Teyana Taylor - The Last Rose Petal 2...Farewell Tour

Being a jack of trades has enabled Teyana Taylor to become a master of all. From her smoky melodic vocals to her dynamic dance moves, the R&B superstar entertainer dips in dives between her talents as singer, songwriter, producer, director, dancer/choreographer, actor, fitness guru, model, and mother. When it comes to describing herself, the Harlem native can only think of one word: Everything. 

“I literally can do everything. I never look at anything as being impossible,” she explains. “I exhaust all options to make what happen when I need to make happen.” Her mantra made her an early favorite to artists like Pharrell, who she signed her first deal with, and later choreographed videos for artists like Beyoncé and Jay-Z. In 2014, Teyana’s love for the arts and R&B earned her the title of the first woman signed to Kanye West’s G.O.O.D. Music imprint.

Between R&B’s identity crisis in the 2010s, Teyana dropped her debut album VII, with tracks like “Maybe” (featuring Yo Gotti and Pusha T) and the sultry “Just Different” shaping her musical persona. The critically acclaimed album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in 2014, cementing her position in today’s modern R&B field. “I fought for that raw, hood necessary R&B and now I feel like it's better than ever,” she says.

After spicing up the R&B charts, Teyana was blessed with the arrival of her daughter Junie with husband and NBA star Iman Shumpert in 2015. “I do all of this for my baby. She's who I do it for,” she says about Iman “Junie” Tayla Shumpert Jr., her main source of inspiration. “I always show her how to be a leader and a businesswoman. I want her to believe that she can be anything she wants to be and it not be a shocker that she's a female doing it all.” Soon after, Teyana went on to star in the internet-breaking video for Kanye West’s “Fade,” and scored her first MTV Moonman for “Best Choreography” at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards.

But it wasn’t until the release of her second album project K.T.S.E.(released June 2018) that the world caught up with Teyana’s talents. With her all-female production company The Aunties, Teyana self-directed videos for “WTP,” the RIAA gold-selling single “Gonna Love Me,” (whose remix features Wu-Tang Clan’s Ghostface Killah, Method Man and Raekwon), and recently, “Issues/Hold On.” Teyana has also directed videos for her peers like T.I. (“You”), Monica (“Commitment”), and Lil Duval (“Pull Up” featuring Ty Dolla $ign) with fans like Ms. Lauryn Hill and Elton John praising her boss's moves.

Taylor's latest achievement has been the success around the release of her critically acclaimed, third studio album titled "The Album" on June 19th which debuted at #1 on the Billboard R&B charts and #8 on the Billboard Top 200. The Album, which is 23 songs in length and offers features from artists such as Missy Elliot, Future, Erykah Badu, Ms.Lauryn Hill, Davido and more, is broken up by "studio" rooms (which appropriately spell out "album") and has catapulted Teyana into an elevated musical stratosphere. On the album, Taylor directed every video in conjunction with the project alongside her production company group The Aunties. Because of her continuous grind, Teyana won the 2020 BET Award for Director of the Year - up against industry heavyweights such as Benny Boom and Dave Meyers. As if that wasn't enough to heat up her summer, Teyana officially released a long-awaited makeup collaboration with global beauty powerhouse M.A.C. Cosmetics - implementing aesthetic inspiration from her new album oakcing in the marketing and imagery of the vibrant makeup line.  Taylor is a woman on a mission; so determined that she accomplished all these explosive feats while pregnant with her second daughter, Rue Rose who was born into the world on September 6th. Through an organic relationship, cultivated through a connection in the music business, Erkyah Badu acted as Teyana's doula throughout her pregnancy and coached Teyana through the baby's birth. The multi-hyphenate superstar will end the year starring in the release of Paramount Pictures upcoming film, Coming 2 America, the sequel to the original 1988 romance comedy. Teyana will be featured alongside some of Hollywood's most illustrious names including Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Kiki Layne, James Earl Jones and more. 

Part of what makes Teyana stand out from the rest is her ability to move with precision and poise in everything she does. From the studio to the stage, every idea is a project with the singer front and center with a vision all her own. With her musical inspirations like Aaliyah, Teena Marie, Mint Condition and Janet Jackson speaking to her soul, Teyana is aware her mission is larger than life. “I’m working on me every day and I think that’s my purpose,” she says, comparing her life to a never-ending book. “I’m still going, still mastering and being a better me.”