Teyana Me Shay Jacqueli Taylor (Teyana Taylor) (born December 10, 1990) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, model, dancer, choreographer, and music video director.
After choreographing the video for Beyoncé’s 2006 single “Ring the Alarm,” she signed a recording contract with the Neptunes’ Star Trak Entertainment, an imprint of Interscope Records the following year.
Taylor appeared on MTV‘s My Super Sweet 16 prior to the release of her 2008 debut single, “Google Me.” She gained further attention for her uncredited guest performances on Kanye West’s 2010 songs “Dark Fantasy” and “Hell of a Life” — both from his album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010).
She parted ways with Star Trak and Interscope in favor of West’s GOOD Music, an imprint of Def Jam Recordings two years later.
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Teyana Taylor Wikipedia
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Taylor in April 2023
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| Born |
Teyana Me Shay Jacqueli Taylor
December 10, 1990 New York City, U.S.
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| Other names |
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| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2005–present |
| Works |
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| Spouse |
Iman Shumpert
(m. 2016; div. 2024) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Genres |
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| Instrument | Vocals |
| Labels |
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| Website | teyanataylor |
Early life
Career
In September 2006, 15-year-old Teyana Taylor was credited as the choreographer on the music video for American entertainer Beyoncé’s hit single, “Ring the Alarm”.
In January 2007, Taylor was offered a contract to join Pharrell Williams’ Star Trak Entertainment label, through Interscope Records.
In February 2007, Taylor first entered into the public sphere through an episode on MTV’s My Super Sweet Sixteen, a show depicting over-the-top birthday parties for rich—and typically “spoiled” and confrontational—teenagers.
In 2007, Taylor appeared in the music video for Jay-Z’s single, “Blue Magic”, where she can be seen dancing and popping.
In February 2008, Taylor released her commercial debut single, “Google Me”. The song was released as the lead single from her full-length debut mixtape, titled From a Planet Called Harlem.
The mixtape, released August 16, 2009, features production from Jazze Pha, Pharrell, Mad Scientist, Frost, Shondre and Hit-Boy, among others.
Sing365 says that the record’s “…[a] mix of throwback break beats, futuristic boom bap, and melodic renderings is the perfect backdrop for the starlet’s musical mayhem.”
“Google Me” debuted at number 90 on US Billboard‘s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
On December 4, 2020, Taylor seemingly announced her retirement from making music via her Instagram page.
A few days later, she explained the post was directed at her record label as she continued clarifying her frustration with their lack of support, “Baby, I gotta do it for my mental health.
I have to do it for my emotional health. I have to do it for my kids, so I can stay alive for my kids. Until I’m free, until I can get [Def Jam] to release me, yes I want to retire.”
She later said that much of the frustration leading to retirement could be traced back to her label undervaluing her, but she would not be retiring for good.
In March 2025, Will Smith announced his album Based on a True Story, with Taylor set to appear on it.
Related
Personal life
Discography
- VII (2014)
- K.T.S.E. (2018)
- The Album (2020)
- Escape Room (2025)
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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| 2010 | Stomp the Yard: Homecoming | Rena | |
| 2011 | Madea’s Big Happy Family | Sabrina | |
| 2012 | Gang of Roses II: Next Generation | Candi Baxter | |
| Cruel Summer | Don | Short | |
| 2013 | The Love Section | Steph | |
| 2015 | Brotherly Love | Zip | |
| 2018 | Honey: Rise Up and Dance | Skyler | |
| The After Party | Bl’asia | ||
| 2019 | The Trap | Sherri | |
| 2021 | Coming 2 America | Bopoto | |
| 2023 | A Thousand and One | Inez | |
| White Men Can’t Jump | Imani | ||
| The Book of Clarence | Mary Magdalene | ||
| 2025 | Straw | Detective Kay Raymond | |
| One Battle After Another | Profidia Beverly Hills | Post-production | |
| 2026 | The Rip | TBA |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | My Super Sweet 16 | Herself | Episode: “Teyana Taylor” |
| 2008 | It’s Showtime at the Apollo | Herself | Episode: “Teyana Taylor” |
| 2015 | America’s Best Dance Crew | Herself/Judge | Season 8 |
| 2016 | Fashion Police | Herself/Guest | Episode: “2016 American Music Awards” |
| 2017 | The Breaks | Imani X | Recurring cast |
| Ridiculousness | Herself | Episode: “Teyana Taylor” | |
| 2017–18 | Hip Hop Squares | Herself | 4 episodes |
| Star | Joyce Sheree | Recurring cast: season 2, guest: season 3 | |
| 2018 | Hit the Floor | London Scott | Main cast: season 4 |
| The Hollywood Puppet Show | Herself | Episode: “Teyana Taylor and Jhene Aiko” | |
| The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | Herself/musical guest | Episode: “Daniel Radcliffe/Matt Czuchry/Teyana Taylor/Aerosmith” | |
| The Real | Herself/Guest Co-Host | Episode: “Teyana Taylor/Special Expanded Girl Chat/Snitched” | |
| Saturday Night Live | Herself | Episode: “Adam Driver/Kanye West” | |
| Teyana & Iman | Herself | Main cast | |
| 2019 | Complex Con(versations) | Herself | Episode: “Women in Streetwear” |
| The Ellen DeGeneres Show | Herself/musical guest | Episode: “Lily Tomlin/Rob Delaney/Sharon Horgan/Teyana Taylor” | |
| Rhythm + Flow | Herself | Episode: “Collaborations” | |
| 2020 | Barkitecture | Herself | Episode: “Teyana Taylor: Doggy Duplex” |
| 2021 | We Got Love Teyana & Iman | Herself | Main cast |
| Dancing with the Stars | Herself | Episode: “Grease Night” | |
| 2022 | The Masked Singer | Herself/Firefly | Contestant and winner on Season 7 |
| Entergalactic | Boxing Coach (voice) | TV special | |
| TBA | All’s Fair | TBA | Main cast; upcoming series[76] |
Awards and nominations
| Award | Year | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Category | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BET Awards | 2019 | “Rose in Harlem” | BET Her Award | Nominated | |
| Herself | Best Female R&B/Pop Artist | Nominated | |||
| 2020 | Video Director of the Year | Won | |||
| 2023 | Won | ||||
| BET Hip Hop Awards | 2020 | Video Director of the Year | Won | ||
| MTV Video Music Awards | 2017 | “Fade” | Best Choreography | Won | |
| Soul Train Music Awards | 2016 | “Fade” (with Kanye West) | Best Dance Performance | Won | |
| 2019 | “WTP” | Nominated | |||
| 2020 | “Bare With Me” | Nominated | |||
| Critics Choice Awards Celebration of Cinema & Television |
2023 | A Thousand and One | Breakthrough Performance Award | Won | |
| Florida Film Critics Circle | Best Actress | Nominated | |||
| Gotham Awards | Outstanding Lead Performance | Nominated | |||
| Give Her FlowHERS Awards | Herself | The Visionary Award | Won | ||
| Hollywood Critics Association Midseason Awards | A Thousand and One | Best Actress | Nominated | ||
| Indiana Film Journalists Association | Best Lead Performance | Nominated | |||
| National Board of Review | Best Breakthrough Performance | Won | |||
| Online Association of Female Film Critics | Best Breakthrough Performance | Nominated | |||
| Toronto Film Critics Association | Best Breakthrough Performance | Won | |||
| Women Film Critics Circle | Best Actress | Nominated | |||
| Black Reel Awards | 2024 | Outstanding Lead Performance | Nominated | ||
| Outstanding Breakthrough Performance | Nominated | ||||
| Independent Spirit Awards | Best Lead Performance | Nominated |
