Teyana Me Shay Jacqueli Shumpert ( Taylor; born December 10, 1990) is an American singer, actress, dancer and choreographer. In 2005, she signed a record deal with
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973) is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter. Alongside close colleague Chad Hugo, he formed the hip hop and R&B production duo the Neptunes in the early 1990s, with whom h ...
'
Star Trak Entertainment imprint. Afterwards, she choreographed the music video for "
Ring the Alarm" by
Beyoncé. Taylor would then appear on
MTV's ''
My Super Sweet 16'', prior to the 2008 release of her debut single "
Google Me". Soon after, she landed uncredited guest features on the songs "
Dark Fantasy" and "
Hell of a Life
"Hell of a Life" is a song by American hip hop recording artist T.I., released as a single on October 6, 2009. The song serves as the second single from the re-release of his 2008 album, '' Paper Trail: Case Closed'', which was ultimately relea ...
" by Kanye West, from his album ''
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
''My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy'' is the fifth studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West. It was released by Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records on November 22, 2010, following a period of public controversy for West. Re ...
'' (2010).
In 2011, Taylor starred as Sabrina in the
Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry (born Emmitt Perry Jr., September 13, 1969) is an American actor, comedian, filmmaker, and playwright. He is the creator and performer of the Madea character, a tough elderly woman. Perry's films vary in style from orthodox filmmak ...
film ''
Madea's Big Happy Family
''Madea's Big Happy Family'' is a 2010 American stage play created, produced, written, and directed by Tyler Perry. It stars Tyler Perry as Mabel "Madea" Simmons and Cassi Davis as Aunt Bam. The play also marks the debut appearance of Aunt Bam ...
''. After asking to be released from her recording contract with Star Trak, she signed to
Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
's
GOOD Music
GOOD Music (also known simply as GOOD, stylized as G.O.O.D. Music; a backronym for Getting Out Our Dreams) is an American record label founded by rapper Kanye West in 2004. The label signed an exclusive long-term worldwide label agreement with t ...
label through
Def Jam
Def Jam Recordings (also simply known as Def Jam) is an American multinational record label owned by Universal Music Group. It is based in Manhattan, New York City, specializing predominantly in hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul and pop.
The l ...
;
and appeared on the Good Music compilation album
''Cruel Summer'' (2012), which reached number two on the
''Billboard'' 200 chart. In 2014, Taylor released her debut album
''VII''; and has followed it with the release of the studio albums ''
K.T.S.E.
''K.T.S.E.'' (an initialism of ''Keep That Same Energy'') is the second studio album by American recording artist Teyana Taylor, released on June 22, 2018, by GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings.
Following the release of ''VII'' in 2014, Taylor ...
'' (2018), and
''The Album'' (2020), the latter of which reached the top ten on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart.
As an actress, Taylor has acted in the
VH1
VH1 (originally an initialism of Video Hits One) is an American basic cable television network based in New York City and owned by Paramount Global. It was created by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Commun ...
television series
''The Breaks'',
Lee Daniels'
''Star'', and the
Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video, also known simply as Prime Video, is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming and rental service of Amazon offered as a standalone service or as part of Amazon's Prime subscription. The service p ...
film ''
Coming 2 America
''Coming 2 America'' is a 2021 American romantic comedy film that serves as a sequel to the 1988 film ''Coming to America'' starring Eddie Murphy and directed by Craig Brewer, from a screenplay by Kenya Barris, Barry W. Blaustein, and David ...
''. Additionally, she starred in the
VH1
VH1 (originally an initialism of Video Hits One) is an American basic cable television network based in New York City and owned by Paramount Global. It was created by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Commun ...
reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that documents purportedly unscripted real-life situations, often starring unfamiliar people rather than professional actors. Reality television emerged as a distinct genre in the early 19 ...
show ''Teyana and Iman'', alongside her husband, basketball player
Iman Shumpert. Taylor has collaborated with musicians such as
Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and record producer. She is often regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, as well as being one of the most influential musicians of her generation. ...
,
Erykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971), known professionally as Erykah Badu (), is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. Influenced by R&B, soul, and hip hop, Badu rose to prominence in the late 1990s when her debut al ...
, and
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
, and has co-written records for artists, including
Usher
Usher may refer to:
Several jobs which originally involved directing people and ensuring people are in the correct place:
* Usher (occupation)
** Church usher
** Wedding usher, one of the male attendants to the groom in a wedding ceremony
** Fiel ...
,
Chris Brown
Christopher Maurice Brown (born May 5, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor. According to ''Billboard'', Brown is one of the most successful R&B singers of his generation, having often been referred to by many contempor ...
, and
Omarion
Omari Ishmael Grandberry (born November 12, 1984), better known by his stage name Omarion, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, actor and dancer. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the boy band B2K. The group achieved success in the ...
.
Early life
Taylor was born on December 10, 1990, to Nikki Taylor and Tito Smith, in
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park North on the south. The greater Harl ...
, New York City. She is of African and Trinidadian descent. Taylor is her mother's only child while her father has two sons and another daughter from a different relationship. Her mother raised her and is currently her manager.
Career
2006–2011: Early career
In September 2006, 15-year-old Teyana Taylor was credited as the
choreographer
Choreography is the art or practice of designing sequences of movements of physical bodies (or their depictions) in which motion or form or both are specified. ''Choreography'' may also refer to the design itself. A choreographer is one who cr ...
on the music video for American entertainer
Beyoncé's
hit single
A hit song, also known as a hit record, hit single or simply a hit, is a recorded song or instrumental that becomes broadly popular or well-known. Although ''hit song'' means any widely played or big-selling song, the specific term ''hit record' ...
, "
Ring the Alarm". In January 2007, Taylor signed a deal to join American recording artist and
record producer
A record producer is a recording project's creative and technical leader, commanding studio time and coaching artists, and in popular genres typically creates the song's very sound and structure. Virgil Moorefield"Introduction" ''The Producer as ...
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973) is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter. Alongside close colleague Chad Hugo, he formed the hip hop and R&B production duo the Neptunes in the early 1990s, with whom h ...
'
Star Trak Entertainment label, through
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group through its Interscope Geffen A&M imprint. Founded in late 1990 by Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field as a $20 million joint venture with Atlantic Records of Warner Mu ...
.
In February 2007, Taylor first came into the public's awareness through her episode on
MTV's ''
My Super Sweet Sixteen
''My Super Sweet 16'' is an American reality television series documenting the lives of teenagers, usually in the United States, Canada and United Kingdom, generally with wealthy parents who throw lavish, excessive and expensive coming-of-age ce ...
'', a show depicting over-the-top birthday parties for rich teenagers. In 2007, Taylor
appeared in the
music video
A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing devi ...
for Jay-Z's single, "
Blue Magic", where she can be seen dancing and
popping.
In February 2008, Taylor released her commercial debut single, called "
Google Me". The song was released as the
lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release ...
for her debut full-length project, which is her debut
mixtape, titled ''From a Planet Called Harlem''. The tape, released August 16, 2009, features production from
Jazze Pha
Phalon Anton Alexander, (born April 15, 1974), professionally known as Jazze Pha ( ), is an American record producer, singer, songwriter and rapper from Memphis, Tennessee. He is the founder and chief executive officer of Sho'nuff Records, to wh ...
, Pharrell, Mad Scientist, Frost, Shondre and
Hit-Boy
Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr. (born May 21, 1987), better known by his stage name Hit-Boy, is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter. In May 2011, he had signed a two-year deal with Kanye West's GOOD Music production branch. ...
, among others. The tape also features "a mix of throwback break beats, futuristic boom bap, and melodic renderings is the perfect backdrop for the starlet's musical mayhem." "Google Me" reached at number 90 on the US ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
''
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...
. The tape was also released for
free download, billed as "the
mixtape before her debut
album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...
".
In August 2010, Taylor, ventured her career into
acting
Acting is an activity in which a story is told by means of its enactment by an actor or actress who adopts a character—in theatre, television, film, radio, or any other medium that makes use of the mimetic mode.
Acting involves a bro ...
, appearing in the sequel of ''
Stomp the Yard'', titled ''
Stomp the Yard: Homecoming''. She also appeared on the debut episode of ''
House of Glam
''House of Glam'' is an American reality television series from Oxygen (TV channel), Oxygen that premiered on October 5, 2010. The show follows the interactions of the B. Lynn Group, a group of stylists and image consultants. B. Lynn fashion styli ...
'' on
Oxygen
Oxygen is the chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group in the periodic table, a highly reactive nonmetal, and an oxidizing agent that readily forms oxides with most elements as we ...
, which aired in October 2010.
In 2010, just hours before
Kanye West
Ye ( ; born Kanye Omari West ; June 8, 1977) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and fashion designer.
Born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago, West gained recognition as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records in the ea ...
's fifth album ''
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
''My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy'' is the fifth studio album by American rapper and producer Kanye West. It was released by Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records on November 22, 2010, following a period of public controversy for West. Re ...
'', had to be turned in, West called Taylor to the studio to look at some of her fashion pieces. While in the studio, Taylor was determined to make the appearance on West's fifth album. She purposefully hummed along with the tracks he played for her, to get his attention. He eventually asked her to put her vocals on a few tracks, notably "
Dark Fantasy" and "
Hell of a Life
"Hell of a Life" is a song by American hip hop recording artist T.I., released as a single on October 6, 2009. The song serves as the second single from the re-release of his 2008 album, '' Paper Trail: Case Closed'', which was ultimately relea ...
". Upon recalling the experience of recording "Dark Fantasy", Taylor stated that "at the time it was pretty empty, just verses." She remembers that West "put
erin another room by
erselfand said, 'Go'." Taylor came back with the "intro and chorus," and "did all the
scratches and the cuts
erself" She admitted that she was nervous upon letting West hear her contributions to the tracks, trying to cover her nervousness by stating that she "hadn't been in the studio for so long."
In 2010, Taylor contributed on one of the GOOD Music's
GOOD Friday
Good Friday is a Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary. It is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum. It is also known as Holy Friday, Great Friday, Great and Holy Friday (also Ho ...
tracks, titled "
Christmas In Harlem". The track was released as a shortened version of the single to the
iTunes Store
The iTunes Store is a digital media store operated by Apple Inc. It opened on April 28, 2003, as a result of Steve Jobs' push to open a digital marketplace for music. As of April 2020, iTunes offered 60 million songs, 2.2 million apps, 25,00 ...
on December 17, 2010, which features
guest appearance
In show business, a guest appearance is the participation of an outsider performer (such as a musician or actor) in an event such as a music record or concert, show, etc., when the performer does not belong to the regular band, cast, or other ...
s from American rappers
Cyhi the Prynce and West. In 2010, Taylor, alongside fellow American rapper
Bow Wow, were offered their roles for
Tyler Perry
Tyler Perry (born Emmitt Perry Jr., September 13, 1969) is an American actor, comedian, filmmaker, and playwright. He is the creator and performer of the Madea character, a tough elderly woman. Perry's films vary in style from orthodox filmmak ...
's play-turned-film ''
Madea's Big Happy Family
''Madea's Big Happy Family'' is a 2010 American stage play created, produced, written, and directed by Tyler Perry. It stars Tyler Perry as Mabel "Madea" Simmons and Cassi Davis as Aunt Bam. The play also marks the debut appearance of Aunt Bam ...
'', the fifth installment in Perry's series, which was released on April 22, 2011. Taylor delved back into music and was featured on the hook of the single, called "Party Tonight", alongside these fellow rappers Randyn Julius,
Jim Jones
James Warren Jones (May 13, 1931 – November 18, 1978) was an American preacher, political activist and mass murderer. He led the Peoples Temple, a new religious movement, between 1955 and 1978. In what he called "revolutionary suicide", ...
and
Cam'ron
Cameron Ezike Giles (born February 4, 1976), better known by his stage name Cam'ron, is an American rapper, record executive, and actor from Harlem, New York City. Beginning his career in the mid-1990s as Killa Cam, Giles signed to Lance "Un" ...
. Randyn Julius was later enlisted for Junior Reid to do his part to the
remix
A remix (or reorchestration) is a piece of media which has been altered or contorted from its original state by adding, removing, or changing pieces of the item. A song, piece of artwork, book, video, poem, or photograph can all be remixes. The o ...
to the track.
2012–2018: GOOD Music, debut and ''K.T.S.E.''
In January 2012, it was announced Taylor would be granted her release from the contract with Interscope and Star Trak. Taylor stated that she and Star Trak founder
Pharrell Williams
Pharrell Lanscilo Williams (; born April 5, 1973) is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter. Alongside close colleague Chad Hugo, he formed the hip hop and R&B production duo the Neptunes in the early 1990s, with whom h ...
, have remained amicable since the end of their business relationship. She has credited him as a "big brother" and sees her early signing to Star Trak as a "blessing." Taylor has stated on many occasions that her release from the label was necessary because she wanted to have a level of independence in the music industry. In an interview with DJ Skee, Taylor mentioned that "when
hewas signed for six years,
hefelt like she couldn't do
nything" and that she "couldn't prove to
erfans that
hehad the talent" and "couldn't sing from
erheart."
As an
independent artist
Independent music (also commonly known as indie music or simply indie) is music that is produced independently from commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, a process that may include an autonomous, do-it-yourself approach to recording a ...
at the time of her release, she had begun preparing her second release, a mixtape titled ''The Misunderstanding of Teyana Taylor''. The mixtape drew influences from
1990s R&B legends like
Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and record producer. She is often regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, as well as being one of the most influential musicians of her generation. ...
and
Mary J. Blige. The tape was released in the first half of 2012, and was preceded by the release of "Make Your Move" (feat.
Wale
Wale or WALE may refer to:
Places
*Wale, Devon, a hamlet in England
*Wale, Tomaszów Mazowiecki County, a village in Poland
People
*Wale (surname)
*Wale (rapper), stage name of American rapper Olubowale Victor Akintimehin
Radio and television ...
) and "D.U.I." (feat.
Jadakiss &
Fabolous
John David Jackson (born November 18, 1977), better known by his stage name Fabolous, is an American rapper. Raised in Brooklyn, he first gained recognition while still a senior in high school, when he performed live on American music executive ...
), which was released on February 25, 2012. More positive reviews of the latter track note that "The Harlem songstress channels
Janet Jackson
Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreog ...
as she glides over the smooth
Hit-Boy
Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr. (born May 21, 1987), better known by his stage name Hit-Boy, is an American record producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter. In May 2011, he had signed a two-year deal with Kanye West's GOOD Music production branch. ...
-produced beat with her airy vocals, while fellow New Yorkers Fabolous and Jadakiss ride shotgun".
After taking some time to find herself as an independent artist, Taylor signed a joint-venture deal with Kanye West's label
GOOD Music
GOOD Music (also known simply as GOOD, stylized as G.O.O.D. Music; a backronym for Getting Out Our Dreams) is an American record label founded by rapper Kanye West in 2004. The label signed an exclusive long-term worldwide label agreement with t ...
and
The Island Def Jam Music Group
The Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJMG) was an American recording music unit, formed on New Year's Eve 1998 by the Universal Music Group. It consists of labels devised and consisted under the basic operations of Island Records and Def Jam Recordin ...
, on June 14, 2012.
As part of GOOD Music, Taylor appears on the GOOD Music
compilation album ''Cruel Summer'', released September 18, 2012.
She provides vocals for the opening track "To the World", with Kanye West and
R. Kelly
Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and sex offender convicted of racketeering and multiple sex offenses.
During his recording career, Kelly sold over 75 million records worldwide ...
, provides the hook and chorus for "Sin City", which also features
John Legend
John Roger Stephens (born December 28, 1978), known professionally as John Legend, is an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and record producer. He began his musical career by working behind the scenes, playing piano on Lauryn Hill's " Eve ...
, Cyhi the Prynce,
Malik Yusef and Travis Scott, and also duets with John Legend on a song titled "Bliss". Taylor and Legend's duet on the album was highly praised, with Erika Ramirez of ''Billboard'' noting that "Taylor's beautifully brash voice ... illuminates in the electric-guitar heavy,
Hudson Mohawke
Ross Matthew Birchard (born 11 February 1986), better known by the stage name Hudson Mohawke, is a Scottish-American producer, composer, and DJ from Glasgow. He is known for his influential work in 21st century hip-hop and electronic music. A ...
-produced 'Bliss'."
In addition to being featured on the GOOD Music compilation ''Cruel Summer'', Taylor soon began the process of recording her
major-label debut album, to be released eventually through GOOD Music and The Island Def Jam Music Group. On July 27, 2014, via
Twitter
Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
, Taylor announced the title of her debut
studio album to be ''
VII'' and revealed it would be released on November 4, through Def Jam and GOOD Music. The album debuted at number 19 on the
''Billboard'' 200, selling 16,000 copies in the United States in its first week.
Taylor was set to be a judge on the
eighth season of the American
competitive dance reality
Reality is the sum or aggregate of all that is real or existent within a system, as opposed to that which is only imaginary. The term is also used to refer to the ontological status of things, indicating their existence. In physical terms, r ...
television series
A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite, or cable, excluding breaking news, advertisements, or trailers that are typically placed ...
, ''
America's Best Dance Crew'', which aired its first episode on July 29, 2015, on
MTV. On August 25, Taylor released ''The Cassette Tape 1994'', paying tribute to the iconic
90s sound and includes many
samples from 90s hits.
On June 17, 2016, Taylor released her single "Freak On", featuring guest vocals from
Chris Brown
Christopher Maurice Brown (born May 5, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and actor. According to ''Billboard'', Brown is one of the most successful R&B singers of his generation, having often been referred to by many contempor ...
and production by
DJ Mustard. It samples "
Freak Like Me" by
Adina Howard
Adina Marie Howard (born November 14, 1973) is an American singer and songwriter. She rose to fame during the mid-1990s with her debut album, '' Do You Wanna Ride?'' and her debut single, " Freak like Me". Some of her other minor hits include " ...
. Taylor announced that it would be the
lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release ...
from her upcoming second studio album. On August 28, 2016, at the
MTV Video Music Awards
The MTV Video Music Awards (commonly abbreviated as the VMAs) is an award show presented by the cable channel MTV to honour the best in the music video medium. Originally conceived as an alternative to the Grammy Awards (in the video category ...
, Kanye West released the world premiere of the music video for his single, "
Fade", which features Taylor performing a dance routine, in a likeness to the 1983 film ''
Flashdance
''Flashdance'' is a 1983 American romantic drama dance film directed by Adrian Lyne and starring Jennifer Beals as a passionate young dancer who aspires to become a professional ballerina (Alex), alongside Michael Nouri playing her boyfriend ...
''. The video, directed by Eli Russell Linnetz, features Taylor dancing throughout a gymnasium and there is also an appearance by her husband,
Iman Shumpert.
Taylor's album ''
K.T.S.E.
''K.T.S.E.'' (an initialism of ''Keep That Same Energy'') is the second studio album by American recording artist Teyana Taylor, released on June 22, 2018, by GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings.
Following the release of ''VII'' in 2014, Taylor ...
'', an acronym for "keep that same energy," was the last of G.O.O.D. Music's seven-song album rollout and was released on June 22, 2018. An updated version of the album was supposed to be released, but Taylor announced that plans were canceled for it.
2020: ''The Album''
Taylor released a collaboration single with fellow R&B singer
Kehlani
Kehlani Ashley Parrish (born April 24, 1995) is an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. Kehlani is originally from Oakland, California, and achieved initial fame as a member of the teen group Poplyfe in 2011.
In 2014, Kehlani released the ...
called "
Morning
Morning is the period from sunrise to noon. There are no exact times for when morning begins (also true of evening and night) because it can vary according to one's lifestyle and the hours of daylight at each time of year. However, morning stric ...
" in November 2019. On December 6, 2019, Taylor released the single "
We Got Love". On May 7, 2020, Taylor announced that her third studio album is titled ''
The Album
The Album may refer to:
* '' ABBA: The Album'', released in 1977
* ''The Album'' (Caravan album), 1980
* ''The Album'' (Mantronix album), 1985
* ''The Album'' (Cliff Richard album), 1993
* ''The Album'' (Haddaway album), 1993
* ''The Album'' ( ...
'' and would be released sometime in June 2020. It was released on June 19, with the 23-track album featuring guest appearances by
Erykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971), known professionally as Erykah Badu (), is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. Influenced by R&B, soul, and hip hop, Badu rose to prominence in the late 1990s when her debut al ...
,
Kehlani
Kehlani Ashley Parrish (born April 24, 1995) is an American singer, songwriter, and dancer. Kehlani is originally from Oakland, California, and achieved initial fame as a member of the teen group Poplyfe in 2011.
In 2014, Kehlani released the ...
,
Lauryn Hill
Lauryn Noelle Hill (born May 26, 1975) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, and record producer. She is often regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, as well as being one of the most influential musicians of her generation. ...
,
Future
The future is the time after the past and present. Its arrival is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics. Due to the apparent nature of reality and the unavoidability of the future, everything that currentl ...
,
Rick Ross
William Leonard Roberts II (born January 28, 1976), known professionally as Rick Ross, is an American rapper.
Prior to releasing his debut single, "Hustlin'", in 2006, Ross was the subject of a bidding war, receiving offers from Diddy's Bad ...
,
Quavo, and
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette Elliott (born July 1, 1971), better known as Missy Elliott or Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliot, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She embarked on her music career with R&B girl group Sista in the earl ...
. The album was awarde
3.5/5 stars by The Forty-Five saying ''The Album'' "finds the veteran performer firmly reclaiming her own narrative". It debuted at number 8 on the
''Billboard'' 200, earning Taylor her first top 10 album.
On December 4, 2020, Taylor seemingly announced her retirement from making music via her Instagram page. A few days later, she explained the post was directed at her record label as she continued clarifying her frustration with their lack of support, "Baby, I gotta do it for my mental health. I have to do it for my emotional health. I have to do it for my kids, so I can stay alive for my kids. Until I'm free, until I can get
ef Jamto release me, yes I want to retire." She later stated much of the frustration leading to retirement could be traced back to her label undervaluing her, but she would not be retiring for good.
Other ventures
In 2013, Taylor signed a deal to design and release two pairs of sneakers with
Adidas. The first pair released were the Harlem GLC's which hit stores February 16 the same year. According to Adidas Global Director of Entertainment and Influence Marketing, Jonathan Wexler, Taylor currently holds the record for fastest selling sneakers in
Adidas Originals history. She is currently focused on designing and releasing her second pair of sneakers with the brand. In March 2017, Teyana Taylor launched her "Fade 2 Fit" Workout Program, a ninety-day workout which centers around dance and fitness routines. The inspiration for this program and the incorporated dance elements come from her work in the music video for Kanye West's "Fade". She also released a line of workout apparel, also called Fade2Fit. In May 2019, Taylor featured and directed the music video for
Lil Durk
Durk Derrick Banks (born October 19, 1992), known professionally as Lil Durk, is an American rapper and singer. He is the lead member and founder of the collective and record label Only the Family (OTF). Durk garnered a cult following with the ...
's remix of Home Body in his new album Signed to the Streets 3.
In 2022, Taylor competed in
season seven of ''
The Masked Singer'' as "Firefly" of Team Good. Her performance of
Chaka Khan's "
Ain't Nobody" had to be cut short when she started coughing due to a mask malfunction and had to be taken to an on-site medical staff to be treated causing
"Ram" of Team Bad to be sent on to do his performance. After recovering, Taylor resumed the performance of the song. During the finals, Taylor was declared the winner where it was also mentioned that her husband
Iman Shumpert had recently won
season 30 of ''
Dancing with the Stars
''Dancing with the Stars'' is the name of various international television series based on the format of the British TV series ''Strictly Come Dancing'', which is distributed by BBC Studios, the commercial arm of the BBC. Currently the form ...
''. At 31 years old, she became the youngest winner in the show's history.
Personal life
In 2015, after she went into early labor, her husband
Iman Shumpert assisted in her delivery of their baby girl.
On September 20, 2016, on ''
The Wendy Williams Show'', Taylor revealed that she and Shumpert had "maybe" married secretly, but the couple did not actually wed until October 1, 2016, approximately two weeks after the interview.
On June 12, 2020, Taylor confirmed her second pregnancy in her music video for her 2020 single "
Wake Up Love".
Discography
* ''
VII'' (2014)
* ''
K.T.S.E.
''K.T.S.E.'' (an initialism of ''Keep That Same Energy'') is the second studio album by American recording artist Teyana Taylor, released on June 22, 2018, by GOOD Music and Def Jam Recordings.
Following the release of ''VII'' in 2014, Taylor ...
'' (2018)
* ''
The Album
The Album may refer to:
* '' ABBA: The Album'', released in 1977
* ''The Album'' (Caravan album), 1980
* ''The Album'' (Mantronix album), 1985
* ''The Album'' (Cliff Richard album), 1993
* ''The Album'' (Haddaway album), 1993
* ''The Album'' ( ...
'' (2020)
Filmography
Film
Television
Awards and nominations
References
Notes
External links
*
*
Teyana Tayloron
MySpaceTeyana Taylor at Fashion Week
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taylor, Teyana
1990 births
21st-century African-American women singers
African-American female dancers
American female dancers
African-American dancers
American hip hop singers
People from Harlem
Living people
GOOD Music artists
Singers from New York City
American hip hop dancers
East Coast hip hop musicians
Actresses from New York City
African-American actresses
American dance musicians
Def Jam Recordings artists
American women pop singers
American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters
African-American songwriters
African-American choreographers
American choreographers
American female hip hop musicians
Dancers from New York (state)
21st-century American women musicians
Singer-songwriters from New York (state)