The multiple talents of high profile young singer-songwriter, designer, dancer/choreographer, actress, and Harlem native Teyana Taylor all come together this autumn, starting with the release of her long-awaited official debut single, “Maybe” featuring Yo Gotti and Pusha T, on G.O.O.D. Music/Def Jam Recordings. Released on Virgin EMI in the UK.
23-year old Teyana released her debut mixtape in early 2012, The Misunderstanding of Teyana Taylor, which immediately spun off a pair of hot tracks:“DUI” featuring fellow Def Jam artists Fabolous and Jadakiss; and “Make Your Move” featuring Wale. The mixtape paid homage to Teyana’s classic ’80s and ’90s R&B influences, including Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, and especially Lauryn Hill. Prior to that, Teyana shook up the Internet and Twitter world with her cover of Drake’s “Marvin’s Room,” dubbed “Her Room.” Teyana closed out 2011 as the opening act for The Game’s European “Red Tour.”
Before joining 21-time Grammy Award®-winner Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music roster, Teyana began as a protégé of Pharrell Williams, signed at age 15 to his Startrak/Interscope label (a division of Universal Music Group). Starting with her extravagant, ’80s-themed coming out party on MTV’s “My Super Sweet 16,” and as the petite pop locker in Jay-Z’s “Blue Magic” video, Teyana has maintained an active profile on the pop music scene. In addition to singing on Kanye’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy album, Teyana has collaborated on projects with a Who’s Who of A-listers, among them Nicki Minaj, Chris Brown, Willow Smith, Jadakiss, Cam’ron, Jim Jones, and Beyoncé, to name a few.
Your album titled ‘VII’ is coming on November 5th, after such a long wait how do you feel to finally be able to release a full length album?
It is definitely a blessing and it feels good to know that your hard work is paying off and that your hard work is being acknowledged. All i can say is that i am blessed and I’m thankful and I’m happy that everything is finally coming together and I have a support system.
Even though ‘Maybe’ featuring Pusha T and Yo Gotti is the current single, you recently released a new song from the album with Chris brown called ‘Do Not Disturb’ is a video for that coming out?
Yes, there will be a full video. The snippet that we released, was a visual album snippet. We wanted to spice it up and we didn’t want to just give a regular snippet of the record. There will definitely be a full video for ‘Do Not Disturb’.
Personally I like your music because it reminds me of 90s R&B, is that what you were going for?
That’s exactly where i was going with it because thats my favorite music, that vintage 90s R&B, thats all that’s really on my playlist so when it came time to get in the studio and get focused and start recording, that is what came out creatively.
At the album listening session you had two of the biggest names in music No ID and of course Kanye, how involved were they with the album?
Yes, they were actually very involved with the album but they also gave me my creative space. Like when i first went up to no id and told him what i wanted to do he respected it, both him and ‘Ye really gave me my creative space to do what i do and then at the end, kind of came to put the icing on the cake.
Now it seems like everyone in good music is gearing to drop projects right after you, will we be seeing you on any of their projects?
Actually no, because we were all working on our albums at the same. I was in the middle of moving to New York, so kind of had my own thing going on.
Will we ever get to see Cruel Winter?
Maybe, stayed tuned.
Will you be coming to London for a show?
Hopefully, I love London. I’ve been to London twice, both times were absolutely amazing. Hopefully with the album i will be able to do an international tour and stop by London.
Buy the album here
Teyana Taylor – Maybe (featuring Pusha-T & Yo Gotti)
Posted By Josh Chowa
