The 1990s were an incredible era for R&B, and few groups captured the combination of smooth harmonies, hip-hop production, and New Jack Swing quite like Blackstreet. Thirty years ago, Blackstreet took their career to another level—literally—with the release of their sophomore album, Another Level.

Released in September 1996 through Interscope Records, Another Level became the biggest album of Blackstreet’s career and helped cement the group as one of the premier R&B acts of the decade.

Three decades later, songs like “No Diggity,” “Don’t Leave Me,” and “Fix” still sound at home on an old-school R&B playlist.

Blackstreet Reached Another Level

Blackstreet entered the scene with their self-titled debut album in 1994, which featured memorable records such as “Before I Let You Go.” By their second album, the group had undergone lineup changes, with Eric Williams and Mark Middleton joining Teddy Riley and Chauncey Hannibal.

That lineup delivered something special.

Teddy Riley, already a major force behind the New Jack Swing movement, was at the center of the album’s production. But Another Level showed how R&B was evolving during the mid-’90s. Traditional vocal harmonies were still important, but hip-hop beats, samples, rap features, and harder production were becoming an increasingly important part of contemporary R&B.

Blackstreet found the perfect balance.

“No Diggity” Changed Everything

You can’t talk about Another Level without starting with “No Diggity.”

Featuring Dr. Dre and Queen Pen, the song became Blackstreet’s signature record. Built partly around a sample of Bill Withers’ “Grandma’s Hands,” the track brought together R&B vocals and hip-hop in a way that felt effortless.

The record reached No. 1 in the United States and eventually earned Blackstreet a Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.

Thirty years later, “No Diggity” remains one of those songs that needs only a few seconds to get a reaction.

That opening immediately takes you back to 1996.

But reducing Another Level to one massive single would overlook how deep the album really was.

“Don’t Leave Me” Remains a Fan Favorite

For many longtime R&B fans, “Don’t Leave Me” is right there with “No Diggity” among Blackstreet’s greatest songs.

The emotional record samples DeBarge’s “A Dream,” creating the perfect backdrop for Blackstreet’s harmonies.

“Don’t Leave Me” showcases a completely different side of the group. While “No Diggity” had confidence and swagger, “Don’t Leave Me” was vulnerable and emotional.

It’s the kind of slow jam that defined ’90s R&B.

“Fix” Brought the Hip-Hop Energy

Another standout was “Fix.”

Blackstreet once again demonstrated how comfortable they were combining R&B vocals with hip-hop-inspired production. The song incorporates elements of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five’s classic “The Message,” helping give it a harder edge than a traditional R&B single.

Along with songs like “This Is How We Roll,” “Good Lovin’,” “Let’s Stay in Love,” and “Never Gonna Let You Go,” it helped make Another Level much more than an album carried by one hit.

The Album Was a Huge Success

Commercially, Another Level lived up to its title.

The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. 1 on the Top R&B Albums chart, becoming Blackstreet’s most successful album. It went on to sell millions of copies and establish the group among the biggest R&B acts of the era.

That success also came during an unbelievably competitive period.

Blackstreet shared the R&B landscape with artists and groups such as Boyz II Men, Jodeci, Toni Braxton, Keith Sweat, SWV, Dru Hill, 112, and many others. Standing out wasn’t easy.

Another Level managed to do exactly that.

Teddy Riley’s Influence Is All Over the Album

Teddy Riley deserves plenty of credit when discussing why this album has aged so well.

Riley was one of the architects of New Jack Swing, but Another Level showed that he wasn’t stuck trying to recreate the sound that dominated the late ’80s and early ’90s.

The music was evolving.

Hip-hop was becoming an even bigger influence on R&B, and Riley evolved with it. The result was an album filled with smooth vocals but enough drums, samples, bass, and attitude to appeal to hip-hop listeners.

That formula became increasingly common in R&B throughout the remainder of the decade and into the 2000s.

Celebrating 30 Years of Another Level

The 30th anniversary is also being officially celebrated with a new 2-LP vinyl edition of Another Level. Interscope describes the album as Blackstreet at its commercial peak and highlights the record’s combination of R&B harmonies, hip-hop production, ballads, and groove-driven tracks.

It’s fitting that the album is receiving another spotlight three decades later.

Music has changed dramatically since 1996, but great R&B doesn’t have an expiration date.

Put on “No Diggity,” and it still gets the party moving.

Play “Don’t Leave Me,” and you’ll probably have somebody singing every word.

Throw on “Fix,” and you remember just how well Blackstreet could blend R&B and hip-hop.

Final Thoughts

Thirty years after its release, Blackstreet’s Another Level deserves to be remembered as one of the standout R&B albums of the 1990s.

Yes, “No Diggity” became the monster hit and signature song, but the album had much more to offer. Blackstreet delivered harmonies, slow jams, hip-hop-influenced production, and the unmistakable creative touch of Teddy Riley.

For anyone who grew up during the ’90s, Another Level is more than an album. It’s part of the soundtrack of an era when R&B groups dominated radio, BET, MTV, parties, and slow-jam mixtapes.

Three decades later, Blackstreet’s biggest album still lives up to its name. Check out the track listing and stream link to the Another Level album below.

Happy 30th anniversary to Blackstreet’s Another Level.

What’s your favorite song from the album: “No Diggity,” “Don’t Leave Me,” “Fix,” or another track?

1. Black & Street Intro
2. This Is How We Roll
3. No Diggity ft. Dr. Dre & Queen Pen
4. Fix
5. Good Lovin’
6. Let’s Stay in Love
7. We Gonna Take U Back (Lude)/Don’t Leave Me
8. Never Gonna Let You Go
9. I Wanna Be Your Man
10. Taja’s Lude (Interlude)
11. My Paradise (Interlude)
12. Deja’s Poem
13. (Money Can’t) Buy Me Love
14. Blackstreet (On The Radio)
15. I Can’t Get You (Out of My Mind)
16. I’ll Give It to You
17. Happy Song (Tonite)
18. Motherlude
19. The Lord is Real (Time Will Reveal)