She has credited him as a "big brother" and sees her early signing to Star Trak as a "blessing." Taylor has stated on many occasions that her release from the label was necessary because she wanted to have a level of independence in the music industry. Taylor stated that she and Star Trak founder Pharrell Williams, have remained amicable since the end of their business relationship. In January 2012, it was announced Taylor would be granted her release from the contract with Interscope and Star Trak. Randyn Julius was later enlisted for Junior Reid to do his part to the remix to the track. Taylor delved back into music and was featured on the hook of the single, called "Party Tonight", alongside these fellow rappers Randyn Julius, Jim Jones and Cam'ron. In 2010, Taylor, alongside fellow American rapper Bow Wow, were offered their roles for Tyler Perry's play-turned-film Madea's Big Happy Family, the fifth installment in Perry's series, which was released on April 22, 2011. The track was released as a shortened version of the single to the iTunes Store on December 17, 2010, which features guest appearances from American rappers Cyhi the Prynce and West. In 2010, Taylor contributed on one of the GOOD Music's GOOD Friday tracks, titled " Christmas In Harlem". " She admitted that she was nervous upon letting West hear her contributions to the tracks, trying to cover her nervousness by stating that she "hadn’t been in the studio for so long." Upon recalling the experience of recording "Dark Fantasy", Taylor stated that "at the time it was pretty empty, just verses." She remembers that West "put in another room by and said, 'Go'." Taylor came back with the "intro and chorus," and "did all the scratches and the cuts. He eventually asked her to put her vocals on a few tracks, notably " Dark Fantasy" and " Hell of a Life". She purposefully hummed along with the tracks he played for her, to get his attention. While in the studio, Taylor was determined to make the appearance on West's fifth album. In 2010, just hours before Kanye West's fifth album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, had to be turned in, West called Taylor to the studio to look at some of her fashion pieces. She also appeared on the debut episode of House of Glam on Oxygen, which aired in October 2010. In August 2010, Taylor, ventured her career into acting, appearing in the sequel of Stomp the Yard, titled Stomp the Yard: Homecoming.
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The tape was also released for free download, billed as "the mixtape before her debut album". The tape also features "a mix of throwback break beats, futuristic boom bap, and melodic renderings is the perfect backdrop for the starlet's musical mayhem." "Google Me" reached at number 90 on the US Billboard 's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The tape, released 16 August 2009, features production from Jazze Pha, Pharrell, Mad Scientist, Frost, Shondre and Hit-Boy, among others. The song was released as the lead single for her debut full-length project, which is her debut mixtape, titled From a Planet Called Harlem. In February 2008, Taylor released her commercial debut single, called " Google Me". 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 2007, Taylor first came into the public's awareness through her episode on MTV's My Super Sweet Sixteen, a show depicting over-the-top birthday parties for rich teenagers. In January 2007, Taylor signed a deal to join American recording artist and record producer Pharrell Williams' Star Trak Entertainment label, through Interscope Records. 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".
Her mother raised her and is currently her manager. Taylor is her mother's only child while her father has two sons and another daughter from a different relationship. She is of African-American and African-Trinidadian descent. Taylor was born on Decemto Nikki Taylor and Tito Smith, in Harlem, New York City.