Teddy Riley is a genius. No, seriously. Most people think of him as the guy who basically invented New Jack Swing, but his work with Blackstreet reached a level of spiritual and sonic complexity that most pop-soul groups today couldn't even touch. If you grew up in the 90s, you probably had the Another Level album on repeat. It was a massive record. But while "No Diggity" was the track that paid the bills and dominated the airwaves, there’s a specific moment on that album that captures the group's soul. I'm talking about the segue where Blackstreet The Lord Is Real Time Will Reveal becomes more than just a song title—it becomes a statement.
It's a weirdly beautiful transition.
You’ve got "The Lord Is Real," which is this gospel-infused testament to faith, and it flows into a cover of DeBarge’s "Time Will Reveal." It wasn't just a random choice. Riley knew exactly what he was doing by blending the divine with the romantic. It’s about truth. It's about how, eventually, everything comes to light.
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The New Jack Swing Evolution
To understand why this specific sequence matters, you have to look at where Blackstreet was in 1996. The group had gone through a bit of a lineup shuffle. Dave Hollister was gone. In came Eric Williams and Mark Middleton to join Riley and Chauncey Hannibal. The chemistry changed. It got smoother. It got "churchier."
"The Lord Is Real" is built on a heavy interpolation of "The Lord Is Real (Time Will Reveal)" which was originally a DeBarge concept. Actually, Bobby DeBarge and the family had this incredible knack for writing melodies that felt like a prayer even when they were about a breakup. Blackstreet took that DNA and amplified it. They used the same lush chords but added that gritty, mid-90s production value that made it work in a club or a sanctuary.
It's short. Barely over a minute and a half for the intro version. But it sets the tone for the entire second half of the album.
Why the DeBarge Connection Matters
DeBarge is the secret sauce of 90s R&B. Everyone sampled them. Notoriously B.I.G. used them. Ashanti used them. But Blackstreet didn't just sample the beat; they sampled the feeling.
"Time Will Reveal" was originally released in 1983. It was a plea for a chance at love. By the time Blackstreet got their hands on it for the Another Level era, they reframed it. They made it about more than just a guy asking a girl for a date. They positioned it after "The Lord Is Real" to suggest that all truth—whether it's the existence of a higher power or the sincerity of a lover—is eventually proven by the passage of time.
It’s deep stuff for a "boy band." Except they weren't a boy band. They were grown men with incredible vocal ranges who were trying to navigate the bridge between the secular and the sacred. That was a big deal in the 90s. You had artists like R. Kelly (before we knew what we knew now) and Mary J. Blige constantly wrestling with God and the street. Blackstreet did it with more polish.
Production Secrets of Teddy Riley
Teddy Riley's use of the Talkbox is legendary. You hear it throughout the album, but on "The Lord Is Real," the vocal processing is used to create a choir-like effect that feels both digital and organic. It’s a contradiction. It shouldn't work, but it does.
He used the Korg M1 and the Akai MPC to sequence these tracks. The drums are crisp. They have that "thwack" that defines the era. But the harmonic layering? That’s all old-school vocal coaching. Mark Middleton and Eric Williams brought a refined, quintessentially gospel harmony to the group that Dave Hollister’s more bluesy, grit-heavy style hadn't prioritized.
When you listen to the transition from the gospel intro into the actual meat of the song, notice the bassline. It’s subtle. It doesn't punch you in the face like "No Diggity." It creeps in. It invites you to stay.
The Impact of Another Level
This album sold over four million copies. Think about that. In an era where you actually had to go to Tower Records and buy a plastic disc, four million people decided they needed this music.
"The Lord Is Real" wasn't a radio single. It didn't have a big-budget Hype Williams video with fish-eye lenses and shiny suits. Yet, if you ask any die-hard R&B fan about the most memorable moments on that CD, they’ll point to the "Time Will Reveal" interpolation. It provided the emotional weight that balanced out the "Hey-yo, hey-yo" catchiness of the hits.
Honestly, the mid-90s were a peak for this kind of "spiritual R&B." You had Bone Thugs-N-Harmony doing "Tha Crossroads" and Blackstreet doing this. It was a cultural moment where artists weren't afraid to be vulnerable about their faith while still being the coolest guys in the room.
Comparing the Original to the Cover
Let’s be real: El DeBarge has a voice sent from the heavens. Nobody beats the original 1983 version of "Time Will Reveal" for pure vocal agility. El’s falsetto is a literal instrument.
But Blackstreet’s version—the way they integrated it into Blackstreet The Lord Is Real Time Will Reveal—offered something different. It offered weight. Where the DeBarge version is light and airy, Blackstreet’s interpretation is grounded. It’s heavier. It feels like a testimony rather than a serenade.
- DeBarge Version: Pure 80s synth-soul, light percussion, focused on the "pleading" aspect of love.
- Blackstreet Version: Heavy New Jack Swing influence, talkbox accents, focused on the "certainty" of faith and time.
Most critics at the time actually praised the group for not trying to out-sing El DeBarge. They knew they couldn't. Instead, they reimagined the song as a communal experience. You hear the ad-libs in the background. It feels like a jam session in a studio that just happened to turn into a worship service.
The Lyrics and the Message
"Time will reveal 'cause I really love you."
It’s such a simple line. But in the context of the song "The Lord Is Real," the "I" becomes ambiguous. Is it Teddy Riley singing to a woman? Or is it a representation of a divine voice speaking to the listener? This ambiguity is exactly why the song has stayed relevant in R&B playlists for nearly thirty years. It meets you where you are.
If you’re going through a breakup, it’s a song about vindication. If you’re going through a crisis of faith, it’s a song about reassurance.
The industry calls this "cross-over appeal," but that feels too corporate. It’s more like "human appeal." We all want to believe that the truth will come out eventually. We all want to believe that the time we invest in things—relationships, careers, faith—actually matters.
Why It Still Matters in 2026
We live in an era of 15-second TikTok clips. Music is faster, shorter, and often more disposable. Blackstreet The Lord Is Real Time Will Reveal stands as a reminder of when albums were designed to be journeys. You weren't supposed to skip tracks. You were supposed to let the "Interlude" wash over you so that the next song hit harder.
Modern R&B artists like Lucky Daye or SZA often cite the 90s as their primary influence. You can hear the echoes of these vocal arrangements in their music. The layered harmonies, the unapologetic emotion, the blend of genres—it all started here.
How to Listen to It Today
If you’re revisiting this track, don't just stream it on a crappy phone speaker. You’re doing yourself a disservice.
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- Get some decent headphones. You need to hear the panning of the vocals. Teddy Riley was a master of placing different voices in different parts of the "stereo field."
- Listen to the full album. Don't just jump to the song. Start from the beginning. Let the hype of the first few tracks wear you down so that when the spiritual pivot happens, you’re ready for it.
- Check out the "Time Will Reveal" live versions. There are some old soul train or live concert clips on YouTube where the group really stretches out the harmonies. It shows they weren't just "studio magic" creations. They could actually sang.
What Most People Get Wrong
A common misconception is that "The Lord Is Real" is a straight cover. It’s not. It’s an interpolation and a reimagining. Some fans even get confused and think it’s a remake of a gospel standard. While it sounds like it could be a hundred years old, it’s firmly rooted in the songwriting of the DeBarge family and the production of the New Jack era.
Another mistake? Thinking Teddy Riley did it all alone. While he was the mastermind, the vocal arrangements were a collaborative effort. Mark Middleton, in particular, was a powerhouse who helped bridge that gap between the street and the church.
Actionable Next Steps for R&B Fans
If this era of music resonates with you, there is a whole world of "Spiritual New Jack Swing" to explore.
- Listen to the original DeBarge version: Go back to the 1983 In a Special Way album. It’ll give you a whole new appreciation for what Blackstreet did.
- Explore the rest of the Another Level album: Tracks like "I Can't Get You Out of My Mind" show the group's range beyond just the hits.
- Study Teddy Riley’s production discography: Look at his work with Michael Jackson on the Dangerous album. You’ll see the same DNA—the same "Lord Is Real" energy—in songs like "Will You Be There."
The truth is, time has revealed the quality of this work. It hasn't aged poorly. It hasn't become a "cringe" 90s relic. It remains a sophisticated, deeply felt piece of art that reminds us that whether it's music or life, the real stuff always lasts.
Go back and give it a spin. Focus on those harmonies at the two-minute mark. You'll feel it. It’s real.