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Teyana Taylor’s Albums & Mixtapes, Ranked

September 22, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Teyana Taylor is supposedly retired but she is still active in the music world. The New York singer has performed at major festivals this year even after concluding her Last Rose Petal Tour in 2022. She has not released an album since 2020 and has since focused her attention on other endeavors. Taylor appeared in numerous films and TV shows, including Coming 2 America, White Men Can’t Jump, and Kid Cudi’s Entergalactic. She also notably won The Masked Singer last year.

Teyana Taylor’s name has also been in news headlines recently following confirmation of separating from her ex-husband, Iman Shumpert. In an Instagram post, she stated that she and the former NBA player are still on good terms despite being separated for a while. She even referred to Shumpert as her bestie. Teyana Taylor may have retired from music for now, but fans are still longing for new music from the multifaceted singer and dancer. Today, we are highlighting her music career with a ranking of her albums and mixtapes from least to greatest. Take a look at the list below.

Read More: Teyana Taylor’s 7 Biggest Hits

6. From A Planet Called Harlem (2009)

Teyana Taylor started her career under Pharrell’s tutelage in 2007 when he signed her to Star Trak Entertainment. Her 2009 debut mixtape, From A Planet Called Harlem is her first full-length project and her only release on the label. The mixtape notably included Taylor’s debut single, “Google Me.” Jazze Pha, Pharrell, Hit-Boy, and more contributed beats while Chris Brown, Eve, Keri Hilson, Keyshia Cole, and others featured on the mixtape. From A Planet Called Harlem certainly showcased Teyana Taylor’s talents, but she had not yet completely established her musical identity. For that reason, it sits at the bottom of her discography. It was not until her later work that she would find her sound as a singer and reinvent herself as an artist.

5. The Misunderstanding of Teyana Taylor (2012)

A fitting title for her second mixtape, The Misunderstanding of Teyana Taylor was the follow-up to From A Planet Called Harlem which marked a new phase in her career. Freshly released from her deal with Star Trak, Teyana Taylor’s first independent project was a promising effort. However, she still sounded as if she was developing her comfort zone as a singer, which we’d later see fully established in her studio albums. She made an admirable project that helped better reveal her growth. However, she grew both vocally and artistically on her albums, which her G.O.O.D. Music signing helped uncover.

4. The Cassette Tape 1994 (2015)

Just a year removed from her debut album, Teyana Taylor released The Cassette Tape 1994. The 5-track EP was inspired by ’90s R&B, sampling numerous throwbacks like K.P. & Envyi’s “Swing My Way” and Tony! Toni! Toné!’s “Anniversary.” Teyana Taylor put her own spin on these songs, repurposing old-school classics to make her very own cassette tape. While it is a brief and enjoyable listen, The Cassette Tape 1994 does not stack up to her polished and carefully crafted studio albums. Still, the project sits above Teyana’s mixtapes as her vocal range drastically grew and she skillfully reimagined older songs with her own flair.

3. The Album (2020)

Teyana Taylor’s most recent and supposedly final album fully delivered on its promises. Her highly anticipated third album satisfied her fanbase with its lengthy tracklist. While bloated, the 23-track album contains some of Teyana Taylor’s best material. It is both well-produced and varied in its musical stylings. There are ballads, bangers, afro-fusion and reggae-inspired songs, and of course, sensual R&B tracks. Her most personal release to date, The Album contains moments of reflection, celebration, and gratitude. It does not leave much to be desired because fans were given everything they wanted across the tracklist. In that regard, The Album’s length is justified but the extensive runtime and filler songs diminish its replay value. If it really is Teyana Taylor’s final album, she ended her music career on a solid note.

2. K.T.S.E. (2018)

The last album to be released in a series of short albums produced by Kanye West, K.T.S.E. stood out among a slew of hip-hop projects. The only release from the series to feature eight songs, as opposed to seven, Teyana Taylor’s second studio album contains a surprising amount of variety in such a short amount of time. K.T.S.E.’s brightest moments utilize chopped soul samples to make modern classics like “Gonna Love Me” and “Issues/Hold On.”

There is also “Rose in Harlem,” an album highlight that combines vintage with contemporary to forge one of Teyana Taylor’s best songs. The album’s closing track, “WTP” pays homage to the Harlem ballroom scene with Taylor’s signature style of sexual liberty. K.T.S.E. may not have been the final product she envisioned, but the Kanye West production was perfect for her voice. It made for a memorable second album even though she had already set the bar extremely high.

1. VII (2014)

Teyana Taylor unlocked her full potential on her debut album, VII. She had found her voice and signature sound in the album’s lush instrumentation. The music suits her voice and sexually descriptive lyrics. VII is Teyana Taylor’s most complete body of work from top to bottom, resulting in a tracklist without skips. Nothing on the album sounds forced and the songs transition seamlessly from one to the other. Songs like “Just Different,” “Request,” and “Broken Hearted Girl” are some of the sexiest tracks in her discography that display her unique vocal tone.

Many of VII’s highlights are its slow contemporary R&B jams, but its production is also varied in style. The reggae-fused “Put Your Love On” keeps the album unpredictable and the upbeat “Maybe” with Pusha T and Yo Gotti perfectly balances gentle emotions with playful flirting. Ultimately, Teyana Taylor perfected her sound with her debut album. VII is an unforgettable listening experience that proved extremely difficult to top.

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Teyana Taylor’s 7 Biggest Hits

September 20, 2023 by newhiphopnews

Teyana Taylor, has been a household name before she graduated high school. The Harlem-bred songstress burst on the scene in a dynamic way as the most memorable star of MTV’s Super Sweet Sixteen. Her lavish birthday party set the tone, from her commanding, determined spirit to her flamboyant, creative style. A cameo from Pharrell Williams – and an accompanying record deal with his Star Trak label – sealed the deal. A star was inevitably born and Taylor has been turning heads and taking names ever since.

Most of the world took notice of Teyana when she linked up with Kanye West and the G.O.O.D. Music label. She went viral once again for her steamy appearance in the “Fade” video, which debuted during the MTV VMAs. It should be noted, however, that the rose from Harlem is a legend in her own right. Her name holds weight in any conversation, across multiple genres and disciplines. Here are 7 of Teyana Taylor’s biggest hits throughout her multifaceted career.

Read More: Erykah Badu’s 7 Biggest Hits

“Gonna Love Me (Remix)” Ft. Ghostface Killah, Method Man & Raekwon

It’s only right to start with the remix to “Gonna Love Me” from the K.T.S.E. album. This song is timeless, from the legendary Wu-Tang Clan triple feature to the trademark Kanye flip of The Delfonics’ “I Gave It To You.” The dusky, melancholy production complements Teyana’s bold behest for love as she explores the ups and downs of hood romance.

Read More: DeJ Loaf’s Biggest Hits

“Google Me”

Real fans remember that it all started with “Google Me.” Teyana’s first single was the lead off her debut mixtape, From A Planet Named Harlem. The track peaked at #90 on the Billboard chart and solidified her place in music as a songwriter and trendsetter. It also embodied the confidence that would carry her far in her career for years to come. “If you wanna find me/ You can Google me, baby.” The search engine put respect on her name, with a resume that included choreography for Beyonce’s “Ring The Alarm” video.

Read More: Kelly Rowland’s Biggest Hits

“Maybe” Ft. Pusha T & Yo Gotti

The first official G.O.O.D. Music single and lead from the VII album did numbers. The song paired Teyana’s cadence and street credibility with bars from Yo Gotti and labelmate Pusha T. The song not only did well on the charts but solidified Teyana as a hitmaker in her own lane. The radio ate up this hip-hop-inspired ballad about being sprung after the first link.

“Morning” Ft. Kehlani

Teyana’s sensuality oozes through her music and image, even when dressed in baggy jeans and sneakers. There is something irresistible about the chemistry she has with other artists – regardless of gender. “Morning” was a full manifestation of that. The steamy R&B track came with an even hotter music video that found Teyana and Kehlani romping in the water. The track’s success was heightened by both ladies openly confessed attraction to the same sex.

“Wake Up Love” Ft. Iman Shumpert

Despite Teyana and Iman’s relationship status, this song will go down as one of her most beautiful, ethereal hits. The estranged couple exchanged genuine confessions and raw admissions of everlasting love over a heavenly instrumental. The music video delivered divine visuals that doubled as her second pregnancy announcement. This track will go down in history as one of the most special ones in Teyana’s catalog.

Read More: Missy Elliott’s Biggest Hits

“How You Want It?” Ft. King Combs

The sexy 90s-inspired jam was heralded by many upon as a celebration of the golden era of hip-hop and R&B. Diddy brought out the best of Teyana and his heir, King Combs. The track sample of Mase’s “What You Want” paired with an interpolation of Curtis Mayfield’s “Right On The Darkness.” From the very first listen, it was destined to be a classic and a hit.

“Boomin” Ft. Missy Elliott & Future

It doesn’t get any better than Missy and Future on a track. This song was one of the most memorable of Teyana’s third solo release, The Album. The rap icons complemented Teyana’s boss persona and androgynous yet bold sex appeal. Sampling Blaque’s “808”, the song pays homage to the joy and satisfaction of the perfect bedroom lover.

It’s unclear whether Teyana will decide to further pursue music or not. Still, she has made her stamp in the world of R&B and hip-hop. She has proven that she is a true triple threat. A singer, songwriter, and dancer who can easily climb to the top of anyone’s charts. It’s safe to say that she paved the way and opened the door for women who exude a certain type of power and sexuality. When it’s all said and done, the world will remember her name – just as she always declared. What are your favorite Teyana Taylor hits throughout her discography?

The post Teyana Taylor’s 7 Biggest Hits appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Kanye West And Teyana Taylor Rework A ‘K.T.S.E.’ Cut In A ‘Jeen-Yuhs’ Outtake

March 8, 2022 by newhiphopnews

In director Coodie’s comprehensive Kanye West-centered documentary, Jeen-Yuhs, viewers get an intimate look at Ye’s creative process. Through over 20 years of footage, fans see the work that went into his iconic albums, including The College Dropout, Late Registration, and Graduation. In the Netflix documentary’s third and final part, titled “Act III: Awakening,” we see parts of the Wyoming sessions, which took place between 2017 and 2018, which resulted in the albums Ye, the Kid Cudi-collaborative Kids See Ghosts, and Teyana Taylor’s K.T.S.E.

In an outtake shared by Time, Ye and Taylor work on a song called “Cold Blooded,” which ultimately didn’t make the final tracklist of K.T.S.E. Unsatisfied with the sound of the song, Ye strips “Cold Blooded” of its original beat, then creates a new instrumental track in real-time.

Before making a name for himself as a rapper, Ye climbed the industry ladder producing tracks for Jay-Z, Ludacris, and Alicia Keys. In recent years, he’s worked behind the boards for artists like Christina Aguilera, Lil Nas X, and Pusha T.

With Jeen-Yuhs, we get a look at how some of Ye’s biggest songs and albums, both of his own and ones he produced for other artists, came to be.

Check out the outtake above.