Teyana Taylor

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Teyana Taylor
Teyana Taylor Wikipedia.jpg
Taylor backstage at a Diesel fashion show July 17, 2008
Background information
Birth name Teyana Taylor
Born (1990-12-10) December 10, 1990 (age 22)
Origin Harlem, New York, U.S.
Genres Hip Hop
Occupations Singer-songwriter, rapper, dancer, actress
Years active 2007–present
Labels GOOD Music, Def Jam
Associated acts Kanye West, Pharrell Williams
Website teyanatayloronline.com

Teyana Taylor (born December 10, 1990) is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, dancer, and actress from Harlem, New York. She is of African-American and Afro-Trinidadian descent. In 2012, she officially signed to Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music label and The Island Def Jam Music Group, after previously being signed to Pharrell Williams' Star Trak Entertainment.[1]

Contents

Early life [edit]

Teyana was born and raised in Harlem, New York City. At age 4, she picked up a microphone in front of a crowd and realized she wanted to become a singer/entertainer. Teyana was enrolled in many different talent competitions, including the Apollo Theater National All-Stars talent search. Taylor had strong influences from Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Lauryn Hill.[2]

Career [edit]

2007–2011: Interscope Records, Film Projects, and My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy [edit]

Taylor appeared on MTV's My Super Sweet 16 in 2007. Before it aired, she signed to Star Trak/Interscope Records.[3] "Google Me" was the first single from her debut album, From a Planet Called Harlem. Ultimately, this record was not released for unknown reasons. "Google Me" peaked at number 90 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. She was a member of a band called U.G.L.Y. along with band mates Mijo, Braxton and Ethan. A snippet of U.G.L.Y.'s single "Wasted" was released early 2010. No further releases from the band have since been mentioned.

Taylor ventured into acting, appearing in the sequel of Stomp the Yard, titled Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming, which was released in August 2010.[4] She made an appearance on the debut episode of House of Glam on Oxygen. She also appeared in a new movie by Tyler Perry, Madea's Big Happy Family, released on April 22, 2011.

In late 2010, just hours before Kanye West's fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, had be to turned in, West called Taylor to the studio to look at some fashion pieces. Taylor had struck up a friendship with West and the G.O.O.D. Music family some time before, first meeting West on his "Glow in the Dark Tour," with "N.E.R.D. and Rihanna." [5]

While in the studio, Taylor was determined to make an appearance on West's record. She purposefully hummed along with the tracks he played for her, enough to get his attention. He eventually asked her to put vocals on some tracks, notably "Dark Fantasy" and "Hell of a Life." 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 [her] in another room by [herself] and said, 'Go'." Taylor came back with the "whole intro and chorus," and "did all the scratches and the cuts [herself] with [her] voice." She admitted that she was "nervous" upon letting West hear her contributions to the tracks, saying that "[she] hadn’t been in the studio for so long." [5]

Towards the end of 2010, Taylor contributed to one of G.O.O.D. Music's G.O.O.D. Friday tracks, entitled "Christmas In Harlem". The track was released in a shortened version to the iTunes Store on December 17, 2010, featuring Cyhi the Prynce and Kanye West.[6]

2012–present: G.O.O.D. Music [edit]

In early 2012, Taylor was released from her contract with Interscope.[7] Taylor admits that she and Star Trak referee Pharrell Williams have remained amiable since the formal end of their business relationship. She credits him as a "big brother" and sees her early signing to Star Trak as a "blessing."[8] Taylor has stated on many occasions, though, just how necessary her release from the label was, as well as how necessary it was for her to have a level of independence in the music industry for some time. In an interview with DJ Skee, Teyana mentioned that "when [she] was signed for six years, [she] felt like she couldn't do [anything]," and that she "couldn't prove to [her] fans that [she] had the talent" and "couldn't sing from [her] heart."[9]

As an independent artist at the time of her release, she had begun preparing her first mixtape, The Misunderstanding of Teyana Taylor, to be released to her fans for free. The tape draws notable influences from 90s R&B/Soul legends like Lauryn Hill and Mary J. Blige.[10] The tape was released in the first half of 2012, and has spawned two singles thus far, "Make Your Move (feat. Wale)"[11] and "D.U.I. (feat. Jadakiss & Fabolous)," which was released on February 25, 2012. Reviews of the latter track noted that "The Harlem songstress channels Janet Jackson as she glides over the smooth Hit-Boy-produced beat with her airy vocals, while fellow New Yorkers Fabolous and Jadakiss ride shotgun".[12]

After some time as an independent artist, and taking time to find herself as an artist and represent herself correctly in an artistic way, Teyana Taylor signed a joint deal with Kanye West's label G.O.O.D. Music and The Island Def Jam Music Group on June 14, 2012.[1] Teyana had established a relationship with the whole G.O.O.D. family some time before her signing, particularly during the time she was asked to feature on Kanye West's My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. As part of G.O.O.D. Music, Taylor appears on the G.O.O.D. Music collaborative album, Cruel Summer, released September 18, 2012.[13][13] She provides vocals for the opening track "To the World," with Kanye West and R. Kelly, provides the hook and chorus for "Sin City," which also features John Legend, Cyhi the Prynce, Malik Yusef, and Travis Scott, and also duets with John Legend on a track called "Bliss."[14] Of Taylor and Legend's duet on the album, Erika Ramirez of Billboard.com notes that "Teyana Taylor's beautifully brash voice ... illuminates in the electric-guitar heavy, Hudson Mohawke-produced 'Bliss'."[15] Trent Fitzgerald of Popcrush.com also complimented the duet, saying that he hoped to "hear more soulful duets from [Taylor and Legend]."[16]

In addition to featuring on Cruel Summer, Teyana is currently in the process of recording her first major label debut album, to be released eventually through G.O.O.D. Music and The Island Def Jam Music Group.[17]

Business ventures [edit]

In 2013 Teyana signed a deal to design and release two pair 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.[18] She is currently focused on designing and releasing her second pair of sneakers with the brand.[19]

Discography [edit]

Albums [edit]

  • From a Planet Called Harlem (2008)
  • The Misunderstanding of Teyana Taylor (2012)
  • Cruel Summer (2012)

Singles [edit]

Title Year Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US US R&B
"Google Me" 2008 — 90 — From a Planet Called Harlem
"Make Your Move"
(featuring Wale)		 2012 — — — The Misunderstanding of Teyana Taylor
"D.U.I."
(featuring Jadakiss and Fabolous)		 — — —
"—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist [edit]

Writing credits [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b "Teyana Taylor Signs to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music". Rap-Up.com. 2012-05-14. Retrieved 2012-07-23. 
  2. ^ "Teyana Taylor biography". Artistwiki.com. Retrieved 2012-02-29. 
  3. ^ "Teyana Taylor Biography - AOL Music". Music.aol.com. 1969-12-31. Retrieved 2012-02-29. 
  4. ^ IMDb - Stomp the Yard 2
  5. ^ a b Wete, Brad. "Interview: Teyana Taylor Talks Joining G.O.O.D. Music, Influencing Fashion & Being Doubted". complex.com/music/. Retrieved 3 August 2012. 
  6. ^ "Christmas In Harlem - Single". itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 17 December 2010. 
  7. ^ "Teyana Taylor Released from Star Trak/Interscope, Readies Free EP". Rap-Up.com. 2012-01-17. Retrieved 2012-02-29. 
  8. ^ Universe, Sway. "Teyana Taylor explains why she asked to be released from Pharrell's". YouTube.com. Retrieved 2 May 2012. 
  9. ^ Skee, DJ. "Interview: Teyana Taylor Talks Star Trak, Wale, Meek Mill & More with DJ Skee". YouTube.com. Retrieved 16 January 2012. 
  10. ^ Wete, Brad. "Interview: Teyana Taylor Talks Joining G.O.O.D. Music, Influencing Fashion & Being Doubted". complex.com/music/. Retrieved 3 August 2012. 
  11. ^ "STREAM/DOWNLOAD: Teyana Taylor ft. Fabolous & Jadakiss – D.U.I.". Under the Gun Review. 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2012-02-29. 
  12. ^ "New Music: Teyana Taylor f/ Fabolous & Jadakiss – ‘D.U.I.’". Rap-Up.com. 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2012-02-29. 
  13. ^ a b Alexis, Nadeska. "Teyana Taylor Is G.O.O.D. Music's 'Spoiled Brat'". MTV.com. Retrieved 16 May 2012. 
  14. ^ Inc., Apple. "Kanye West Presents Good Music Cruel Summer". apple.com. Retrieved 11 September 2012. 
  15. ^ Ramirez, Erika. "G.O.O.D. Music, 'Cruel Summer': Track-By-Track Review". billboard.com. Retrieved 18 September 2012. 
  16. ^ Fitzgerald, Trent. "KANYE WEST + G.O.O.D. MUSIC, ‘CRUEL SUMMER’ – ALBUM REVIEW". popcrush.com. Retrieved 17 September 2012. 
  17. ^ McGloster, Niki. "Teyana Taylor: G.O.O.D. Girl, Urban Chic". vibevixen.com. Retrieved 11 September 2012. 
  18. ^ "Jonathan Wexler twitter". Twitter. February 16, 2013. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2013. 
  19. ^ "Teyana Taylor Talks Her Adidas Harlem GLC Sneaker, Being The Top Female Sneakerhead with HHS1987 (Video)", Hip Hop Since 1987, February 15, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2013.

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