Teyana Taylor

Teyana Me Shay Jacqueli Taylor was born on December 10, 1990, in Harlem, New York City. Her career began at a young age, with a notable credit as choreographer for Beyoncé’s “Ring the Alarm” music video in 2006. In 2007, at 16, Taylor signed a record deal with Pharrell Williams’ Star Trak Entertainment, an imprint of Interscope Records, and gained initial public recognition through her appearance on MTV’s My Super Sweet 16. Her debut single, “Google Me,” was released in February 2008, leading to her first mixtape, “From a Planet Called Harlem,” in 2009. Taylor’s versatility extended into acting with a role in “Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming” in 2010. A significant turning point came in 2010 when she contributed vocals to Kanye West’s album, “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,” on tracks “Dark Fantasy” and “Hell of a Life,” marking her collaboration with prominent industry figures. She also appeared in Tyler Perry’s film, “Madea’s Big Happy Family,” released in 2011.

In January 2012, Taylor sought and received her release from Star Trak and Interscope. Shortly after, in June 2012, she signed a joint-venture deal with Kanye West’s GOOD Music, a division of Island-Def Jam. This partnership led to her participation in the GOOD Music compilation album “Cruel Summer” in September 2012, where her contributions were critically noted. Her debut studio album, “VII,” was released in November 2014 through Def Jam and GOOD Music, charting at number 19 on the Billboard 200 and topping the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In 2015, she joined “America’s Best Dance Crew” as a judge and released the mixtape “The Cassette Tape 1994.” A career-defining moment occurred in August 2016 with her prominent role in Kanye West’s “Fade” music video, which earned her a “Best Choreography” MTV Video Music Award in 2017. Her second studio album, “K.T.S.E.,” was released in June 2018. Later, in 2020, her third album, “The Album,” debuted at number 8 on the Billboard 200, her first top 10 album. She has also made a notable transition into film and other work, starring in films like “Coming 2 America” (2021) and “A Thousand and One” (2023), for which she received a Breakthrough Performance Award from the National Board of Review. As a director, under the name “Spike Tee,” she has directed music videos for herself and artists like Diddy and Queen Naija, winning the BET Award for Video Director of the Year multiple times. Her fourth album, “Escape Room,” released in 2025, also received critical acclaim and entered the Billboard 200.

Beyond her entertainment career, Taylor has ventured into entrepreneurship and brand partnerships. In 2013, she collaborated with Adidas to design sneakers, setting a record for the fastest-selling sneakers in Adidas Originals history. She launched her “Fade 2 Fit” workout program and accompanying apparel line in 2017, leveraging her dance and fitness expertise. Her notable brand collaborations include partnerships with Reebok and Victoria’s Secret, where she launched the “Teyana Taylor Edit” collection. Her diverse career trajectory continued to develop with an appointment as Creative Director for PrettyLittleThing and a partnership with McDonald’s for their “Beat Of My City” initiative. In 2022, she won season seven of The Masked Singer as ‘Firefly’, becoming the youngest ‘winner’ in the show’s history at the time. Taylor’s career illustrates a consistent progression in music, acting, directing, and business.