TEYANA TAYLOR SIGNED TO KANYE WEST’S G.O.O.D. MUSIC LABEL, DISTRIBUTED WORLDWIDE BY ISLAND DEF JAM MUSIC GROUP
G.O.O.D. Music Logo
(May 14, 2012 – New York, NY) G.O.O.D. Music, the independent record label formed by 18-time Grammy Award-winner (and 43-time Grammy nominee) Kanye West and signed to an exclusive long-term worldwide agreement last year with the Island Def Jam Music Group (IDJMG), has signed Teyana Taylor, the multi-talented young singer-songwriter, rapper, dancer/choreographer, and actress to G.O.O.D.’s expanding artist roster.
Details of Teyana’s first album and single releases will be revealed in the weeks and months ahead. Meanwhile, her first mixtape, The Misunderstanding of Teyana Taylor, released last month, has spun off a pair of hot new tracks: “DUI” featuring fellow Def Jam artists Fabolous and Jadakiss, and “Make Your Move” featuring Wale. The mixtape evokes classic ’80s and ’90s R&B, paying homage to Teyana’s influences including Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige, and especially Lauryn Hill.
More recently, 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.”
21-year old Harlem native Teyana Taylor began as a protégé of Pharrell Williams (of the Neptunes), and was first signed at age 15 to his Startrak/Interscope label (a division of Universal Music Group). Teyana has maintained an active profile on the pop scene ever since 2007, 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’s debut album, From A Planet Called Harlem was released in 2008, featuring the chart single, “Google Me.”
Teyana has also begun to earn her share of songwriting credits, most recently co-writing “Right By My Side” (featuring Chris Brown), the newest chart single by fellow Trinidadian-American artist Nicki Minaj (from her brand new album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded). In addition to co-writing credits for Willow Smith, Chris Brown, and others, Teyana has also collaborated with A-list artists including Kanye West, on versions of “Dark Fantasy,” “Hell Of A Life” and “Runaway,” and 2010’s “Christmas In Harlem,” which Rolling Stone magazine called “the best rock n roll Holiday song in history.” Other collaborations include “Rock Wit Me” with Jadakiss; and “Party Tonite” with fellow Harlemites Cam’ron and Jim Jones.
Beyoncé herself was so impressed with the young star’s dance moves that she asked Teyana to teach her the Chicken Noodle Soup, the popular dance Teyana helped innovate, for her “Ring The Alarm” video as well as her performance at the 2007 MTV VMA’s. “That kind of love coming from Jay and Beyoncé was crazy,” recalls Teyana.
Her television appearances include MTV’s “Made,” ABC’S “Limelight,” BET’s “Rip The Runway,” “Spring Bling,” and a co-hosting stint on “106th & Park,” Oxygen’s “House of Glam” and “Hair Battle Spectacular,” and PBS’s “Electric Company.”
On the big screen, Teyana’s sassy style was seen in Stomp the Yard 2 (2010) opposite Columbus Short and Keith David. Her breakout appearance took place in Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Big Happy Family. In post-production are Gang of Roses 2 with Rocsi Diaz (BET) and Amber Rose; and The Love Section with Mekhi Phifer.
Taylor has also graced numerous magazine covers and spreads including VIBE, Teen Vogue, Nylon, Giant, Fader, Rap-Up, TRACE, Paper, and the New York Post’s Page Six, just to name a few. She has also strut her stuff on the runway at the Diesel Fashion Show for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, The Lady Cavi runway show for Macy’s, and for high fashion designer Zac Posen on BET’s “Rip The Runway.”
