednesday with the Los Angeles Times, the proud anti-vaxxer talks about his preferred vitamins, reminisces about working with the late Michael Jackson, and says some wild things about forgiveness and R. Kelly.
Riley also talks about his future plans. The feature mentions that he’s "discussing collaborations with Chris Brown and with Usher. And he wants to carry on the work of Uptown’s [Andre] Harrell, who died in 2020, by relaunching the label that introduced Jodeci and Mary J. Blige."
Another person he's also considering working with? The imprisoned R&B star R. Kelly, who's serving 30 years on racketeering and sex trafficking charges. The interview mentions that Riley allegedly posted a clip of what seemed to be Kelly singing Brown’s song "It Depends" via a phone. According to Riley, Kelly has learned his lesson. “Everybody deserves a second chance,” Riley said. “Everyone deserves to repent, and everyone gets forgiven by God when you come to him. People miss his music. I’m the messenger to bring R&B back.”
Interviewer Mikael Wood questioned whether Riley fears being associating with Kelly. “If I was afraid, I wouldn’t be in this business,” Riley said. “Everybody has controversy; everybody went through things. Rick James came with another record when he got out of jail, and he was forgiven, right? They want to keep R. Kelly in until 2045? I don’t think he deserved getting the whole thing. I think he’s been punished." He added: “I’m a true believer of God, but I’m also a true believer of forgiveness.”
Would he actually make music with him beyond a business deal? Yes. “I would,” he said. “It’s music — it’s not an act of what he’s done before. He’s got gospel records. Besides all the other stuff he did, he made music to make people strive to be the best. He’s asking for forgiveness. He has repented. What does that mean to everybody?”
Now, Riley is taking back this take. "I never want my passion for music to overshadow the very real pain that many people have experienced," he shared in a recent social media post. He wrote:
How I feel about a song or record does not mean I agree with or condone the behavior of what the man behind the music has done. R. Kelly's music is no different. The project talked about in this interview was an exciting possibility of an idea being tossed with other great artists that will not be coming to fruition for various reasons.
The full caption for statement reads:
As a producer, I’ve always been excited about the possibilities of music and creative collaboration. That excitement has defined my career. But I also understand that words carry weight, and I never want my passion for music to overshadow the very real pain that many people have experienced.
If my comments caused hurt, I sincerely apologize. That was never my intention. I take seriously the impact that abuse and misconduct have had on survivors and their families. Their experiences matter, and they deserve to be acknowledged with care and respect.
The idea mentioned in the interview in correlation with a previous post I made was simply that, a creative idea discussed in passing. It is not something that will move forward. Loving music and recognizing its cultural impact does not mean condoning harmful behavior, and I want to be clear about that.
I have spent my life building a legacy rooted in innovation, integrity, and love for the art form. That remains my focus. I appreciate the dialogue, and I remain committed to moving forward with intention and accountability.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support me, my memoir, and the journey.
