Age, Biography, and Wiki
Teyana Taylor, born on December 10, 1990, is an American singer, songwriter, actress, choreographer, dancer, model, and director. She gained early recognition for her appearance on MTV's "My Super Sweet 16" and later signed with Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music label in 2012. Born in Harlem, New York City, to Tito Smith and Nikki Taylor, Teyana has roots in African-Trinidadian and African-American cultures.
| Occupation | Choreographer |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 10 December 1990 |
| Age | 34 Years |
| Birth Place | New York City, U.S. |
| Horoscope | Sagittarius |
| Country | U.S |
Height, Weight & Measurements
Teyana Taylor stands at 5 feet 4 inches tall, which is a notable aspect of her physical profile as a model and dancer. However, her weight and other detailed measurements are not publicly disclosed.
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 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The mixtape was also released for free download, billed as "the mixtape before her debut album". In August 2010, Taylor expanded her career into acting, appearing in the sequel to Stomp the Yard, Stomp the Yard 2: Homecoming. She also appeared on the debut episode of House of Glam on Oxygen in October 2010.
In addition to being featured on the Cruel Summer compilation, Taylor soon began the process of recording her major-label debut album, to be released eventually through GOOD Music and Island Def Jam. On July 27, 2014, via Twitter, Taylor announced the title of her debut studio album to be VII, and revealed it would be released on November 4, through Def Jam and GOOD Music. The album debuted at number 19 on the Billboard 200, selling 16,000 copies in the United States in its first week, while topping the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
| Height | 5 feet 4 inches |
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Dating & Relationship Status
Teyana Taylor is married to Iman Shumpert, a basketball player. The couple has been featured on their reality show "Teyana and Iman" on VH1, showcasing their life together.
In her acting career, Taylor made her film debut in the 2010 dance drama Stomp the Yard: Homecoming, and appeared in the Tyler Perry film Madea's Big Happy Family the following year. In television, Taylor had roles in two seasons of Star (2017–18), and the Amazon Prime film Coming 2 America (2021). She and her then-husband Iman Shumpert were given a reality television series, Teyana and Iman, by VH1, which aired from 2020 until 2023. She received critical acclaim for her starring performance in the 2023 film A Thousand and One, for which she won the Breakthrough Performance Award from the National Board of Review.
She is of African American and Trinidadian descent. Teyana is her mother's only child, while her father has two sons and another daughter from a different relationship. She grew up with her mother; her mother is her manager.
In January 2012, it was announced Taylor would be granted her release from the contract with Interscope and Star Trak. Taylor has stated that she and Star Trak founder Pharrell Williams have remained amicable since the end of their business relationship. 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, as she wanted to have a feeling of independence in the music industry. In an interview with DJ Skee, Taylor mentioned that “when [she] was signed for six years, [she] felt like she couldn't do [anything]”, “couldn't prove to [her] fans that [she] had the talent”, and “couldn't sing from [her] heart.” As an independent artist upon her release, she had begun preparing her second record, a mixtape titled The Misunderstanding of Teyana Taylor. The mixtape drew influences from 1990s R&B legends like Lauryn Hill and Mary J. Blige. The mixtape was released in early 2012, and was preceded by the release of "Make Your Move", featuring rapper Wale, and "D.U.I.", featuring Jadakiss & Fabolous, which was released on February 25, 2012. More positive reviews of the latter track noted that "The Harlem songstress channels Janet Jackson as she glides over the smooth Hit-Boy-produced beat with her airy vocals, while fellow New Yorkers Fabolous and Jadakiss ride shotgun".
On June 17, 2016, Taylor released her single "Freak On", featuring guest vocals from Chris Brown and production by DJ Mustard. It samples "Freak Like Me" by Adina Howard. Taylor announced that it would be the lead single from her upcoming second studio album. On August 28, 2016, at the MTV Video Music Awards, Kanye West debuted the music video for his new single "Fade", which featured a sweat-dripping, athletic Taylor performing a rigorous solo dance routine, in nothing more than short shorts and a simple top; the dynamic and detailed choreography drew considerable praise, and comparisons were made to Jennifer Beals’ iconic dance scene from the film Flashdance (1983). A year later, in 2017, Taylor’s dancing in the music video would go on to earn her the “Best Choreography” award at the same ceremony. The video, directed by Eli Russell Linnetz, also featured an appearance by Taylor's husband, Iman Shumpert. Taylor's album K.T.S.E., an acronym for "keep that same energy," was the last of G.O.O.D. Music's seven-song album rollout and was released on June 22, 2018. An updated version of the album was supposed to be released, but Taylor announced that plans were canceled for it.
Taylor began dating basketball player Iman Shumpert circa 2013. In 2015, after she went into early labor, Shumpert assisted in her delivery of their baby girl. On September 20, 2016, on The Wendy Williams Show, Taylor implied that she and Shumpert had "maybe" married secretly, but the wedding was not until October 1, 2016, approximately two weeks after the interview.
| Parents | |
| Husband | Iman Shumpert (m. 2016-2024) |
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Net Worth
As of recent reports, Teyana Taylor's net worth is estimated to be around $5 million. Her wealth is derived from her successful music career, acting roles, modeling, and various other ventures in the entertainment industry.
Career Highlights
Teyana Taylor has made a name for herself in multiple fields:
- Music: Known for her work with Kanye West, she contributed to "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" and has also written for stars like Omarion, Usher, and Chris Brown.
- Acting: She has appeared in several films and TV shows, including her own reality TV series "Teyana and Iman."
- Modeling: Taylor has walked fashion runways and been featured in numerous fashion campaigns.
She appeared on the GOOD Music compilation album Cruel Summer (2012), which peaked at number two on the Billboard 200. Her debut studio album, VII (2014), was met with positive critical reception and peaked within the top 20, along with her second and third studio albums, K.T.S.E. (2018) and The Album (2020); the latter peaked within the chart's top ten, while K.T.S.E. spawned the single "Gonna Love Me" (remixed featuring Ghostface Killah, Method Man, and Raekwon), which received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Social Network
Teyana Taylor is active on social media platforms such as Instagram, where she has a large following. Her social media presence is crucial for engaging with fans and promoting her work.
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.
On June 12, 2020, Taylor confirmed her second pregnancy in the music video for her single "Wake Up Love". On September 17, 2023, Taylor and Shumpert announced their separation, with Taylor revealing via Instagram that she and Iman had been separated for months. In 2024, Taylor’s divorce from Shumpert was finalized.
Education
There is limited information available about Teyana Taylor's formal education. However, her early entry into the entertainment industry has been a significant part of her career development.
